Osborne v. State

Atkinson, Justice.

Where, in a hotel room, two men strike and beat another with their hands, strike him in the face with a blunt instrument, and then immediately take his money from the pocket of his trousers which are hanging in a closet eight or ten feet away from the victim, such acts constitute robbery by force under the Code, § 26-2501.

(a) In such circumstances, the' evidence contains the element of force contemplated by the statute. Long v. State, 12 Ga. 293 (9); Smith v. State, 117 Ga. 320 (43 S. E. 736, 97 Am. St. R. 165); Moran v. State, 125 Ga. 33 (53 S. E. 806); Bowen v. State, 16 Ga. App. 110 (84 S. E. 730); Rivers v. State, 46 Ga. App. 778 (5) (169 S. E. 260); Thomas v. State, 54 Ga. App. 747 (2) (189 S. E. 68).

‘(h) It is not necessary that the property be taken directly from one’s person; it is sufficient if it be taken while in his possession and im*764mediate control. Clements v. State, 84 Ga. 660 (11 S. E. 505, 20 Am. St. R. 385); Crawford v. State, 90 Ga. 701 (2) (17 S. E. 628, 35 Am. St. R. 242); Grant v. State, 125 Ga. 259 (54 S. E. 191).

No. 15489. June 4, 1946.

Judgment affirmed.

All the Justices concur. Robert T. Speer and Gladys T. Medlock, for plaintiff in error. Eugene Cook, Attorney-General, E. E. Andrews, Solicitor-General, J. R. Parham, Eurwood T. Pye, Daniel Duke and Roscoe Thompson, Assistant Attorneys-General, contra.