{ "id": 8624123, "name": "STATE v. HOLT et al.", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Holt", "decision_date": "1926-11-10", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "490", "last_page": "494", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "192 N.C. 490" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "N.C.", "id": 9292, "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 5, "name_long": "North Carolina", "name": "N.C." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "185 N. C., 685", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8657547 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/185/0685-01" ] }, { "cite": "186 N. C., 482", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653964 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/186/0482-01" ] }, { "cite": "186 N. C., 302", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653507 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/186/0302-01" ] }, { "cite": "171 N. C., 788", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11272436 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/171/0788-01" ] }, { "cite": "109 N. C., 824", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8651763 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/109/0824-01" ] }, { "cite": "181 N. C., 558", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8657702 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/181/0558-01" ] }, { "cite": "113 N. C., 645", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8653762 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/113/0645-01" ] }, { "cite": "73 N. C., 83", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8685329 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/73/0083-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 503, "char_count": 11853, "ocr_confidence": 0.456, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.7344883111380925e-07, "percentile": 0.8944606422999951 }, "sha256": "a9e2fe4d0d033d3741b4e886d40217a86c47eab947b2fd34f88046f64423ca5f", "simhash": "1:3d3b484c2c37167a", "word_count": 2092 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:52:38.190415+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "STATE v. HOLT et al." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "BeogdeN, J.\nAt tbe conclusion of bis Honor\u2019s charge, counsel for defendants requested tbe court to charge tbe jury that if it should be found that tbe money was paid voluntarily by tbe State\u2019s witness to tbe defendant, Bob Holt, and that after tbe payment there was an altercation, and tbe defendant, Bob Holt, struck tbe witness with a pistol, that this would constitute only an assault with a deadly weapon. Tbe trial judge stated: \u201cI think my charge fully covers that. I have instructed them that highway robbery constitutes tbe taking by violence and force, and before you can convict these defendants you must find it was taken by violence and force.\u201d Counsel for defendants thereupon addressed this question to tbe judge: \u201cDid your Honor charge relative to tbe fact that they could be convicted of assault with a deadly weapon' in this matter?\u201d Tbe judge replied, \u201cNo, sir.\u201d\nTbe only question submitted to tbe jury by tbe trial judge in bis charge was, whether or not tbe defendants, Bob Holt and Hassell Holt, or either of them was guilty of robbery, and whether or not Byron Gibson and Charles Holt were present, aiding and abetting in tbe perpetration of tbe crime. Tbe charge of tbe court concluded with these words: \u201cNow, as I stated, ge.ntlemen, you may convict one or all of these defendants as you may find tbe facts to be, under tbe charge of tbe court, or you may acquit tbe one or all of them, as you may find tbe facts to be under tbe charge of tbe court.\u201d\nTbe request of defendants\u2019 counsel that tbe court charge tbe jury that they could find tbe defendants guilty of an assault with a deadly weapon was not in writing, and hence did not comply with C. S., 565, and tbe trial judge was at liberty to disregard it. But, was it tbe duty of tbe trial judge, under tbe evidence, to present that phase of tbe case, irrespective of a proper request from counsel for defendants?\u201d\nC. S., 4639, provides as follows: \u201cOn tbe trial of any person for rape, or any felony whatsoever, when tbe crime charged includes an assault against tbe person, it is lawful for tbe jury to- acquit of tbe felony and to find a verdict of guilty of assault against tbe person indicted, if tbe - evidence warrants such finding, etc.\u201d\nLord Mansfield defines robbery thus: \u201cA felonious taking of property from tbe person of another by force.\u201d Blackstone defines it as \u201ctbe felonious and forcible taking from tbe person of another of goods or money of any value by violence or putting him in fear.