State v. . Walker
38 S.E.2d 531
N.C.
1946
Check Treatment
*460 Denny, J.

The defendant excepts and assigns as error the refusal of his Honor to sustain his motion for judgment as of nonsuit, lodged at the close of the State’s evidence and renewed at the close of all the evidence. The exception cannot be sustained. The evidence disclosed on the record is ample to carry the case to the jury. S. v. Jackson, 199 N. C., 321, 154 S. E., 402.

The appellant also excepts and assigns as error, the admission of certain testimony on behalf of the State, by Mr. Salmon, Sheriff of Harnett County, over the objection of the defendant, on the ground that the testimony was hearsay evidence and was competent only for the purpose of corroborating the prosecutrix, Geraldine Butler, provided it did corroborate her, and for no other purpose; but the court failed to so restrict it, citing S. v. Parker, 134 N. C., 209, 46 S. E., 511.

The above decision has been modified in the particular respect upon which the appellant is relying. Rule 21 of the Rules of Practice in the Supreme Court, 221 N. C., 558, among other things, provides: “Nor will it be a ground of exception that evidence competent for some purposes but not for all, is admitted generally unless appellant asks, at the time of admission, that its purpose shall be restricted.” Therefore, this exception cannot be sustained. Hill v. Bean, 150 N. C., 436, 64 S. E., 212; Tise v. Thomasville, 151 N. C., 281, 65 S. E., 1007; S. v. McGlammery, 173 N. C., 748, 91 S. E., 371; Beck v. Tanning Co., 179 N. C., 123, 101 S. E., 498; S. v. Steele, 190 N. C., 506, 130 S. E., 308; S. v. Jackson, supra; S. v. Tuttle, 207 N. C., 649, 178 S. E., 76; S. v. Johnson, 218 N. C., 604, 12 S. E. (2d), 278; S. v. McKinnon, 223 N. C., 160, 25 S. E. (2d), 606; S. v. Ham, 224 N. C., 128, 29 S. E. (2d), 449.

The defendant challenges the admissibility of the Sheriff’s testimony on another ground, and is relying on S. v. Melvin, 194 N. C., 394, 139 S. E., 762, to sustain his position. He contends there is such a variance between the statements made to the Sheriff of Harnett County by the prosecutrix, in describing her assailant and her testimony in this respect,, given at the trial, that the Sheriff’s testimony is not corroborative, and therefore purely hearsay and inadmissible as pointed out in the above ease. We do not so hold. Sheriff Salmon testified that the prosecutrix told him, she had been attacked by a colored person, and “She said he had a gold tooth, one tooth out in front . . . She said the best she could remember he had on a light shirt and brown pants and was wearing a. white straw hat with a broken bill in front.” The prosecutrix testified at the trial below, “The defendant had on a light shirt and dark pants,, the shirt had short sleeves . . . He had on a straw hat . . . He had one-tooth missing. It was in front, right along here (indicating).” On. cross-examination she testified, she was sure the defendant was the man who assaulted her. ... “I thought he had.one tooth out, and I thought *461 be bad gold in bis teetb.” Tbe evidence discloses that tbe defendant bad a front tootb ont but bad no gold in bis teetb.

In tbe case of S. v. Melvin, supra, it was beld tbe State could not introduce in evidence tbe testimony of a witness and then undertake to impeach its own witness by tbe introduction “of previous, dissimilar and contradictory statements” made by tbe witness. Tbe above case is not in point. Here there is very little variance in tbe testimony of tbe Sheriff as to what tbe prosecutrix told him about her assailant and what she testified to in this respect at tbe trial. Certainly there is no such variance in tbe testimony complained of as to render it inadmissible, and its credibility was for tbe jury. S. v. Ham, supra.

Assignment of error No. 6 is based on an exception to tbe action of tbe trial court in allowing a Deputy Sheriff to testify that near tbe scene of tbe attack footprints were seen which tbe officers followed to a tobacco barn at which tbe defendant said be bad been curing tobacco. From tbe tobacco barn tbe footprints led to tbe defendant’s home. Tbe right-band print was made by a shoe which was broken across tbe toe. Tbe left-hand print was made by a smooth shoe with a worn heel containing two tacks. Shoes found at tbe home of tbe defendant were fitted into these prints at various places between tbe home of tbe defendant and tbe place of tbe alleged assault.

Tbe evidence which tended to show that tbe tracks into which tbe shoes of tbe defendant were fitted, were made by him, was competent. S. v. Mays, 225 N. C., 486, 35 S. E. (2d), 494; S. v. McLeod, 198 N. C., 649, 152 S. E., 895; S. v. Spencer, 176 N. C., 709, 97 S. E., 155; S. v. Lowry, 170 N. C., 730, 87 S. E., 62; S. v. Hunter, 143 N. C., 607, 56 S. E., 547; S. v. Reitz, 83 N. C., 634; S. v. Graham, 14, N. C., 646.

In tbe case of S. v. McLeod, supra, Stacy, C. J., speaking for tbe Court, said: “Tbe evidence as to tbe identity of tbe tracks was competent. S . v. Lowry, 170 N. C., 730, 87 S. E., 62. Indeed, it may be stated as a general rule that tbe correspondence of tracks, footprints, or ground marks, found in connection with a crime, with tbe track, footprints, or shoe mark of tbe accused of tbe crime, or with tbe track, footprint, or shoe mark of bis horse, or with tbe track, tread, or wheel mark of bis wagon, buggy, or automobile, is admissible in evidence as tending to identify tbe accused as tbe perpetrator of tbe crime, tbe probative value of such evidence, of course, depending upon tbe attendant circumstances.”

Tbe remaining exceptions have been abandoned.

We find no error in tbe trial below.

No error.