{ "id": 8552848, "name": "HOWARD D. BLAKENEY v. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA", "name_abbreviation": "Blakeney v. State", "decision_date": "1968-09-18", "docket_number": "No. 6818SC336", "first_page": "312", "last_page": "318", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "2 N.C. App. 312" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C. Ct. App.", "id": 14983, "name": "North Carolina Court of Appeals" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "154 S.E. 604", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "199 N.C. 278", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8599333 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/199/0278-01" ] }, { "cite": "110 S.E. 93", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "182 N.C. 907", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8659534 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/182/0907-01" ] }, { "cite": "116 N.C. 976", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8655948 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/116/0976-01" ] }, { "cite": "142 N.C. 577", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8652554 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/142/0577-01" ] }, { "cite": "189 S.E. 183", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "211 N.C. 66", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8623937 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/211/0066-01" ] }, { "cite": "81 S.E. 2d 263", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "240 N.C. 99", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8595038 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/240/0099-01" ] }, { "cite": "94 S.E. 2d 825", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "244 N.C. 687", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 2219462 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/244/0687-01" ] }, { "cite": "147 S.E. 2d 377", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "266 N.C. 785", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8563805 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/266/0785-01" ] }, { "cite": "148 S.E. 2d 844", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "267 N.C. 755", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8560725 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/267/0755-01" ] }, { "cite": "150 S.E. 2d 21", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "268 N.C. 152", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8560616 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/268/0152-01" ] }, { "cite": "145 S.E. 2d 297", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "266 N.C. 55", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8559584 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/266/0055-01" ] }, { "cite": "185 S.E. 661", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "210 N.C. 159", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8624514 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/210/0159-01" ] }, { "cite": "140 S.E. 2d 318", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "263 N.C. 784", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8573133 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/263/0784-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 624, "char_count": 14205, "ocr_confidence": 0.535, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.028661125278469e-07, "percentile": 0.5473707154355331 }, "sha256": "30b2ded4f89ed96ad44c429a82c3fb3fbca0d6e210f8a0d0791989bfa904c382", "simhash": "1:ba896b56421e28f6", "word_count": 2382 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T19:15:57.624547+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [ "MallaRD, C.J., and Campbell, J., concur." ], "parties": [ "HOWARD D. BLAKENEY v. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Morris, J.\nOn 1 January 1968, petitioner filed what he denominated a \u201cPetition for a Post Conviction Writ of Review\u201d. Therein he alleged that on 28 May 1967, he was arrested and charged with \u201cbreaking-enter the Dockery Lumber and Hardware Company, Inc.\u201d; that on 29 May 1967, he was given a preliminary hearing and \u201cheld over for Superior Court\u201d; that about the middle of June, counsel was appointed for him; that about three days later, his court-appointed counsel, Mr. B. Gordon Gentry, came to see him; that on 10 July 1967, he was taken to trial; that the matter was continued until 11 July 1967, \u201cwhere the defendant did enter a plea of guilty through his lawyer, Mr. Gordon Gentry\u201d; that as a result of said plea, petitioner was given a four-year prison sentence. He further alleged: (1) that the arresting officers did not advise him of his constitutional rights, (2) that he was denied counsel at his preliminary hearing, (3) that \u201cthe bill of indictment was in error as the records will show the bill of indictment #5025 has charged petitioner with house breaking where the petitioner was tried and sentence (sic) for the offense of breaking and entering a certain Dockery Lumber and Hardware Company, Inc.