State v. Atkinson.

53 S.E. 228, 141 N.C. 734, 1906 N.C. LEXIS 154

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: February 27, 1906
• Status: Published

Opinion

Clark, C. J.

Indictment for assault with a deadly weapon, to-wit, a pistol. The court charged the jury that if the State had “satisfied them beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant pointed a pistol at the prosecutor, whether loaded or not, this would be an assault” and to find the defendant guilty. Laws 1889, chap. 527 (now Revisal, sec. 3622), expressly so provides whether the unloaded pistol is pointed at another in fun or otherwise, and it is unnecessary to consider whether this would be so independent of the statute.

The court further charged the jury that if they were satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant had a pistol in his coat pocket and “with pistol and hand on the inside of his pocket, he pointed the pistol at the prosecutor, this would be an assault, and they should find the defendant guilty.” This was not error. Firing a pistol concealed in the pocket of a coat, through the cloth, without the risk of first taking it out of his pocket, is a most cowardly and unfair advantage, and such user should be punished more severely than the use of the weapon openly when the other party would have some warning. Pointing the pistol at the prosecutor in this manner was an assault.

We pass upon these exceptions, though we dismiss the appeal because the affidavit to appeal, without giving bond, is fatally defective, in that it omits the averment that it is “made in good faith.” This is required as to such appeals in criminal cases (Revisal, sec. 3278), though this is not required as to appeals in forma pauperis in civil actions. Revisal, see. 597. Such dismissal is a matter of right and does not rest in the discretion of the court. An appeal without bond is valid only when the statutory requirements are complied with. State v. Bramble, 121 N. C., 603, and numerous cases there cited.

Appeal Dismissed.