18 S.E. 692 | N.C. | 1893
(Syllabus by CLARK, J.) The indictment charged that the defendant entered the dwelling house of one Sallie Ham, in the night time, with intent to (667) commit rape on an inmate of the house, and that he made an assault on the latter with intent to commit rape. All the evidence tended to show that the family was actually present in the house at the time it was entered.
His Honor charged the jury that, although all the evidence was that the family was present in the house at the time it was alleged to have been entered, they might find that he was guilty of burglary in the first or second degree.
There was a verdict of guilty of burglary in the second degree, and from the judgment thereon defendant appealed. The defendant was indicted for burglary. The court charged the jury that, "although all the evidence was that the family were present in the house" at the time it was alleged to have been entered, they might find the prisoner guilty of burglary in the first degree, or they might find him guilty of burglary in the second degree. The jury returned a verdict of guilty of burglary in the second degree, and the prisoner assigns the above instruction as error.
The court should have charged the jury that if they believed from the evidence that the family was present in the house at the time of the felonious entry, as charged, they should convict the defendant of burglary in the first degree. Under such circumstances, the jury are not vested with the discretionary power to convict of burglary in the second degree. The power to commute punishment does not reside with the jury. This very point was passed upon and decided in S. v. Fleming,
Besides, the appellant in any case, civil or criminal, cannot complain of any error which is not injurious to him. S. v. Frank,
If there was error here, the effect was to cause a verdict for the lesser offense to be found against the appellant than should have been rendered. It does not lie in the prisoner's mouth to complain that he is to be sent to the penitentiary for seven years — the sentence imposed in this case — when the evidence might have justified a verdict and sentence against him for the capital offense charged in the indictment.
No error.
Cited: S. v. Covington,
(669)