\u201d He asked for the appointment of counsel. Answer to the petition was filed by the solicitor on 12 January 1968.\nThe matter was heard on 19 April 1968, and judgment denying the petition was filed 25 April 1968. The judgment recited that petitioner and his court-appointed counsel were present as was the solicitor. The judgment set out in seriatim the contentions of pe-tition\u00e9r made either in his petition or by testimony at the hearing noting that petitioner had abandoned his contention that the Dock-ery Lumber Company was not within the city limits and his contention that he was denied counsel at his preliminary hearing. Included in the listed contentions was the following:\n\u201c6. That the uncontradicted and unimpeached evidence in the post conviction hearing is that he did not read the indictment before his trial nor was it read to him and he did not consider whether it was defective or not; that he had no discussion with his lawyer or any thoughts to himself as to whether the indictment should be quashed or otherwise attacked and he did not give thought to pleading not guilty because he was not properly charged with a crime. The record shows that no motion to quash was made by the defendant-petitioner or his counsel at the trial of said case.\u201d\nThe judgment further included a statement that\u2019 the trial court inquired of petitioner and his attorney whether there were any other contentions and both stated there were none.\nThe court\u2019s findings' of fact included a finding that petitioner entered a plea of 'guilty as charged on a valid bill of indictment; that the plea was freely and voluntarily made (setting out the questions touching the voluntariness of his plea asked by the court of petitioner after he was duly sworn in open court); that the sentence is not excessive; that petitioner was represented by competent counsel. Based upon the findings of fact the trial court concluded as a matter of law that (1) petitioner had a fair and impartial trial and none of his constitutional or other rights was violated; (2) that petition and motion for new trial should be dismissed; (3) that petitioner is imprisoned by virtue of a legal and final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; (4) that his plea of guilty was tendered to and accepted by the trial court after obtaining satisfactory answers to the ten -questions propounded and that the trial court found that the plea was entered voluntarily, freely, knowingly, and understanding^; (6) that the bill of indictment follows precisely the language of the statute (G.S. 14-54) in the heading and content thereof.\nUpon the entry of the final order of the court, petitioner excepted and gave notice of petition for writ of certiorari and requested appointment of counsel. Norman B. Smith was appointed to represent petitioner in proceedings before this Court and it was further ordered that Guilford County pay for a transcript of the proceedings at the post-conviction hearing for petitioner\u2019s use.\nThis Court, on 3 July 1968, allowed the petition for certiorari. He brings forward only one contention: That the indictment was fatally defective in two respects. First, the disjunctive \u201cor\u201d was used instead of the conjunctive \u201cand\u201d in joining the word \u201cbreak\u201d to the word \u201center\u201d. Second, the indictment charged that the offense was committed at the place of a certain storehouse, shop, etc., occupied by Dockery Lumber and Hardware Company, Inc., but at no place does the indictment state what building or thing had actually been broken into or entered.\nIt is, of course, an essential of jurisdiction that a criminal offense be sufficiently charged in a warrant or an indictment. State v. Banks, 263 N.C. 784, 140 S.E. 2d 318.\nThe primary purpose of an indictment insofar as an accused person is concerned is to furnish the accused such a description of the charge against him as will enable him to prepare his defense and also protect him from a further or additional prosecution for the same criminal act. 27 Am. Jur., Indictments and Informations, \u00a7 2, p. 585; State v. Williams, 210 N.C. 159, 185 S.E. 661; State v. Banks, supra.\nDefendant-petitioner earnestly contends that the indictment here does not meet the test and is fatally, defective because it charges that the accused \u201cdid break or enter with intent to steal\u201d etc., rather than \u201cdid break and enter with intent to steal\u201d etc. We cannot agree.