{ "id": 8630276, "name": "STATE v. LONNIE MELTON TODD", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Todd", "decision_date": "1942-12-02", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "346", "last_page": "350", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "222 N.C. 346" } ], "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": "113 S. E., 769", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "184 N. C., 663", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11271981 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/184/0663-01" ] }, { "cite": "174 S. E., 91", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "206 N. C., 388", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8630548 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/206/0388-01" ] }, { "cite": "63 N. C., 335", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11277347 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/63/0335-01" ] }, { "cite": "130 S. E., 854", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "190 N. C., 684", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8612738 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/190/0684-01" ] }, { "cite": "141 S. E., 285", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "195 N. C., 20", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8627536 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/195/0020-01" ] }, { "cite": "192 S. E., 859", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "212 N. C., 56", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8599244 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/212/0056-01" ] }, { "cite": "217 N. C., 274", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8604592 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/217/0274-01" ] }, { "cite": "24 S. E., 798", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "118 N. C., 1244", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8654946 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/118/1244-01" ] }, { "cite": "61 S. E., 575", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "147 N. C., 603", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 11270865 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/147/0603-01" ] }, { "cite": "191 S. E., 1", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "211 N. C., 555", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8627998 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/211/0555-01" ] }, { "cite": "196 S. E., 308", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "213 N. C., 378", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8628225 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/213/0378-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 545, "char_count": 10623, "ocr_confidence": 0.485, "pagerank": { "raw": 4.3435668325919543e-07, "percentile": 0.9181095114039467 }, "sha256": "4c27e8ad410334adfdc932e4df84cc794d01900918d205c3a0a68b690ac75657", "simhash": "1:376769f38f7aea61", "word_count": 2000 }, "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. LONNIE MELTON TODD." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Devin, J.\nThe defendant assigns error in the denial by the court below of his motion for judgment as of nonsuit. He contends that the evidence offered by tbe State tended to exculpate rather than incriminate him, and was insufficient to warrant submission of the case to the jury or to support the verdict and judgment.\nThe only evidence offered by the State which in any way connected this defendant with the crime charged in the bill of indictment was the defendant\u2019s own statement to the officers. There was no other evidence. The statements or confessions of the other defendants who were tried at the same time were not competent against this defendant, and properly were excluded from the consideration of the jury as to him. While in his statement this defendant admits he drove the automobile to the scene of the homicide, and that the two who perpetrated the crime got out of the automobile, entered the filling station of the deceased and shot him to death, the entire statement tends to relieve him from the imputation of guilty knowledge of their purpose, and fails to afford any substantial evidence that he participated in or aided and abetted in the perpetration of the robbery or murder. His statement is to the effect that by direction of Bonner he drove the automobile by the filling station of the deceased, because Bonner said he knew some girls who used to work there, and was later told to stop for the purpose of getting some cigarettes; that shortly after Bonner and Fowler had entered the filling station he heard pistol shots, and the two ran out, got in the ear, and, with threats of shooting him, ordered him to drive away. While the State by offering this statement was not precluded from showing that the facts were different, no such evidence was offered, and the State\u2019s case was made to rest entirely on the statement of the defendant, which the State presented as worthy of belief. S. v. Freeman, 213 N. C., 378, 196 S. E., 308; S. v. Edwards, 211 N. C., 555, 191 S. E., 1; Smith v. R. R., 147 N. C., 603, 61 S. E., 575; S. v. Mace, 118 N. C., 1244, 24 S. E., 798.