State v. . Bruner

65 N.C. 499

• Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
• Decided: June 5, 1871
• Status: Published

Opinion

Boyden, J.

It is well settled, that previous to the act of 1866, changing the common law, and making interested and infamous persons, as well as parties, competent witnesses, one defendant in an indictment could not be a witness for or against Ms co-defendant, until finally discharged, even where they had severed in their trials. State v. Scipio Smith, 2 Ire. 402.

The act of 1870-71, expressly declares that parties defendants, shall not be witnesses for, or against each other, and thus restores the common law.

In this ease the witness, whose testimony was admitted on ;the part of the State, was charged in the same indictment with ■the party on trial, but his submission had been entered at a -previous term, and judgment suspended. This raises the .question whether the witness continued to be a defendant •withiu the meaning of the act of 1870-71.

We think he did. He had not been finally discharged, and might still be brought into Court, and punished as a defendant in that indictment.

There is error.

Per Curiam. Venire de novo.