Carso v. State

375 S.W.2d 297, 1963 Tex. Crim. App. LEXIS 827

• Court: Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas
• Decided: December 11, 1963
• Docket: 36295
• Status: Published

Opinions

McDonald, judge.

Appellant stands convicted of Robbery by Assault. The jury found him to be the same person previously convicted of three felony offenses less than capital on which judgments of conviction had become final. The sentence is life imprisonment in the state penitentiary.

The evidence reflects that the victim of the robbery, Ralph R. Holmes, manager of the Houston Country Club, was in his office at the club when appellant, a stranger, entered the office and, at pistol point, robbed him of the country club’s cash box containing $979.45. Mr. Holmes identified the appellant in the courtroom as the man who., robbed him. The cash box which had been recovered, was also identified by Holmes*

R. O. Queen, fingerprint classifier and identifier for the Houston Police Department, after having his expertness stipulated; by the appellant, testified that three finger-! prints found on the door at the scene of the robbery were those of the appellant. Further evidence against the appellant included an oral confession which he made to Houston Police Lt. W. C. Doss, detailing the incidents of the robbery, which enabled Doss to learn of and recover the pistol used therein.

Appellant contends that his rights were violated by allegation in the indictment of three felony offenses less than capital, this being more than necessary under Article 63 of Vernon’s Texas Penal Code.

The indictment, as presented, was read to the jury in conformance with our present procedural requirement and thereafter appellant waived proof by witnesses as to the prior convictions by stipulating that he was the same person convicted of the three felonies less than capital, each being a final conviction.

This court has held that where two prior felony convictions alleged in an indictment were proved in addition to proof of commission of the felony charged, defendant was properly sentenced to life imprisonment as an habitual criminal, notwithstanding proof of a third prior felony conviction. Ex parte Bonds, 148 Tex.Cr.R. 198, 185 S.W.2d 984; White v. State, 157 Tex.Cr.R. 171, 247 S.W.2d 396; May v. State, 171 Tex.Cr.R. 497, 350 S.W.2d 924; Johnson v. State, 155 Tex.Cr.R. 325, 235 S.W.2d 180. Thus appellant’s contention is without merit.

There are no formal bills of exception. The remaining claims of error do not reflect reversible error.

Finding the evidence sufficient to support the verdict, and no reversible error appearing, the judgment is affirmed.