\nUpon a motion for judgment of nonsuit the evidence is to be considered in the light most favorable for the State, but evidence which merely suggests the possibility of guilt or which raises only a conjecture is insufficient to require submission to the jury. S. v. Shelnutt, 217 N. C., 274, 7 S. E. (2d), 561; S. v. Madden, 212 N. C., 56, 192 S. E., 859; S. v. Montague, 195 N. C., 20, 141 S. E., 285; S. v. Sigmon, 190 N. C., 684, 130 S. E., 854; S. v. Vinson, 63 N. C., 335. Here, we think the-defendant\u2019s statement fails to afford substantial evidence of his guilt of the offense charged in the bill of indictment, and rather tends to exculpate him, and hence his motion for judgment of nonsuit should have been sustained. S. v. Cohoon, 206 N. C., 388, 174 S. E., 91; S. v. Fulcher, 184 N. C., 663, 113 S. E., 769.\nIn S. v. Cohoon, supra, where the charge was embezzlement, the State relied for conviction upon statements contained in an affidavit which the defendant in that case had theretofore made. Since the material portions of tbe affidavit tended to free tbe defendant from tbe imputation of guilt, it was beld tbat tbe evidence was insufficient to sustain tbe verdict. In tbe language of tbe present Chief Justice in S. v. Fulcher, 184 N. C., 663, 113 S. E., 769, \u201cWe are of opinion tbat when a complete defense is established by tbe State\u2019s evidence a defendant should be allowed to avail himself of such defense on a motion for judgment as of nonsuit.\u201d\nOn tbe present record, we bold tbat tbe defendant Todd was entitled to have bis motion for judgment of nonsuit sustained. C. S., 4643.\nBeversed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Devin, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney-General McMidlan and Assistant Attorneys-General Patton and Rhodes for the State.", "Lyon & Lyon for defendant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE v. LONNIE MELTON TODD.\n(Filed 2 December, 1942.)\n1. Criminal Law \u00a7 52b\u2014\nUpon a motion o\u00ed nonsuit, in a criminal action, the evidence is to be considered in the light most favorable for the State, but evidence which merely suggests the possibility of guilt, or which raises only a conjecture, is insufficient to require submission 'to the jury.\n2. Criminal Law \u00a7 34a\u2014\nWhile the State, by offering in evidence a statement of a defendant in a criminal action, is not precluded from showing the facts were different, it presents the statement as worthy of belief.\n3. Criminal Law \u00a7 52b: Homicide \u00a7 25\u2014\nIn a prosecution of several persons for murder, where the State based its entire case against this defendant upon his written statement, which admitted that he drove the automobile, in which all defendants were riding, to the scene of the crime and that the two, who perpetrated the crime, got out and entered the filling station of deceased, shot him to death, and robbed him, the entire statement tending to relieve this defendant from any guilty knowledge of their purpose and failing to afford any substantial evidence that he aided or abetted in the perpetration of the robbery or murder, his motion of nonsuit should have been sustained.\nAppeal by defendant from Thompson, J., at May Term, 1942, of OoltjMbus.\nReversed.\nThe defendant was convicted of murder in the first degree in connection with the felonious slaying of Ira L. Godwin. At the same time two others, F. 0. Bonner and Junior Fowler, were also convicted of the murder of Ira L. Godwin. The appeals of Bonner and Fowler were considered at this term {ante, 344). Separate indictments against the three named defendants and one McDaniel were consolidated for trial. McDaniel was acquitted.