Case Name: LOVE v. STATE
Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals
Jurisdiction: Texas
Decision Date: 1912-10-16
Citations: 150 S.W. 920
Docket Number: 
Parties: LOVE v. STATE.
Judges: 
Reporter: South Western Reporter
Volume: 150
Pages: 920–926

Head Matter:
LOVE v. STATE.
(Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
Oct. 16, 1912.
On Motion for Rehearing, Nov. 13, 1912.)
1. Criminal Law (§ 823 ) — Instructions— Error Cured bt Other Instructions.
An instruction that the fact that accused took hold of, kissed, or placed his hands on, prosecutrix would not make him guilty of assault with intent to rape, but that, before they could convict, the jury must believe beyond a reasonable doubt that he took hold of, kissed, or placed his hands on, her in such manner as to constitute an assault, “and at the very time intended instantly and without suspension of action and without waiting to ascertain whether or not she would consent to then and there place herself in such attitude that the final act of carnal intercourse could be performed upon her, whether the purpose was to put her in such attitude by his force alone or by her free co-operation and consent,” while apparently omitting something necessary to make a complete sentence, could not have harmed accused, in view of other instructions that, if hp took hold of, kissed, or placed his hands on, her they could not convict unless he intended at the time to have carnal knowledge of her; that, if he committed an assault on her with the specific intent then and there to have carnal knowledge of her by penetrating her organ of generation with his male member, the jury should find him guilty of assault with intent to rape; and that, if he put his hands upon, took hold of, or kissed, her in such manner as to constitute an assault, but only intended to indulge in improper fondling or familiarities of her person, and not to have carnal knowledge of her, he could be convicted only of aggravated assault — and hence, under the express provisions of Code Or. Proc. 1911, art. 743 (723), not having prejudiced accused, was not reversible error.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1992-1995, 3158; Dec. Dig. § 823. ]
2. Rape (§ 59 ) — Assault with Intent to Rape — Instructions.
In a prosecution for assaulting a female under the age of 15 years with intent to rape, an instruction requiring the jury to find, to justify a conviction, that accused used the kind of force necessary to place prosecutrix in the position and attitude in which the act of sexual intercourse could have been performed with her, was properly refused.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Rape, Cent. Dig. §§ 88-100; Dec. Dig. § 59. ]
3. Rape (§ 44 ) — Assault with Intent to Rape — Evidence.
On a trial for assaulting a female under the age of 15 years with intent to rape, evidence that accused was a preacher and that the church where the family of prosecutrix attended and were members was one of his ap pointments was property admitted to show why accused knew prosecutrix and how long.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Rape, Cent. Dig. § 63; Dec. Dig. § 44. ]
4. Criminal Law (§ 1169 ) — Appeal—Harmless Error.
If such evidence was incompetent, its admission was not reversible error, where other evidence to the same effect was received without objection.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. 'Dig. §1 754, 3088, 3130, 3137-3143; Dec. Dig. § 1169. ]
5. Rape (§ 48 ) — Assault with Intent to Rape — Evidence.
On a trial for assault with intent to rape, where prosecutrix testified without objection that she told her sister about it at the time and afterwards told her mother, it was not error to permit the mother to testify that prose-cutrix complained to her three days after the alleged assault.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Rape, Cent. Dig. §§ 67-69; Dee. Dig. § 48. ]
6. Criminal Law (§ 351 ) — Evidence — FtlGHT.
Where accused fled after the commission of' the alleged crime, it was not error to permit the sheriff to testify that he searched for him, advertised, and offered rewards, and finally found him in jail in another part of the state.
[Ed. Note. — For other eases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 776, 778-785, 930-932; Dec. Dig. § 351. ]
7. Criminal Law (§ 1037 ) — Appeal — Review — Improper Remarks op Counsel.
Improper remarks of the state’s attorneys do not constitute reversible error where no instruction to disregard was requested, especially where the jury fixed the lowest penalty and it does not appear in what connection such remarks were made.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Criminal Law, Cent. Dig. §§ 1691, 2645; Dec. Dig. § 1037. ]
On Motion for Rehearing.
8. Rape (§ 53 ) — Assault with Intent to Rape — Evidence—Supficiency.
Accused, who had been the pastor of pros-ecutrix, a girl 13 years old, and her family for two years and a half, visited her father’s house, but, instead of going into the house where the rest of the family were, went into the garden where prosecutrix was. After some conversation, he asked her to kiss him, which she did. I-Ie then went to another part of the garden where he could not be seen from the house, called her to him, got down on his knees, asked her to get down on hers, kissed her again without asking, raised up her dress, put his hands on her privates, and held her when she attempted to leave. She finally jerked loose and left him. On being asked about his conduct, he admitted that he put his hands under her clothes, did not deny an intention to have sexual intercourse, and said he guessed the old devil was in him. Shortly after-wards he fled from that part of the country. Sejd, that evidence showing these facts sufficiently showed the intent to support a conviction for assault with intent to rape.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Rape, Cent. Dig. §§ 78-81; Dec. Dig. § 53. ]'
9. Rape (§ 36 ) — Assault with Intent to Rape — Evidence—Intent.
In prosecutions for assault with intent to rape, the intent must be proved, but, like any other fact, may be proved by circumstantial as well as by direct testimony.
[Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Rape, Cent. Dig. §§ 46, 47; Dec. Dig. § 36. ]
Appeal from District Court, Lamar County ; Ben H. Denton, Judge.
W. H. Love was convicted of assault with intent to rape, and he appeals.
Affirmed.
B. B. Sturgeon and Moore & Hardison, all of Paris, for appellant. C. E. Lane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
For other cases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key-No. Series & Rep’r Indexes
For other eases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key-No. Series & Rep’r Indexes

Opinion:
PRENDERGAST, J.
Appellant was indicted for an assault upon Gladys Young, under 15 years of age, with intent to ravish and have carnal knowledge of her; she not being his wife. He was convicted, and the jury fixed the lowest penalty — two years in the penitentiary.
The testimony without contradiction shows that, at the time of the alleged assault, May 10, 1910, appellant was a minister of the gospel and pastor of a country church a few miles distant from the residence of Gladys Young's parents and family, and had then been such pastor for about two and a half years; that he preached at said church every other Sunday during this time, and was a frequent visitor at the Young home; the Youngs being members and attendants upon his church and preaching That on or about May 10, 1910, shortly before noon, he reached the home of the Youngs on one of his usual visits; his wife accompanying him. Gladys Young was then just a little over 13 years of age. She was in the garden alone gathering vegetables for dinner. Instead of going in the house where his wife went upon their arriving at the Youngs, seeing Gladys in the garden, he went in to where she was and for a while helped her to gather the vegetables at a point in the garden where they could be seen from the residence. After completing gathering the vegetables he asked Gladys to kiss him, which she either did or permitted him to kiss her. Then he went over to the other side of the garden where he, when upon his knees, or on the ground,' could not be seen front the residence. He called Gladys over there and asked her to kneel down, and he then kissed her and drew her over next to him, put one arm around her and the other up her dress. He was then on his knees. When he put his hand up under her dress he touched her privates and said, "You are a sweet girl, are you not?" She did not reply. He repeated his statement or question. She then shook her head and started to leave him. He put his arm around her, she tried to jerk back, and he held her hard and fast. She jerked loose just as soon as his grip relaxed, and started to the house. He called her back to get the basket of vegetables, then she succeeded in leaving the garden, and after she got out he said to her, "You are not going to tell, are you?" She said nothing, but shook her head, she was afraid not to. Gladys got acquainted with appellant some two and a half years before this occurrence by his being a minister visiting their home and preaching in the neighborhood. She had been seeing him nearly every Sunday — at least every other Sunday —when he came there to preach.
It seems that this assault became noised around in the community and some of his members undertook, two or three weeks after it, to find out from him about it. Dr. Mc-Cuistion, one of his members, in two or three weeks after it occurred interviewed him and asked him about it. He said to Dr. McCuistion, "Well, I did kiss her." MeCuistion asked, "Is that all you done?" He said, "No; it ain't. I did put my hands under her clothes; why I did it I don't know. I guess the old devil was in me." That he would not harm a hair on her head for the world. Soon after this talk with Dr. McCuistion, another of his members, Mr. 'Butler, who was to have been present when the interview took place but had not reached where Dr. McCuistion was at the time, then arrived and appellant reiterated substantially to Butler what he had stated to Dr. McCuistion. Very shortly after this appellant fled the country. The sheriff continuously hunted for him, had postals describing him distributed over all the country, and sought to arrest and have him arrested on this charge. Some five or six months afterwards he was arrested by the officers of El Paso, Tex., placed in jail there, the sheriff of Lamar county informed of it, and then the sheriff of Lamar county went after, got him from the officers and jail in El Paso county, and took him back to Lamar county for trial.
There was other testimony introduced showing the situation of the garden and residence of the Youngs, the surroundings, and a public road lay some distance therefrom, and the obstructions between where he had Gladys when he assaulted her and the Young's residence. It is unúecessary to detail this testimony. It was all introduced for the purpose of showing the situation to the jury and their consideration in determining whether or not the assault was committed at the time and place charged. The appellant did not testify. He introduced several witnesses who proved that' his reputation as a moral law-abiding citizen was good.
