{ "id": 8615893, "name": "STATE v. JUNIOR TROUTMAN and ROY BARRETT", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Troutman", "decision_date": "1959-01-14", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "395", "last_page": "398", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "249 N.C. 395" } ], "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": "27 S.E. 2d 140", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "223 N.C. 415", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8610537 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/223/0415-01" ] }, { "cite": "82 S.E. 2d 762", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "240 N.C. 516", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8603731 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/240/0516-01" ] }, { "cite": "143 S.E. 3", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "195 N.C. 537", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8630610 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/195/0537-01" ] }, { "cite": "197 S.E. 611", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "213 N.C. 782", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8630613 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/213/0782-01" ] }, { "cite": "90 S.E. 2d 241", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "243 N.C. 177", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8622662 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/243/0177-01" ] }, { "cite": "96 S.E. 2d 54", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "245 N.C. 304", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8610423 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/245/0304-01" ] }, { "cite": "42 S.E. 2d 676", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "227 N.C. 535", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8626247 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/227/0535-01" ] }, { "cite": "86 S.E. 2d 916", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "242 N.C. 47", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8608611 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/242/0047-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 527, "char_count": 9939, "ocr_confidence": 0.551, "pagerank": { "raw": 1.7689515577584354e-07, "percentile": 0.7110982146063342 }, "sha256": "1b878d4ab9b8cf463c4f5bc15abbf483823f1380762d04fcb9a9a396f6aa2030", "simhash": "1:08e794ec3d2be6b9", "word_count": 1686 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:25:15.863799+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "STATE v. JUNIOR TROUTMAN and ROY BARRETT." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Higgins, J.\nThe defendant Barrett insists the evidence as to him in case No. 1083 \u2014 interfering with an officer \u2014 was insufficient to go to the jury and that his motion to dismiss should have been allowed. The sufficiency of the evidence to go to the jury on the assault charge against Barrett and as to both charges against Troutman is not controverted. In testing the sufficiency of the evidence, only that favorable to the State need be considered. State v. Norris, 242 N.C. 47, 86 S.E. 2d 916; State v. Ewing, 227 N.C. 535, 42 S.E. 2d 676.\nThe State\u2019s evidence disclosed that Officer Ridley, on duty and in uniform, received two complaints and, in consequence thereof, he went to a public place of business on Birch Street in the Town of Lowell, about eight o\u2019clock at night. The place was operated by Ben Davis who carried \u201ca small line of canned goods, assorted drinks, and bread.\u201d In addition to the defendants, Jerry Warren and Clarence Gibson were present in the Davis store. Warren was drunk. On observing Warren\u2019s condition, Officer Ridley sought to place him under arrest for being drunk in a public place. The officer, with Warren in custody, started to the patrol car outside, but the prisoner braced himself against the door facing, and the officer testified, \u201cI couldn\u2019t budge him out.\u201d As the officer got the prisoner outside and near the patrol car, (the defendants having followed) Troutman said, \u201cLet him \u2014 let us have him and we\u2019ll take him home.\u201d The officer replied, \u201cNo, I have brought him this far and had this much trouble with him, I\u2019m going to carry him on. . . . Troutman, Barrett, and Gibson came up to my car . . . Troutman . . . slammed the door . . . Jerry Warren (the prisoner) made a break to get away ... I was holding him ... As we went in front of Troutman, he threw his foot up in the pit of my stomach and grabbed me with both hands . . . Warren got aloose and ran . . . They were cussing me there. Roy Barrett and Junior Troutman were cussing about using that damn blackjack.\u201d\nOfficer Ridley called for help over the police car radio. Then followed a fight in which the defendants took the blackjack, pistol, and flashlight from the officer. Barrett, with the blackjack, and Troutman, with the gun, assaulted the officer. \u201cI was helpless, and I was trying to protect my head, and they beat me down to the ground two or three times. . . . They beat me flat on my face on the ground -and I was lying there and was knocked out for a little bit ... I was bleeding severely.\u201d\nAn ambulance carried the officer to the hospital where he remained six days. He had cuts about his head and face, one on the back of his head required 18 stitches \u2014 and one on his lip required four stitches. He was unable to work for three weeks.