\nThere was evidence tending to show that the deceased was shot and killed in the perpetration of a robbery. The only evidence offered to connect the defendant Todd with the murder was his own statement, \u25a0which was reduced to writing and signed by him, the material parts of which may be stated as follows: On 4 April, 1942, defendant Todd, who was a soldier, left Fort Bragg, in company with F. 0. Bonner, to go to Todd\u2019s home near Dufford, S. 0. The two secured rides to Floyds Cross Eoads, S. C., and after meeting with some friends, including Junior Fowler and Todd\u2019s half-brother, Joe McDaniel, Todd and McDaniel went to their home and ate supper. Todd\u2019s statement relates the subsequent events, as follows:\n\u201cAfter we ate supper it was around 8:30 p.m. Joe McDaniel and I then left to go see some girls living at Cedar Creek, S. C., which is about a mile and a half from home. We stopped a short distance from home where I had a bottle with some whiskey in it hid. We drank the whiskey in the bottle and throwed the bottle down. About that time we saw a car coming around the curve from towards Nichols, S. C. We stepped outside the road for the car to pass and the car came up and stopped. F. C. Bonner and Junior Fowler was in the car. It was a new Model Ford Coupe. F. 0. Bonner was driving. F. C. Bonner said let\u2019s go to ride. As I opened the door on the right-hand side, F. C. Bonner said, 'Todd, you drive, you are a better driver than I am.\u2019 F. C. Bonner said that he ran up with an old friend of his in Mullins, S. C., and borrowed this car. I said you got a ready job there, we better go take our girls for a ride. F. C. Bonner said that he had to go to Aynor, S. C., let\u2019s go there.\n\u201cWe stopped at a service station below Aynor, S. C., and got some gas. We then went to Homewood, S. C., near Conway, S. C., and turned left, and F. C. Bonner said keep going. When we got to Green Sea, S. C., F. C. Bonner said, 'Keep straight ahead.\u2019 When we got to Tabor City, N. C., F. C. Bonner said, 'Take a dirt street around town.\u2019 We came out at the highway going toward Whiteville, N. C. We came on to (till) we got to a junction near Whiteville, N. C., and F. C. Bonner said 'Turn right.\u2019 We turned right until we passed a station on the right. F. C. Bonner said he knew some girls that used to work there. We turned around a short distance beyond the station .and F. C. Bonner said, \u2018Drive back by slowly.\u2019 After we passed the station the second time, F. 0. Bonner said, 'Turn around and let\u2019s stop back by and get a package of cigarettes.\u2019 I stopped out of the driveway at the station and E. 0. Bonner and Junior Fowler went into the station. In about a minute I beard several shots in the station and E. C. Bonner and Junior Fowler came running to the car. E. 0. Bonner bad something bright that looked like a pistol in his hand. I said, \u2018What in the hell took place in there ?\u2019 E. 0. Bonner said, \u2018Drive, damn it, or I will shoot you.\u2019\n\u201cWe left, going towards New Brunswick, N. 0. When we got beyond New Brunswick, Junior Fowler said, \u2018We had to shoot him.\u2019 E. C. Bonner said, \u2018And we killed hell out of him, too, but we got the money.\u2019 I said, \u2018It is a damn fool that will kill a man for money.\u2019 I said, \u2018You know a fellow in that kind of place wouldn\u2019t have much money on him.\u2019 Joe McDaniel said, \u2018What did you shoot him for?\u2019 E. 0. Bonner said, \u2018We had to; Junior was shooting him and I had to.\u2019\n\u201cWe turned off a dirt road beyond New Brunswick. We went back into the Tabor City highway. We turned off a dirt road .before we got to Tabor City and went back into S. 0. We stopped in about a mile from Junior Fowler\u2019s home. We all got out of the car. I got out on the left and E. C. Bonner, Junior Fowler and Joe McDaniel got out on the right. I took another drink of whiskey. E. C. Bonner had some money in his hand. He pushed it across the seat to me and said, \u2018Here is your part.\u2019 I said, \u2018No thanks, I don\u2019t want it.\u2019 He said, \u2018To hell you don\u2019t.\u2019 I pushed the money back across the seat to him. We four got back in the car and went on to Junior Fowler\u2019s mail box and put him out and went on next home. We went to Floyds Cross Roads and turned in next to my house. Before we got to Joe Meyers\u2019 house, E. 0. Bonner said, \u2018Stop the car and let me drive, this is a stolen car.\u2019 I had been driving the car all the time since I got in the ear near my home.. I looked on the driver\u2019s license and saw the car was in Archie Buffkin\u2019s name.\n\u201cE. C. Bonner said that he would have to drive the car in the river or some place to destroy it. I wouldn\u2019t let him. I told him to put the car where the old man could find it. We, E. C. Bonner, Joe McDaniel and I, got back in the car and went to my mail box. I got off and got my T Model and went on to Sandy Bluff, S. 0., and got Joe McDaniel and E. 0. Bonner and brought them back.\u201d\nThe jury returned verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree as to the defendant Todd, and from judgment on the verdict imposing sentence of death, he appealed, filing separate record in this Court.\nAttorney-General McMidlan and Assistant Attorneys-General Patton and Rhodes for the State.\nLyon & Lyon for defendant." }, "file_name": "0346-01", "first_page_order": 390, "last_page_order": 394 }