The court gave a substantially correct and apt charge of the law as applied to the evidence. After stating what the indictment charged and that the defendant pleaded not guilty, in separate paragraphs, he quoted in succession article 1008, P. C., the firs't part of article 1013, and then substantially subdivision two thereof. Then substantially subdivision 5 of article 1022, P. C. Then rape of a female under 15 years of age as defined by the statute; then he told the jury that, in order to constitute carnal knowledge, it is necessary that the male member of the man penetrate the female organ of generation, but it is immaterial as to the particular depth of such penetration. Then follows the sixth and seventh subdivisions of the charge, as follows: "(6) Now if you believe from the evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that the defendant, W. H. Love, did in the county of Lamar and state of Texas, on or about the 9th day of May, 1910, commit an assault in and upon the body of Gladys Young with the specific intent then and there to have carnal knowledge of the said Gladys Young by penetrating her organ of generation with his male member, and if you further so believe that the said Gladys Young was then and there a female under the age of 15 years and not the wife of the defendant, then you will find the defendant guilty of an assault with intent to rape and assess his punishment at confinement in the state penitentiary for any term of years not less than two, but, unless you do so believe, you cannot convict the defendant of an assault with intent to rape. (7) If you should find that the defendant put his hands upon, took hold of, or kissed, Gladys Young in such manner as to constitute an assault, but should further believe that he only intended to indulge in improper fondling or familiarities of her person and not to have carnal knowledge of her, then you cannot convict him of an assault with intent to rape, but you may in such case, if you find him guilty, convict him of an aggravated assault and battery, and, if you find the defendant guilty of an aggravated assault and battery, you may assess his punishment' at a fine of not less than $25 nor more than $1,000, or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than one month nor more than two years, or by both such fine and imprisonment."
In the next paragraph he told them that, if they should believe from the evidence that the defendant was guilty of an assault, but had a reasonable doubt as to whether it was an assault with intent to rape or an aggravated assault, to give him the benefit of the doubt and not find him guilty of anything higher than an aggravated assault. Then he follows with subdivisions 9 and 9% of the charge, as follows: (9) The mere fact, if it is a fact, that the defendant took hold of, kissed, or placed his hands upon, the person of the prosecutrix would not make him guilty of an assault with intent to commit rape, but, before you can convict the defendant in this case of an assault with intent to rape, you must believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that Gladys Young was at the time under 15 years of age and not the wife of the defendant, and that the defendant took hold of, kissed, or placed his hands upon, the prosecutrix in such manner as to constitute an assault, and at the very time intended instantly and with out suspension of action and without waiting to ascertain whether or not she would consent to then and there place herself in such attitude that the final act of carnal intercourse could be performed upon her, whether the purpose was to put her in such attitude by his force alone or by her free co-operation and consent. (9%) If you should believe that the defendant took hold of, or kissed, or" placed his hands upon, the prosecutrix, but you further believe that he did not intend at the time to have carnal knowledge of her, you cannot convict him of an assault with intent to rape." The charge closed with the tenth subdivision thereof, which is subdivided into several paragraphs. By the first he told the jury that the fact that appellant has not testified shall not be taken as a circumstance against him and not to take into consideration that fact nor allude to nor discuss it in their deliberations. Then, that in all criminal cases the burden of proof is on the state, the defendant is presumed to be innocent until his guilt is established by legal evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, and, if they have a reasonable doubt as to his guilt, to acquit him, and that they are the exclusive judges of the facts proved, the credibility of the witnesses, and the weight to be given to their testimony.
It will be observed that by the ninth paragraph of the charge, quoted above, the court undertook to give the principle and apply it, which was specifically laid down by this court in Cromeans v. State, 59 Tex. Cr. R. 619, 129 S. W. 1129, but perhaps omitted some words therein to make it an entirely complete sentence, but, when the whole of paragraphs 9 and 9% of the charge are taken into consideration, it was as favorable, if not more favorable, to the appellant than the law would authorize. At any rate, even though some few words might have been inadvertently omitted by the court in paragraph 9, under Code Cr. Proc. art. 743 (723), no harm whatever resulted to appellant, and especially in view of the fact that, by subdivisions 6 and 7 of the court's charge, the law applicable was fully, fairly, and favorably, submitted to the jury. Hence none of appellant's criticisms of the charge of the court present any reversible error whatever, even if his criticisms and objections thereto are so presented that we can consider them at all.
Appellant requested several special charges. In No. 2 of them he requests the court to charge the jury that, if they believe from the facts in evidence that the appellant did indulge in improper fondling and familiarities of the person of Gladys Young, such would not warrant them in finding him guilty of an assault with intent to rape unless they further find, beyond a reasonable doubt, that he did then and there actually intend "to have sexual intercourse with her. This much of that special charge was clearly and substantially covered by the cqurt's charge. This special charge then further says, "And unless you further believe beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant did then and there go further and use upon Gladys Young that kind of force that was necessary to place her in the position and attitude in which the act of sexual intercourse could have been performed with her," and unless the jury so believe, to find him not guilty of an assault with intent to rape. This latter part of this charge is not the law and should not have been given. Hightower v. State, 143 S. W. 1168, and eases there cited. In so far as appellant's charge No. 3 is concerned, such of it as was necessary to be given was fully and substantially covered by the charge of the court.
