State v. Wells

130 S.E.2d 299, 259 N.C. 173, 1963 N.C. LEXIS 522
CourtSupreme Court of North Carolina
DecidedApril 10, 1963
Docket290
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 130 S.E.2d 299 (State v. Wells) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of North Carolina primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Wells, 130 S.E.2d 299, 259 N.C. 173, 1963 N.C. LEXIS 522 (N.C. 1963).

Opinions

Bobbitt, J.

With reference to Case No. 7141, based on warrant bearing Serial No. 149413, the verdict and judgment relate solely [176]*176to the count in this warrant charging “Resist Arrest.” This count, which presumably was intended to charge n violation of G.S. 14-223, is fatally defective; and, with reference thereto, defendant’s motion in arrest of judgment is allowed. S. v. Eason, 242 N.C. 59, 62, 86 S.E. 2d 774, and cases cited; S. v. Harvey, 242 N.C. 111, 112, 86 S.E. 2d 793. “. . . while it is a general rule prevailing in this State that an indictment for a statutory offense is sufficient if the offense be charged in the words of the statute, S. v. Jackson, 218 N.C. 373, 11 S.E. 2d 149, the rule is inapplicable where the words of the statute do not in themselves inform the accused of the specific offense of which he is accused so as to enable him to prepare his defense or plead his conviction or acquittal as a bar to further prosecution for the same offense, as where the statute characterizes the offense in mere general or generic terms, or does not sufficiently define the crime or set forth all its essential elements.” S. v. Cox, 244 N.C. 57, 59, 92 S.E. 2d 413.

With reference to Case No. 7143, based on warrant bearing Serial No. 149411:

1. The count in this warrant purporting to charge a violation of G.S. 20-140 describes the offense in these words: “Careless and Reckless Driving (20-140).” This count is fatally defective and, with reference thereto, defendant’s motion in arrest of judgment is allowed. As indicated above, the minimum requirement of >a warrant or indictment for a statutory offense is that such offense be charged substantially in the language of the statute. S. v. Barnes, 253 N.C. 711, 717, 117 S.E. 2d 849, and cases cited; S. v. Wilson, 218 N.C. 769, 12 S.E. 2d 654, and cases cited. (Note: As to punishment for violation of G.S. 20-140(a) .and G.S. 20-140(b), see G.S. 20-140(c).)

2. The count in this warrant charging “Fail to. Stop for Red Light and Siren,” contains no reference to the statute(s) on which it is based. Without reference to whether this count sufficiently charges a violation of G.S. 20-158(c) or a violation of G.S. 20-157(a), the judgment imposing sentence thereon must be and is arrested. The court’s instructions to the jury contain no reference to this count or to evidence or contentions pertinent thereto. Hence, it appears plainly the court did not submit this count for jury determination.

3. The count in this warrant charging that defendant unlawfully and wilfully operated a motor vehicle upon the public highway at a speed of 80 miles per hour in a 55-mile per -hour speed zone sufficiently charges a violation of G.S. 20-141. However, the judgment imposing sentence on this count must be and is arrested. The court’s instructions to the jury contain no reference to this count or to evidence or con[177]*177tentions pertinent thereto. Hence, it appears plainly that the court did not submit this count for jury determination.

With reference to Oase No-. 7142, 'based on warrant -bearing Serial No. 149412, the only count in this warrant charges that defendant “(o)n Sat. the 24 day of Feb. 1962 at 12:10 A.M. in Wayne County in the vicinity of N.C. 581 . . . did unlawfully and willfully operate a motor vehicle upon the public streets .or highways: . . . Transporting and -possession of a quantity of nontaxpaid whiskey for the purpose of sale, to wit, 30 gallons of nontaxpaid whiskey,” etc.

Conceding the possession of nontaxpaid whiskey for the purpose of sale is a separate and distinct -criminal offense, the portion of this warrant written in ink must be considered in relation to the preceding portion, namely, the accusation that the defendant unlawfully and wilfully operated a motor vehicle upon the public -highway, etc. While inexpertly drawn, the warrant charges the unlawful transportation by defendant of 30 gallons of nontaxpaid whiskey, a violation of the Turlington Act, G.S. 18-2, and also a violation of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act of 1937, G.S. 18-49.1, G.S. 18-49.2 and G.S. 18-49.3. Whether the transportation of the nontaxpaid whiskey was unlawful did not depend upon whether it was being transported for the purpose of sale. Moreover, only a person in the actual or constructive possession of nontaxpaid whiskey, absent conspiracy or -aiding and abetting, could be guilty of the unlawful transportation thereof. Thus, in the circumstances here considered, we think the references to “possession” and “for the purpose of sale” were superfluous but did not mislead or prejudice defendant.

Defendant made no motion to quash the warrant and thereby waived any duplicity therein. S. v. Merritt, 244 N.C. 687, 688, 94 S.E. 2d 825, and cases -cited. As to this warrant, defendant’s motion in arrest of judgment (first made in this Court) is without merit and is denied.

When this warrant and the evidence and the charge relating thereto are considered, it appears clearly the court submitted for jury determination whether’ defendant was guilty or not guilty of one criminal offense, namely, the unlawful transportation of nontaxpaid whiskey, a misdemeanor. See S. v. Thompson, 257 N.C. 452, 457, 126 S.E. 2d 58, and cases cited.

Referring to this warrant, the court charged the jury in part as follows: “It is against the law ... for -any person in North Carolina to transport any amount of non-tax paid -whisky; it is against the law in North Carolina for -any person to transport more than one gallon of tax-paid whisky, at any time, unless he be a duly authorized [178]*178person of the state to transport it for ABC purposes, from place to place; (and the possession of any person in such a quantity as thirty gallons would carry with it the implication that the person had it for unlawful disposition or for sale.)” Defendant assigns as error the portion of the foregoing instruction enclosed by parentheses.

The 'Context shows the court, in the excerpt challenged by defendant, was referring to law applicable to the transportation of taxpaid whiskey. There is no evidence or suggestion that the whiskey transported by defendant was taxpaid whiskey. As indicated, the court had instructed the jury correctly (and did so in further instructions) that the transportation of any quantity of nontaxpaid whiskey was unlawful. The reference to the possession and transportation of tax-paid whiskey was unnecessary. Even so, we do not perceive the court’s comments with reference thereto were prejudicial to defendant.

There was plenary evidence nontaxpaid whiskey (30 gallons) was being transported in the trunk of defendant’s car and that defendant tried (but failed) to outrun the State highway patrolmen and thereby avoid search of the trunk and discovery of the whiskey.

As to the charge of unlawful transportation of nontaxpaid whiskey, defendant’s testimony is interesting. Summarized, except when quoted, defendant’s testimony was as follows:

Until approximately two years prior to February 24, 1962, defendant had “hauled liquor for about a couple of years” for a man in Johnston County but “stopped for a while.” Prior to February 24, 1962, defendant “had gotten behind on (his) bills” and “had to do something.” A man “had been calling (him), telling (him) to come back,” and as a result defendant made the following agreement:

Defendant was to go to Johnston County three times a week and on one

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State v. Wells
130 S.E.2d 299 (Supreme Court of North Carolina, 1963)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
130 S.E.2d 299, 259 N.C. 173, 1963 N.C. LEXIS 522, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-wells-nc-1963.