\nThe defendant-petitioner was, by his own statements, fully aware of the charges against him. At his post-conviction hearing, he testified that he was put under oath at his trial before being asked questions by the trial court and that he answered the questions in his own handwriting. This further testimony was elicited from him on cross-examination at his post-conviction hearing:\n\u201cMr. Clark: And he asked you, \u2018Do you understand what you are charged with in this case?\u2019 and you answered, \u2018Yes.\u2019\nIsn\u2019t that right?\nWitness: Yes, sir.\nMr. Clark: In other words, you knew you were charged with breaking and entering. Dockery Lumber Company, didn\u2019t you?\nWitness: Yes, sir.\nMr. Clark: And you knew you were charged with breaking and entering the .Dockery Lumber Company on the 28th of May, 1967, didn\u2019t you \u2014 isn\u2019t that right?\nWitness: I knew that I was charged with attempt to break, what I read on the warrant.\nMr. Clark: I\u2019m not talking about the warrant, I\u2019m talking about the bill of indictment, you knew you were charged with breaking and entering that place with intent to commit a felony in it, didn\u2019t you?\nWitness: Yes, sir.\u201d\nAnd on redirect examination, the defendant-petitioner testified:\n\u201cMr. Smith: You said something about not understanding what you were charged with earlier \u2014 you said you thought you were charged with \u2018intent\u2019?\nWitness: Attempt to break and enter.\nMr. Smith: You thought you were being charged with attempt to break and enter, is that right?\nWitness: That\u2019s right.\nMr. Smith: Had you read and analyzed the bill of indietment very carefully? How closely did you look at it?\nWitness: You mean before he asked me these questions?\nMb. Smith: Before your plea?\nWitness: I hadn\u2019t ever \u2018seed\u2019 the bill of indictment.\nMe. Smith: All,you had seen before was the warrant; is that right?\nWitness: That\u2019s right. I hadn\u2019t ever \u2018seed\u2019 it until I went to prison and sent back for a copy.\nMe. Smith: What did the Judge tell you that you were charged with?\nWitness: Well, I understood him to say the charge was what the warrant said.\nMe. Smith: Breaking and entering with intent to commit a felony?\nWitness: That\u2019s right.\"\nIn his petition for a post-conviction hearing, defendant-petitioner stated that he was charged with \u201cbreaking-enter the Dockery Lumber and Hardware Company, Inc.\u201d He further alleged in the same petition: \u201cPetitioner contends the bill of indictment was in error as the records will show the bill of indictment #5025 has charged petitioner with housebreaking where the petitioner was tried and sentence (sic) for the offense of breaking and entering a certain Dockery Lumber and Hardware Company, Inc.\u201d (Emphasis supplied.)\nPetitioner does not contend that he was not represented by competent counsel, and the trial court found as a fact that his counsel represented him \u201cin an able and diligent manner at said trial after he had time to prepare adequately and properly said case for trial.\u201d No exception is taken to this finding of fact. It is noted that no motion to quash was made.\nUnquestionably petitioner was aware of the charges against him. He is also fully protected against prosecution for the same offense. Evidence of a breaking when available is relevant, but the absence of such evidence is not a fatal defect of proof to support a conviction of breaking and entering under G.S. 14-54 where there is proof of entry. State v. Brown, 266 N.C. 55, 145 S.E. 2d 297. Nor is proof of entry where there is proof of breaking necessary to support a conviction on a charge of breaking and entering under the statute. State v. Nichols, 268 N.C. 152, 150 S.E. 2d 21.\nThe second alleged defect is totally without merit. The indictment specifically states that petitioner \u201con the 28th day of May, A.D. 1967, with force and arms at and in the County aforesaid, a certain storehouse, shop, warehouse, dwelling house, bankinghouse, countinghouse and building occupied by one Dockery Lumber and Hardware Company, Inc., 3011 E. Market Street, Greensboro, N. C., . . . did break or enter with intent to steal . . .\u201d This identifies the premises with sufficient certainty to enable the defendant-petitioner to prepare his defense and offer him protection from another prosecution for the same incident. State v. Smith, 267 N.C. 755, 148 S.E. 2d 844.\nThe record before us discloses that both the State and petitioner considered the criminal prosecution under indictment #5025 to be a prosecution for breaking and entering.