\u201d\nTo constitute highway robbery, it is only necessary to further charge and prove that tbe crime was committed in or near a highway. S. v. Burke, 73 N. C., 83; S. v. Brown, 113 N. C., 645. It is obvious, therefore, that tbe crime charged in tbe bill of indictment includes an assault against tbe person, and, this being true, tbe statute, C. S., 4639, makes it lawful \u201cfor tbe jury to acquit of tbe felony and to find a verdict of guilty of assault against the person indicted, if the evidence warrants such finding.\u201d\nDoes the evidence in this case warrant such finding? The evidence for the State makes out a crime for highway robbery only, but the evidence of defendants, if believed, tends to show that there was no robbery at all, for that the State\u2019s witness voluntarily paid the money to the defendant, Holt, and, after such voluntary payment, was thereafter assaulted with a deadly weapon. This evidence warranted the submission to the jury, of the question of assault with deadly weapon; and if the evidence, in such cases, warrants it, the trial judge must submit that phase of the case to the jury whether properly requested or not.\nIn S. v. Hill, 181 N. C., 558, the defendant was indicted for assault with intent to commit rape. The evidence was inconclusive as to the intent to commit rape, and, upon the conclusion, counsel for the defendant requested the court to acquit the defendant. In discussing this phase of the case, Justice Walker says: \u201cWe cannot grant the nonsuit, as the defendant could have been convicted of an assault the same as if it had been separately charged in an indictment. C. S., 4639.\u201d\nIn S. v. Williams, 185, N. C., 685, the defendant was charged with rape, and his counsel requested the court to charge the jury that there were five verdicts that might be returned under the indictment, to wit: (1) Rape; (2), assault with intent to commit rape; (3), assault with deadly weapon; (4), assault upon a female; (5), not guilty. The trial judge refused to give this instruction, and the defendant excepted. In discussing this exception, Justice Walker says: \u201cThe instruction requested by the prisoner should have been given, at least substantially, and if not given, or if it had not been asked for, the judge, of his own motion, should have submitted to the jury proper instructions as to the commission of a lesser offense than that charged in the bill of indictment, and his failure to do so even without an appropriate prayer by the prisoner was error.\u201d (Citing C. S., 4639-4640.)\nIn S. v. Nash, 109 N. C., 824, it is held that \u201cwhere there was a serious conflict between the testimony of prosecutrix and that of defendant, it was erroneous to restrict the jury to either the'theory of the State or to that of the defendant, as they may predicate their findings upon a hypothesis not consistent with either theory.\u201d S. v. Merrick, 171 N. C., 788; S. v. Allen, 186 N. C., 302; S. v. Efird, 186 N. C., 482.\nThe attorney-general, with his usual candor and frankness, in discussing the failure of the court to charge the jury as to whether or not the defendants could be convicted of an assault with a deadly weapon, says: \u201cThis, in reality, presents a serious question, but we submit that while the evidence of the prosecuting witness showed an assault with the deadly weapon upon him, that this very assault was part of the means used by the defendant, Bob Holt, to consummate the highway robbery.\u201d This identical contention appears in S. v. Williams, 185 N. C., 685. The contention was a's follows: \u201cThe State contends that, while the evidence of the prosecuting witness showed an assault with a deadly weapon upon the prosecutrix, yet this very assault was part of the means used by the defendant to force her.\u201d Justice Walker, referring to this contention, says: \u201cBut we are unable to agree with this contention of the State, or to decide according to it; but our opinion is, and we so hold that the substance, at least, of the prayer should have been given to the jury, and in failing to do so, the court committed an error.\u201d\nFor the error specified, in failing to submit to the jury the phase of the case, involving assault with a deadly weapon, there must be a\nNew trial.", "type": "majority", "author": "BeogdeN, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney-General Brummitt and Assistant Attorney-General Nash for the State.", "M. L. Mott, Jr., for defendants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE v. HOLT et al.\n(Filed 10 November, 1926.)\n1. Robbery \u2014 Indictment \u2014 Highways \u2014 Forcible Talcing of a Thing of Value \u2014 Criminal Law.\nAs to the place charged in the offense of highway robbery, it is only necessary for the indictment to charge that it was committed in or near a highway, and that the defendant charged therewith feloniously and forcibly took from the State\u2019s prosecuting witness goods or money of any value by violence or putting him in fear, etc.