Merkel v. State

PBENDEBGAST,. Presiding Judge.

—Appellant was convicted of rape by force or threats on Esther Koch, a young girl about sixteen years of age, committed on or about July 17, 1913.

Some of the facts are established without any contradiction. Esther was a young German country girl, the daughter of a German Methodist preacher. Very shortly prior to the alleged rape she had lived in San Antonio as a servant for her aunt, who ran a rooming house. She ivas unfamiliar with the City of San Antonio. She had never seen nor heard of appellant prior to Sunday night, July 13, 1913, just three or four days…