\nIn our opinion, the indictment is not fatally defective but, at most, contains duplicity. By failing to move to quash, petitioner waived any duplicity which might exist in the bill. State v. Green, 266 N.C. 785, 147 S.E. 2d 377. In State v. Merritt, 244 N.C. 687, 94 S.E. 2d 825, Rodman, J., speaking for the Court said:\n\u201cDefendant moves this Court to quash the bill of indictment and in arrest of judgment. The bill follows the language of the' statute and charges the operation of a motor vehicle \u2018while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, opiates or narcotic drugs.\u2019 The defendant insists that the use of the disjunctive \u2018or\u2019 instead of the conjunctive \u2018and\u2019 which might have been used renders his conviction void for uncertainty. Had the bill used the conjunctive word, no question could have been raised as to the sufficiency of the bill. The defendant could have required separate counts, one charging operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, the other charging the operation while under the influence of narcotics. By going to trial without making a motion to quash, he waived any duplicity which might exist in the bill. S. v. Smith, 240 N.C. 99, 81 S.E. 2d 263; S. v. Puckett, 211 N.C. 66, 189 S.E. 183; S. v. Burnett, 142 N.C. 577; S. v. Hart, 116 N.C. 976; S. v. Mundy, 182 N.C. 907, 110 S.E. 93; S. v. Beal, 199 N.C. 278, 154 S.E. 604.\u201d\nAffirmed.\nMallaRD, C.J., and Campbell, J., concur.", "type": "majority", "author": "Morris, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Norman B. Smith for 'petitioner.", "Attorney General T. W. Bruton and Deputy Attorney General Ralph Moody for the State." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "HOWARD D. BLAKENEY v. STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA.\nNo. 6818SC336\n(Filed 18 September 1968)\n1. Criminal Law \u00a7 13; Constitutional Law \u00a7 28\u2014 jurisdiction \u2014 valid warrant or indictment\nIt is an essential of jurisdiction that a criminal offense be sufficiently charged in a warrant or indictment.\n2. Indictment and Warrant \u00a7 9; Constitutional Law \u00a7 28\u2014 purpose of indictment\nThe primary purpose of an indictment is to furnish the accused a sufficient description of the charge against him to enable him to prepare his defense and to protect him from further prosecution for the same criminal act.\n3. Burglary and Unlawful Breakings \u00a7 3\u2014 use of disjunctive \u201cor\u201d in indictment for violation of G.S. 14-54\nAn indictment alleging that defendant \u201cdid break or enter\u201d a certain huilding with intent to commit a felony therein is not fatally defective in the use of the disjunctive \u201cor,\u201d but is sufficient to inform defendant of the charge against him and to protect him from future prosecution for the same incident.\n4. Burglary and Unlawful Breakings \u00a7\u00a7 4, 5-\u2014 prosecution under G.S. 14-54 \u2014 absence of proof of breaking\nWhile evidence of a breaking is always relevant in a prosecution under G.S. 14-54, absence of such evidence is not a fatal defect of proof to support a conviction under the statute where there is proof of an entry.\n5. Burglary and Unlawful Breakings \u00a7 5\u2014 prosecution under G.S. 14-54 \u2014 proof of breaking \u2014 entry not necessary\nWhere there is proof of a breaking, proof of an entry is not necessary to support a conviction under G.S. 14-54.\n6. Burglary and Unlawful Breakings \u00a7 3\u2014 indictment under G.S. 14-54 \u2014 description of premises\nAn indictment alleging that defendant broke or entered \u201ca certain storehouse, shop, warehouse, dwelling house, bankinghouse, eountinghouse and building\u201d occupied by a named corporation at a specified address identifies the premises with sufficient certainty to enable defendant to prepare his defense and to afford him protection from another prosecution for the same incident.\n7. Burglary and Unlawful Breakings \u00a7 3; Indictment and Warrant \u00a7 8\u2014 breaking or entering \u2014 waiver of duplicity in indictment \u2014 failure to move to quash\nWhere defendant goes to trial without moving to quash an indictment charging that he \u201cdid break or enter\u201d a certain building, he waives any duplicity resulting from the use of the disjunctive \u201cor\u201d in the indictment.\nCeetioRARi to review a final order of Shaw, J., denying petitioner any relief entered in a post-conviction hearing held pursuant to the provisions of G.S. 15-217, et seq., in chambers 17 April 1968.\nNorman B. Smith for 'petitioner.\nAttorney General T. W. Bruton and Deputy Attorney General Ralph Moody for the State." }, "file_name": "0312-01", "first_page_order": 332, "last_page_order": 338 }