{
  "id": 8628281,
  "name": "STATE v. CLEMMIE V. CROMER",
  "name_abbreviation": "State v. Cromer",
  "decision_date": "1942-09-23",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "35",
  "last_page": "37",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "222 N.C. 35"
    }
  ],
  "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": "215 N. C., 660",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8631293
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/215/0660-01"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "analysis": {
    "cardinality": 271,
    "char_count": 3547,
    "ocr_confidence": 0.484,
    "pagerank": {
      "raw": 6.823645209760889e-08,
      "percentile": 0.4165225462951701
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    "sha256": "28a77fe95dba95d116920b671b555cca6ea4c7ddd9e7714498ebf07542b7cb69",
    "simhash": "1:32591f06923608c3",
    "word_count": 619
  },
  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T15:48:14.759571+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
  },
  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "STATE v. CLEMMIE V. CROMER."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Barnhill, J.\nThe evidence discloses that tracks of the defendant were found at the scene of the fire and that there was ill feeling between the parties. Just when the tracks were made is not disclosed. Whether the defendant passed by the barn just prior to or several hours before the fire does not appear. Nor is there any evidence tending to show the origin or cause of the fire. All the other circumstances are entirely consistent with the innocence of the defendant. It follows that there is no evidence that the fire was of incendiary origin and no suifieient testimony tending to incriminate the defendant. Hence, this prosecution is not substantially distinguishable from that in S. v. Jones, 215 N. C., 660, 2 S. E. (2d), 867. The opinion in that case, as supported by the cited cases, is controlling.\nThe judgment below is\nEeversed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Barnhill, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Attorney-General McMullan and Assistant Attorneys-General Patton and Rhodes for the State.",
      "Elledge & Wells and W. Reade Johnson for defendant, appellant."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "STATE v. CLEMMIE V. CROMER.\n(Filed 23 September, 1942.)\nCriminal Law \u00a7\u00a7 32a, 32b\u2014\nOn a criminal prosecution for felonious burning and attempting to burn a barn, in tbe absence of proof that the fire was of incendiary origin, evidence that tracks of defendant were found at the scene of the fire and that there was ill feeling between the parties, other circumstances being consistent with innocence, is insufficient to support a conviction.\nAppeal by defendant from Bobbitt, Jat April Term, 1942, of Stoees.\nBeversed.\nCriminal prosecution on a bill of indictment charging (1) the felonious burning of a certain barn and stable; and (2) the felonious attempt to burn said barn and stable.\nThe prosecuting witness Ferguson lives on bis farm on a public road leading into the Mountain View road. The defendant owns an adjoining farm to the east occupied by her son-in-law. She also owns an adjoining farm across the road to the south. Ferguson\u2019s feed barn is located just north of the public road about 10 or 15 feet therefrom facing Ferguson\u2019s driveway with the side to the public road. In going from one farm to the other defendant can use either a private road which comes into the public road to the west of the Ferguson feed barn, or a footpath which comes into the road at the Ferguson pack house.\nDuring the early morning of 29 July, 1941, Ferguson discovered a fire at his feed barn. Wheat chaff and .other debris, a trailer and part of the barn were on fire. Tracks leading along the public road, thence across the road along the space between the road and the feed barn, thence back into and down the road to defendant\u2019s farm to the east of the Ferguson farm were found. These tracks were identified as those of the defendant. She admitted the tracks and stated that she had gone the night before to notify her son that he would have to go to work one hour earlier the next morning due to the change in time. There was also the appearance of other unidentified tracks on the wheat chaff.\nIn tracing the tracks the sheriff went to the defendant\u2019s farm. She drove up and asked, \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d He replied, \u201cSomebody set Mr. Ferguson\u2019s barn afire and I am over investigating it.\u201d She replied, \u201cYou don\u2019t think I did it, do you?\u201d Then, at the request of the sheriff, she showed him her shoes and he took her into custody, after which she was nervous and perspiring. Ill feeling had existed between the defendant and Ferguson for some time.\nThere was a verdict of guilty on the second count. From judgment thereon the defendant appealed.\nAttorney-General McMullan and Assistant Attorneys-General Patton and Rhodes for the State.\nElledge & Wells and W. Reade Johnson for defendant, appellant."
  },
  "file_name": "0035-01",
  "first_page_order": 79,
  "last_page_order": 81
}