Opinion
No. 20098.
Delivered February 22, 1939. Rehearing Denied April 12, 1939.
Bail (Forfeiture of) — Courthouse Lobby.
Forfeiture of defendant's appearance bond after defendant's name had been called in courthouse lobby within 12 feet of outer door, held not erroneous, on ground that defendant's name was not called at the courthouse door as required by statute, where it was shown that the place from which defendant's name was called, when the forfeiture was taken, was within such reasonable distance of the courthouse door as to be in substantial compliance with the statute.
Appeal from Criminal District Court of Tarrant County. Hon. Willis M. McGregor, Judge.
Appeal from judgment making final a judgment nisi against defendant and his sureties on appearance bond.
Affirmed.
The opinion states the case.
Rogers Spurlock, of Fort Worth, for appellant.
Lloyd W. Davidson, State's Attorney, of Austin, for the State.
On August 20, 1937, an indictment against S. T. Barkman was returned into the Criminal District Court of Tarrant County, Texas, charging him with having removed from the State an automobile upon which he had theretofore executed a valid mortgage in writing. On the 23rd of August, 1937 Barkman entered into an appearance bond in the sum of one thousand dollars with Hal O. McConnell and J. A. Petty as sureties. On the 18th day of January, 1938, Barkman's case was called for trial. He failed to appear. Forfeiture was taken on his bond and judgment nisi entered against him and his sureties for the amount of the bond.
Upon proper notice a trial was had on June 29, 1938 to determine whether said judgment nisi should be made final, which trial resulted in entering final judgment against Barkman and his surety J. A. Petty, but with a direction that the State take nothing against the surety McConnell. From this final judgment J. A. Petty prosecutes this appeal. Upon the trial to determine whether the judgment nisi should be made final the evidence is substantially the same as that set out in the opinion in cause No. 20,109, Henry Darwin Caldwell, et al v. State, this day decided. (Page 524 of this volume.) It is not necessary to prolong this opinion by a re-statement of the facts. The same reasons which resulted in an affirmance in the cause mentioned calls for the same action here, and the judgment is affirmed.
ON APPELLANT'S MOTION FOR REHEARING.
After carefully re-examining the record in the light of appellants' motion for rehearing, we are constrained to adhere to the conclusion expressed in the original opinion.
The motion for rehearing is overruled.
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.