State v. . Stancill

Sep 24, 1919
Versions:178 N.C. 683
100 S.E. 241
1919 N.C. LEXIS 536
"WalKeb, J.,

after stating the ease: It will be perceived from the foregoing statement that the issue in the case, and it was clear-cut and .sharply drawn by the contentions of both the Stancills,- was, Did the Stancills know that Ernest Perry had stolen the tobacco,? The errors assigned by the defendant relate to the competency of testimony. It appears that the three defendants were jointly indicted for stealing *685 tobacco from J. F. Harris and others, and the evidence tends to show that they had formed a conspiracy to commit the theft, and this was the substance of the offense, as shown by the bill and the testimony. They had combined together, at least two of them — and there was evidence against the third, who was finally acquitted — to do an unlawful act, that is, to steal from the prosecutors. The acts and declarations of those who were parties to the common design, in furtherance of the conspiracy, were competent. S. v. Anderson, 92 N. C., 732; S. v. Brady, 107 N. C., 822. As the charge is not in the record, it must be presumed that the jury were correctly instructed, as to the competency and relevancy of such evidence, and as to the circumstances under which it could be used by them, and as to what extent it could be considered.

The testimony of Ed. Marks as to what the defendant, Ernest Ferry, had said to him about the stealing of the tobacco by Garland Stancill and himself was, standing by itself, an unsworn declaration of Ernest, incompetent against Garland, but he afterwards took the stand himself' as a witness and testified to the same facts. If the statement by him was. technically incompetent, at the time of its introduction, and we will admit that it was. so, the error was cured when Ernest Perry testified,, substantially at least, to the samte thing. Albert v. Ins. Co., 122 N. C., 92; Strother v. R. R., 123 N. C., 197; Beaman v. Ward, 132 N. C., 68; Summerlin v. R. R., 133 N. C., 550; Turner v. Comrs., 127 N. C., 153,. or, in any view, it was harmless error. See cases above. It was immaterial whether he made the statement to Ed. Marks or to any other person; the important fact was, whether he made it at all. That he made-it was merely corroborative of his own testimony, and if defendant desired it to be confined to that single purpose, he should have asked the judge to do so. But, as we have said, it is but harmless, when considered with the testimony of Ernest Perry. Rawls v. White, 127 N. C., 17. We do not reverse for error which does no harm, and is free from prejudice. The statement came first, before Ernest Perry testified, but the order of the testimony is regulated by the discretion of the judge, and, when there is no clear and gross abuse of it, we will not interfere. Worth v. Ferguson, 122 N. C., 381. It may be that the court admitted this testimony at the time it appears to have come into the case, in anticipation of similar and sworn testimony of Ernest Perry when he took the stand as a State’s witness, and as corroborative of it. Besides, it appears-that the objection was not offered until the question was answered. This was too late. Beaman v. Ward, 132 N. C., 68; Dobson v. R. R., 132 N. C., 900. But, as already shown by the authorities, slight error, where there is no prejudice, works no harm, and does not justify a reversal. Griffin v. R. R., 138 N. C., 55; West v. Grocery Co., ib., 166.

*686 •The testimony: as to tbe theft of the Wilkinson tobacco was offered merely to show the intent with which the defendants stole this tobacco, and not to prove the accusation substantively. It was sufficiently connected with the main charge to render it competent for this purpose. It was all taken to Raymond Stancill’s, the common storehouse for the loot •of these defendants. It was but a part of a series of transactions carried out in pursuance of the original design, and it was contemplated by them in the beginning, that they should plunder the tobacco barns in the neighborhood, and this was one of them. The jury might well have inferred this common purpose from the evidence. Robbing Wilkinson •was a part of the common design, and done in furtherance of it. Proof •of the commission of other like offenses to show the scienter, intent, or motive is generally competent when the crimes are so connected or asso•ciated that this evidence will throw light upon that question. ^ In Wharton’s Cr. Ev. (10th ed.), p. 60, such testimony is thus classified: “ First. As part of the res gestee. S. v. Freeman, 49 N. C., 5; S. v. Murphy 84 N. C., 742; S., v. Thompson, 97 N. C., 496; S. v. Mace, 118 N. C., 1244; S. v. Adams, 138 N. C., 688. Second. To prove identity of person or crime. S. v. Thompson; supra; S. v. Weaver, 104 N. C., 758. Third. To prove guilty knowledge. S. v. Twitty, 9 N. C., 248; S. v. Walton, 114 N. C., 783; S. v. Hight, 150 N. C., 817; Ins. Co. v. Knight, 160 N. C., 592. Fourth. To prove intent. S. v. Weaver, 104 N. C., 758. Fifth. To prove motive. S. v. Plyler, 153 N. C., 630. Sixth. To prove system. S. v. Wilkerson, 98 N. C., 696; S. v. Winner, 153 N. C., 602. Seventh. To prove malice. Eighth. To rebutt special ■defenses.” We think that several of these classes embrace the objections made here, and that the latter are answered by the law as therp stated by Wharton. It is said in S. v. Murphy, 84 N. C., 742: “Evidence of a' “collateral offense’ of the same character and connected with that charged in an indictment, and tending to prove the guilty knowledge of the defendant, when that is an essential element of the crime, is admissible; •.therefore, on the trial of an indictment for the larceny of a hog, where ■the prosecutor testified that he identified the property as his in an inclosure of the defendant, and demanded its delivery to him, it was held •competent for the State to prove by the testimony of another witness that, at the same time and place and in the presence of the prosecutor .and defendant, such witness said that the other hog therein was his, and .he then and there claimed and demanded it of defendant.” In that case, the Court says, in an opinion by Justice Ashe, who always wrote clearly, .accurately, and vigorously, and reviews the law at length: “Where the •question of identity or intent is involved, or where it is necessary to show .a guilty knowledge on the part of the prisoner, evidence may be received •of other criminal acts than those charged in the indictment,” citing and *687 approving Yarborough v. State, 41 Ala., 405; Thorp v. State, 15 Ala., 749. The whole question is considered, and fully reviewed, in Gray v. Cartwright, 174 N. C., 49, where the authorities are collected. This question is fully discussed by the Chief Justice in S. v. Simons, at this term, and evidence of the kind admitted in this case is held there to be competent to show knowledge, intent, and motive.

The testimony of Oscar Bryant was competent as corroborative of the witness Henry Crowell. It was also competent* as rebutting Garland Stancill’s special defense, that he was not familiar with that neighborhood, and that he was deceived by Perry as to the latter’s purpose in going to “his,IJncle Bob Parker’s house.”

It may be said generally that the objections to testimony were taken after the questions had been answered. This is not the proper course, and the reason is that it gives the objector two chances, if the answer proved to be favorable to him, he would not need an objection, but if unfavorable he would. He can be silent if he likes it, or object when he finds that he does not. He should object to the question, and then, if the answer is not responsive, and contains unfavorable new matter, he can move to strike it out. Beaman v. Ward, supra; Dobson v. R. R., supra.

The prisoner was ably defended, but with all the light shed upon the case at the trial below, and in this Court, we deem the criticisms of counsel in regard to the rulings of the court to be unsound.

We can discover no tenable ground for reversal.

No error.