\nFairly interpreted, the evidence shows Troutman and Barrett were together in the Davis store, and, together, they followed the officer with his prisoner to the patrol car. Troutman closed the door to prevent the officer from placing his prisoner inside and then kicked the officer and grappled him and forced the release of the prisoner. Then both defendants joined in the assault. The almost instantaneous join-der of Barrett in the assault was sufficient to warrant the jury in finding Barrett was present with Troutman for the purpose and with the intention of aiding, encouraging, and abetting in releasing the prisoner and in preventing the officer from pursuing him after his escape. The court properly submitted the evidence to the jury in Cuse No. 1083 against Barrett. State v. Burgess, 245 N.C. 304, 96 S.E. 2d 54; State v. Kelly, 243 N.C. 177, 90 S.E. 2d 241.\nThe defendant Troutman assigns as error the action of the court in permitting the solicitor to cross-examine him in reference to convictions against him in other criminal cases. The defendant was testifying as a witness in his own behalf. The impeaching questions were relevant and proper as bearing on his credibility as a witness. State v. Howie, 213 N.C. 782, 197 S.E. 611; State v. Maslin, 195 N.C. 537, 143 S.E. 3. The case of State v. Phillips, 240 N.C. 516, 82 S.E. 2d 762, cited by the defendant, is in nowise authority for the exclusion of the evidence elicited by the solicitor on cross-examination of Trout-man. In the Phillips case, the questions were based on assumptions, upon implications, and for that reason were properly excluded. How-ev\u00e9r, an entirely different situation was present in this case. The evidence elicited on the cross-examination had bearing on the weight to be given by the jury to the defendant\u2019s testimony.\nFinally, the defendants assign as error the action of the court in charging the jury that under the indictments in 1086 and 1087 the jury might return one of the following verdicts: (1) Felonious assault; (2) assault with a deadly weapon; (3) assault inflicting serious injury; (4) not guilty. In cases Nos. 1086 and 1087, the State offered evidence sufficient to support a verdict of a felony. However, the defendants had testified, claiming they did not use any weapons; that they fought with their hands only in their own self-defense and to prevent, an unlawful arrest. Thus the evidence as to intent to kill, and as to the use of weapons was in conflict. It became the duty of the court, therefore, to instruct the jury as to the verdicts of an assault with a deadly weapon or assault inflicting serious damage. The verdicts of \u201cguilty of an assault wherein serious injury is inflicted,\u201d is a 'sufficient finding of serious damage to remove these cases from the limitations under (b) of G.S.14-33 and to permit punishment under (a) of that section; that is, by fine, or imprisonment, or both, in the discretion of the court. State v. Gregory, 223 N.C. 415, 27 S.E. 2d 140, and the numerous cases therein cited.\nThe court\u2019s charge covered all essential features of the cases fully arid accurately, and in the trial we find\nNo Error.", "type": "majority", "author": "Higgins, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Malcolm B. Seawell, Attorney General, Claude L. Love, Ass\u2019t. Attorney General, for the State.", "Mullen, Holland & Cooke, By: Frank P. Cooke for defendants, appellants." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE v. JUNIOR TROUTMAN and ROY BARRETT.\n(Filed 14 January, 1959.)\n1. Criminal Law \u00a7 99\u2014\nOn motion to nonsuit only the evidence favorable to the State need be considered.\n2. Arrest and Bail \u00a7 6: Criminal Law \u00a7 9\u2014 Evidence held sufficient to be submitted to the jury as to defendant\u2019s guilt as aider and abettor.\nEvidence tending- to show that both defendants were present when a police officer was attempting- to make an arrest, that together they followed the officer with the prisoner to the patrol car, and that one of \u2022the defendants closed the ear door to prevent the officer from placing his prisoner inside and then kicked the officer and forced him to release the prisoner, and that both defendants immediately thereafter-joined in an assault on the officer, is held sufficient to be submitted to the jury as to the other defendant on a charge of interfering with the officer while he was engaged in the lawful discharge of his official duty in arresting the prisoner, since such evidence is sufficient to warrant the jury in finding that such other defendant was present for the purpose and with the intention of aiding, encouraging, and abetting the first defendant.\n3. Criminal Law \u00a7 81\u2014\nWhere a defendant testifies at the trial, it is competent to cross-examine him in reference to convictions in other criminal cases for the purpose of impeaching his credibility as a witness, the questions not being based on mere assumptions or implications.\n4. Assault and Battery \u00a7 16\u2014\nWhere, in a prosecution for assault with deadly weapons with intent to kill, inflicting serious injury not resulting in death, defendants testify that they used no weapons but fought in .their self-defense, and thus controvert the use of deadly weapons and .the intent to kill, the court properly instructs the jury as to lesser degrees of the offense charged.\n5. Assault and Battery \u00a7 17\u2014\nA verdict of guilty of an assault where serious injury is inflicted is a sufficient finding of serious damage within the purview of G-..S. 14-33(a) and removes the prosecutions from the limitations under (b) of that statute, so as to authorize fine, or imprisonment, or both, in the discretion of the court.\nAppeal by defendants from Sharp, S.