\n3. Same \u2014 Statutes\u2014Less Degree of Same Crime \u2014 Assault\u2014Evidence\u2014 Verdict.\nAn assault upon the person is a necessary ingredient to be charged in an indictment for highway robbery, and under an indictment for this offense the lesser degree of crime of an assault with a deadly weapon where a pistol is used, is included in the greater offense charged, and under conflicting evidence as to whether highway robbery or an assault only with a deadly weapon has been committed, the jury may find verdict for the lesser offense. C. S., 4639.\n3. Same \u2014 Instructions.\nWhere the indictment is sufficient and the evidence is conflicting as to whether the defendant committed highway robbery or an assault with a deadly weapon, the jury may find for the lesser offense, and it is the duty of the trial judge to so instruct the jury, though a special request therefor had not been aptly tendered in writing. C.' S., 565, 4639, 4640.\nOkimiNal action before Reckvme, Emergency Judge, at June Special Term, 1926, of Forsyth.\nThe defendants, Bob Holt, Hassell Holt, Byron Gibson and Charles Holt, were tried upon a bill of indictment, charging said defendants with highway robbery in taking from the person of Grady Eaines the sum of thirty dollars and assaulting him with a pistol.\nThere was testimony on behalf of the State tending to show that on or about 26 February, 1926, Grady Eaines was traveling from High Point to Winston-Salem.' In the car with him were two women, Cora Bacon and Sallie Crump; that as the State\u2019s witness, Eaines, approached little filling station about five miles from High Point, opposite the residence of defendant, Byron Gibson, there was an automobile backing out from Gibson\u2019s house into the road; that when the car backed out into the road, the defendants got out of the car and one of them called to Eaines to come back. Eaines went back to where the defendants Were standing in the road and testified that defendant, Bob Holt, stated that he was on a scout and did not have any money; that thereupon the defendant, Hassell Holt, struck him with something like a baseball bat, and Bob Holt said, \u201cGive me your money.\u201d At that time Bob Holt bad a pistol, and tbe other defendants, Byron Gibson and Charlie Holt, were standing there in his presence. That thereupon Bob Holt struck him on the head with the pistol and ordered him to hold up his hands, and Hassell Holt struck at him with a stick. Witness further testified that Bob Holt then took a twenty-dollar bill and a ten-dollar bill and some change out of his pocket. At this time the State\u2019s witness spoke to the defendant, Gibson, whom he knew, and said, \u201cAre you going to let these boys kill me here?\u201d Thereupon, Gibson put his hands on Raines\u2019 shoulders and pushed him through the crowd and told them not to hit this man any more.\nThe State\u2019s witness, Raines, reported the matter to the police officers immediately, and soon thereafter Bob Holt was arrested. At the time of his arrest the defendant, Bob Holt, was asleep in a barn about one hundred yards from the house of the defendant, Gibson. He had a pistol, and upon being searched, the officers found a twenty-dollar bill upon his person.\nThe defendant, Hassell Holt, was also arrested and a ten-dollar bill was found under his pillow and three one-dollar bills and some change in the pockets of his overalls.\nThe defendants, Charles Holt and Hassell Holt, testified at the trial. The defendants, Bob Holt and Byron Gibson, did not testify.\nThe testimony of the defendant was to the effect that the State\u2019s witness, Raines, owed Bob Holt some money and that Bob Holt made demand upon him for the money, and that thereupon he paid Bob Holt $30.00, said sum being in the form of a $20.00 bill and a $10!00 bill; that after Raines had paid the defendant, Holt, he started back toward his car at the filling station and cursed Bob Holt, and that thereupon Bob Holt hit Raines with his pistol.\nUpon the evidence the defendant contended that there was no robbery at all, but that Raines had paid the money voluntarily to Bob Holt, and that after the money had been paid and Raines was leaving the scene,- that he cursed Bob Holt, and that Bob Holt pursued him and hit him over the head with a pistol, and that, under this evidence, the only crime that was committed was assault with a deadly weapon. The defendants, Bob Holt and Hassell Holt and Byron Gibson, were convicted. Bob Holt was sentenced to five years in the State\u2019s prison; Hassell Holt to three years, and Byron Gibson to two years.\nFrom the judgment pronounced the defendants appealed.\nAttorney-General Brummitt and Assistant Attorney-General Nash for the State.\nM. L. Mott, Jr., for defendants." }, "file_name": "0490-01", "first_page_order": 564, "last_page_order": 568 }