Court Opinion

ID: 9761249
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 01:35:57.355266+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:29:20.976593
License: Public Domain

ONION, Presiding Judge
(dissenting).
At the habeas corpus hearing the executive warrant of the Texas Governor was introduced by the State. It recites that the appellant was charged in the State of Louisiana with “the crime of armed robbery contrary to L.R.S. 14:27.” Standing alone, such warrant being regular on its face made out a prima facie case for extradition upon its introduction.
The prima facie case made out by the introduction of such executive warrant may be destroyed by evidence offered by either the respondent or relator at a habeas hearing. Ex parte Wilson, Tex.Cr.App., 437 S.W.2d 569.
To do just that the appellant introduced the supporting papers including the requisition, the application for requisition, etc., all of which reflect that the appellant is charged with “the crime of violating R.S. 14:27(64), relative to attempted armed robbery.” A discrepancy between the nature of the offense set forth in the Executive Warrant and the supporting papers was thus demonstrated.
It is well established that “[i]n determining whether a person is charged with an extraditable offense, the law of the demanding state defining the offense charged is controlling. That law is presumed, in the absence of any showing to the contrary, to be the same as the law of this state.” 25 Tex.Jur.2d, Extradition, Sec. 7, p. 126.
In the case at bar there was no showing made as to the laws of Louisiana, and under Texas law there is no such offense as attempted robbery or attempted armed robbery. See 16 Tex.Jur.2d, Criminal Law, Sec. 29, p. 134.
In Burns v. State, 167 Tex.Cr.R. 533, 322 S.W.2d 289, where the requisition of the Governor of the demanding state reflected the accused was charged with the crime of “attempt to commit sodomy,” and there was no such offense under Texas *687law nor any showing as to the law of the demanding state, it was held that the accused was not subject to extradition. See also Ex parte Juarez, Tex.Cr.App., 410 S. W.2d 444; Ex parte Brunner, Tex.Cr.App., 396 S.W.2d 125.
Thus, it is clear in absence of a showing as to the law of the demanding state that an offense an accused could neither be charged with nor tried upon in Texas could not be an extraditable offense. See Ex parte Dodson, Tex.Cr.App., 387 S.W.2d 406.
Although the Executive Warrant reflects “armed robbery” and the supporting papers reflect “attempted armed robbery,” the majority seizes upon the allegations in the Louisiana information contained in the supporting papers and concludes that the same are sufficient to substantially charge the appellant with the offense of assault with intent to rob, and extradition would be justified.
The information alleges the appellant and two others “while armed with a dangerous weapon, to wit: a revolver, attempted to commit an armed robbery upon one David A. Walsdorf” on February 13, 1964.
One of the essential elements of the offense of assault with intent to rob is the assault itself. See Article 1163, V.A.P.C. “The offense is committed only where a specific intent to rob or steal is shown to have been present at the time of the offense, coupled with the existence of facts that bring the offense within the definition of an assault.” 50 Tex.Jur.2d, Robbery, Sec. 63, p. 228.
An essential allegation in an indictment for assault with intent to rob is the fact of the assault itself. 50 Tex.Jur.2d, Robbery, Sec. 64, p. 229.
In 16 Tex.Jur.2d, Criminal Law, Sec. 30, p. 134, it is written:
“To constitute an attempt, the conduct must not amount to an assault with intent to commit the substantive crime. Thus, to constitute an attempt to rape by force, the force used must fall short of that which would bring the offense up to an assault with intent to commit rape. When the force amounts to an assault, it ceases to be a mere attempt and becomes an assault with intent to commit the crime. The two offenses then come together. When the attempt ceases, the assault begins and takes its place, and if the force actually used is such as to constitute the offense an assault with intent to commit the substantive crime, then it is no longer a mere attempt.
“There can be no assault without an attempt, but all attempts do not include an assault * * *.”
I do not read the information here involved, which does not expressly allege an assault as being sufficient to substantially charge an assault with intent to rob and to authorize extradition for that offense when the Executive Warrant and the supporting papers refer to other offenses.
Before stretching the law entirely out of shape in order to reach a seemingly desirable result, I would prefer to see this court consider and adopt a policy of judicial notice of the laws of our sister states in extradition matters.
I would reverse.