Houghton v. State

• Decision Date: 08 October 1930
• Docket Number: No. 13534.,13534.
• Citation: 32 S.W.2d 837
• Parties: HOUGHTON et al. v. STATE.
• Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

32 S.W.2d 837

HOUGHTON et al. v. STATE.

No. 13534.

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.

October 8, 1930.

Rehearing Denied November 26, 1930.

Commissioners' Decision.

Appeal from District Court, Crosby County; Homer L. Pharr, Judge.

T. M. Houghton and another were convicted of burglary, and they appeal.

Affirmed.

L. G. Mathews, of Floydada, for appellants.

A. A. Dawson, State's Atty., of Canton, for the State.

CHRISTIAN, J.

The offense is burglary; the punishment, confinement in the penitentiary for two years.

The count of the indictment under which appellants were tried and convicted alleged ownership of the burglarized building and of the property taken therefrom in Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation. The testimony of the state was to the effect that P. H. Mitchell was the agent in Ralls of Phillips Petroleum Company. Touching his agency, Mr. Mitchell testified that he was bulk agent of all of the Phillips Petroleum Company's business in Ralls; that he had the burglarized filling station in his charge and under his control for Phillips Petroleum Company, and acted for said company in conducting the business of said station; that the property belonged to Phillips Petroleum Company, but was under his control, and he was responsible for it; that he received a commission of 2 cents on each gallon of gasoline as compensation for his services. He testified further that some one broke the plate glass out of the window and took from the building a cash register belonging to Phillips Petroleum Company, and that said building was entered and the cash register taken therefrom without his consent. An accomplice testified that he went to the filling station at night with appellants in an automobile; that he remained in the car while appellants went to the rear of the station; that he heard glass breaking; that later he went into the filling station with appellants; that appellants brought a cash register from the station, which they carried away in the automobile. Other witnesses testified to facts and circumstances placing appellants in the automobile described by the accomplice near the filling station. The cash register was recovered near a highway appellants were seen to travel on the night of the burglary. A finger print expert testified that he found the finger prints of appellants on the cash register. Other corroborative circumstances were testified to, which we deem it unnecessary to detail.

Appellants take the position that the allegation of ownership is not supported by the proof. There is no rule of law which inhibits the naming of a corporation as the owner in an indictment for theft. Modica v. State, 94 Tex. Cr. R. 403, 251 S. W. 1049. The rules as to alleging and proving ownership in cases of burglary are the same as in cases of theft. Branch's Annotated Penal Code, § 2324; Moore v. State, 59 Tex. Cr. R. 363, 128 S. W. 1115; Payne v. State, 67 Tex. Cr. R. 161, 148 S. W. 694; Whorton v. State, 68 Tex. Cr. R. 187, 151 S. W. 300; Powers v. State, 72 Tex. Cr. R. 290, 162 S. W. 832. P. H. Mitchell had the care and control of the filling station and the property therein, as agent of the corporation. The actual care, control, and management of the property of a corporation must of necessity be in some natural person, some one acting for the corporation. Osborne v. State, 93 Tex. Cr. R. 54, 245 S. W. 928. The opinion is expressed that the proof supports the allegation of ownership.

We find in the record written objections to the charge of the court because of its failure to embrace an instruction covering the law of circumstantial evidence. The objections are merely marked "overruled" over the signature of the trial judge. It is not certified that they were presented before the reading of the main charge to the jury. Hence the question of the propriety of the charge is not presented for review. If the exception should be considered, the opinion is expressed that the facts proven are in such close juxtaposition to the main fact to be proven, the breaking and entry, as to be equivalent to direct evidence. Skirlock v. State, 104 Tex. Cr. R. 420, 284 S. W. 545; Montgomery v. State, 55 Tex. Cr. R. 502, 116 S. W. 1160.

The judgment is affirmed.

PER CURIAM.

The foregoing opinion of the Commission of Appeals has been examined by the judges of the Court of Criminal Appeals and approved by the court.

On Motion for Rehearing.

MORROW, P. J.

The indictment charged the ownership of the burglarized premises in the Phillips Petroleum Company, a corporation. The proof showed that...