Case Name: SERVINA v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1928-03-07
Citations: 5 S.W.2d 510
Docket Number: No. 11424
Parties: SERVINA v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter Second Series
Volume: 5
Pages: 510–513

Head Matter:
SERVINA v. STATE.
(No. 11424.)
Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
March 7, 1928.
Rehearing Denied April 25, 1928.
Grover C. Morris and M. C. Gonzales, both of San Antonio, for appellant,
Bamar Seeligson, Dist. Atty., of San Antonio, and A. A. Dawson. State’s Atty., of Austin, for the State.

Opinion:
CHRISTIAN, J.
The offense is rape; the punishment, death.
The state's testimony was, in substance, as follows: On the night of April 20th, while John M. Shaw and Prances Mohrmann were driving in an automobile in the city of San Antonio, appellant and one Rodriguez jumped on the running board of the car, placed pistols in their faces, and ordered them to continue moving. Upon reaching some brush, appellant and his companion tied Mr. Shaw's hands back of him, placed him and Miss Mohrmann in the rear seat of the car, and Rodriguez drove the car 17 miles into the country, while appellant held a pistol on the parties. Upon reaching some brush, the assailants ordered the parties out of the car, and Rodriguez took Mr. Shaw into a field while appellant remained with Miss Mohr-mann. While Rodriguez was in the field with Mr. Shaw, appellant held a pistol on Miss Mohrmann, robbed her of her jewelry and raped her. Leaving Mr. Shaw in the field, Rodriguez returned and also ravished the young lady. After the injured female had been ravished, by Rodriguez, appellant repeated his assault. Completing the act, appellant held a pistol on her while Rodriguez further violated her. Appellant and his companion then placed the injured party in the automobile and carried her to a point .within 7¾0 miles of San Antonio, where she was tied and gagged and removed from the car. Appellant struck her, knocking her to the ground. Leaving her alone, Miss Mohrmann's assailants drove away in the car. In order to reach San Antonio, Miss Mohrmann was compelled to walk 7¾0 miles. In addition to raping her, appellant and his companion took from the injured party five rings, a string of pearls, and a wrist watch.
Appellant testified that Rodriguez told him that he would have to aid him in assaulting the car; that, as Rodriguez had a gun, "he made me do it"; that Rodriguez tied Mr. Shaw and took him into the field while he, appellant, remained with Miss Mohrmann; that he, appellant, at no time ravished Miss Mohrmann, but that Rodriguez made an attack on her; that after Rodriguez had.mistreated her, he stated to appellant, "Now you got to use her"; that he demurred, and that Rodriguez pointed his gun at him and told him he had to do it dr he would kill him; that he did not have sexual intercourse with the injured party, but only made motions as if hfe were engaged in such act; that he only got a "little close" to her but did not get on top of her; that at.the time Rodriguez was about five or six steps from him and had a pistol in his hand; that he had gone with Rodriguez on the expedition in question under the orders of Rodriguez; that he went with him because he threatened to kill him; that he did not carry a pistol.
Appellant made a motion to quash the indictment on the ground that his name was incorrectly set forth, alleging that his name' was Esiquiel Serbin. This afforded no ground for quashing the indictment. It was suggested to appellant at the time the motion was presented that he might suggest his correct name. According to the qualification ap-
pended to tlie bill of exception, appellant failed and refused to suggest bis correct name. If be bad done so, tbe indictment might bave been corrected in accordance with tbe provisions of article 496, O. 0. P. (1925); Gonzales v. State, 88 Tex. Cr. R. 248, 226 S. W. 405.
Bill of exception No. 1 complains of the action of tbe court in refusing to sustain tbe challenge for cause to the juror Davis. Tbe juror testified on bis voir dire examination that be had formed an opinion from reading newspapers, and mat it would require evidence to remove such opinion. He further stated that be would lay aside bis opinion and render a verdict according tovthe sworn testimony and tbe charge of tbe court. It is not shown by tbe bill that appellant bad exhausted bis challenges at tbe time. Neither is it shown that tbe juror served on tbe jury. It is stated in tbe bill that appellant was thereafter forced to exhaust bis challenges before the jury was impaneled, witb tbe result that he was required to take jurors whom be would not otherwise bave taken. In qualifying tbe bill, tbe court states that at tbe suggestion of tbe district attorney ap- ' pellant was offered two additional challenges after be had exhausted bis peremptory challenges, and that appellant refused to accept tbe offer. Tbe bill fails to manifest error. •
Bill of exception No. 3 is in- tbe same attitude as tbe foregoing bill.
Appellant timely excepted to tbe court's charge for its failure to embrace an instruction covering tbe provisions of article 38, P. O. (1925). Under tbe evidence' and in tbe light of tbe charge given, tbe overruling of said objection was not error.
Appellant lodged an exception to tbe court's charge on tbe ground that tbe jury should bave been instructed that they were bound by "tbe inculpatory and exculpatory statements" contained in bis confession. Tbe state did not rely for a conviction upon appellant's confession. It appears that tbe statements contained in said confession were used by tbe state, in cross-examining appellant, to rebut bis testimony to the effect that be bad not raped tbe injured party. Under such conditions it was not error to omit from tbe charge tbe instruction contended for by appellant. Marshall v. State, 104 Tex. Cr. R. 619, 286 S. W. 214.
Binding no error, tbe judgment is affirmed,
PER CURIAM. Tbe foregoing opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by tbe Judges of tbe Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by tbe court.