By appellant's bill of exception No. 1 he objected to the state proving by Dr. MeCuistion that appellant was a preacher or minister of the gospel, and that the country church, where the Youngs attended and were members, was one of his appointments. The court, in allowing the bill, qualified it by explaining that this testimony was admitted to show why appellant knew the prosecutrix and the length of time, etc., "and then the court will see that other witnesses testified that he was a minister without any objection whatever." It is our opinion that this evidence was legitimate and proper under the circumstances of this case, but even if not, under the qualification of the bill by the court, which was accepted by appellant, other witnesses testified to the same thing without any objection. Hence,, in any event, no error was committed.
The court refused to allow appellant's second hill of exception where, it seems, he claimed he objected to the same proof by Charles Young, and also by bill No. 4 of the same question to Mrs. Young; the court stating that this question was not asked this witness, but if it had been, he gave the same reasons as in bill No. 1. As presented to us, there was no error shown in this matter.
By appellant's third bill of exception it is shown that the state asked Mrs. L. E. Young, the mother of the prosecutrix, while she was on the stand, if her daughter Gladys complained to her of appellant's treatment of her. The witness answered that she did. It then developed by further examination of this witness that the appellant's assault upon Gladys was committed just before noon on Monday, and that her mother stated that she complained to her about it on Thursday morning following. The court, in allowing the bill, explained and qualified it thus: "The court will see that the witness never detailed any statement whatever, but simply stated the prosecutrix made complaint to her. This was admitted, and the court instructed the jury not to consider this evidence in arriving at a verdict for any purpose whatever. I thought at the time it was admissible, but, as it had been from Monday noon to Thursday morning, I thought there might be some doubt about it, and I then resolved the doubt in favor of the defendant and instructed the jury not to consider it; but, even if I had not instructed the jury to disregard it, it could not be error, for the reason that the prosecutrix testified without objection as follows: 'When I returned to the house I saw my sister and told her to keep away from him, and I aft-erwards told my mother about it.' " As thus qualified, this bill presents no error. Miller v. State, 31 Tex. Cr. R. 636, 21 S. W. 926, 37 Am. St. Rep. 836, and cases cited therein. Besides this, it seems to us that the fact that Gladys did not complain to her mother about appellant's conduct from Monday at noon until the following Thursday morning would be a circumstance in appellant's fav- or and not against him.
By appellant's fifth bill he attempts to complain of the court permitting the sheriff, when testifying, to tell what efforts in the way of advertising and rewards offered for the arrest of the appellant after he had fled the country. The court qualified the bill in allowing it with this explanation: "That the district attorney, after he had asked the sheriff if complaint had been made, asked this question: ' 'Q. I will ask you whether or not you made any efforts to find him, if so, what efforts you made? A. Why, I had cards struck offering $25 reward for him in any jail in the United States. Q. Did you find him anywhere in this part of the country? (Defendant objects to that testimony as irrelevant and immaterial what the sheriff did, offering a reward or any of his own actions in this matter as irrelevant and immaterial, and calculated to prejudice the rights of the defendant. The court overruled the objection, to which ruling of the court the defendant excepted.) Q. Where did yon find him? A. I found him in El Paso, Tex., jail.' Defendant's objection goes to all of that testimony; witness continues: T searched all in this county for him, and I mailed and sent cards everywhere. Q. Down in the Pattonville country where he had been living, X will ask you if you could find him in that part of the country if you made sea-rch for him and kept up the search and inquiry? A. I did, yes, sir; made diligent search for him. I found him in El Paso somewhere about the 15th of July. I forgot the date now.' The above are the questions, answers, and objections made to the testimony of this witness." This testimony, as shown by this bill, was legitimate and admissible.
By two other bills appellant complains of the argument of the state's attorneys. The bills do not show in what connection or why these attorneys made such remarks, nor give this court any such information therein as that it can determine what effect such remarks may have had. The jury fixed the lowest penalty. The court, in allowing each bill, qualified and explained it by stating that appellant's counsel did not request any instruction to be given to the jury to disregard the argument if it was improper. No reversible error is shown in either of these matters. Clayton v. State, 149 S. W.. 122-3, and cases therein cited.
The only other question is appellant contends that the evidence was insufficient to .sustain the verdict, and that the court ought to have given his peremptory charge to find the defendant not guilty of an assault with intent to rape. In our opinion the evidence was amply sufficient to sustain the verdict of the jury. Hightower v. State,. 143 S. W. 1168, and cases cited in this opinion.
The judgment is affirmed.