{ "id": 8567155, "name": "STATE v. WADE AYCOTH and JOHN SHADRICK, Defendants", "name_abbreviation": "State v. Aycoth", "decision_date": "1967-05-03", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "270", "last_page": "273", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "270 N.C. 270" } ], "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": "118 S.E. 2d 766", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "254 N.C. 297", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8625922 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/254/0297-01" ] }, { "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": "110 S.E. 2d 609", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "613" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "251 N.C. 40", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8622237 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "46" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/251/0040-01" ] }, { "cite": "49 S.E. 2d 469", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "pin_cites": [ { "page": "473" } ], "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "229 N.C. 201", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 12165227 ], "pin_cites": [ { "page": "207" } ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/229/0201-01" ] }, { "cite": "153 S.E. 2d 362", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "269 N.C. 679", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8565618 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/269/0679-01" ] }, { "cite": "81 S.E. 2d 364", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.E.2d", "opinion_index": 0 }, { "cite": "240 N.C. 171", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.C.", "case_ids": [ 8596105 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/nc/240/0171-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 459, "char_count": 7760, "ocr_confidence": 0.544, "pagerank": { "raw": 3.796983703754129e-07, "percentile": 0.8972588749382686 }, "sha256": "8548f074c72e42913945ad5f6ff00f236fd2478935ad1824ea9d7c92e39cc5fa", "simhash": "1:c641c499d0140ce9", "word_count": 1304 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T21:31:56.885447+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "STATE v. WADE AYCOTH and JOHN SHADRICK, Defendants." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Bobbitt, J.\n-There was plenary evidence- to withstand Aycoth\u2019s motion for judgment as in case of nonsuit and to support the verdict: The only serious question presented is whether Aycoth was materially prejudiced by the incident set forth below.\n. During the cross-examination of Deputy Sheriff Frank Fowler, a witness for the State, by counsel for Shadrick, the following occurred: \u2022\n\u201cQ. Did you make any identification of the ownership of the automobile, do-you know of your Own knowledge who owns it? (The reference is to the automobile in possession of Aycoth and Shadrick at the time of their arrest.) '\n\u201cA. Yes, sir, in my opinion I know who owns it:\n\u201cQ. Well, do you know?\n\u201cObjectioN by the State.\n\u201cCourt: Well, the test is do you know who owns the automobile?\n\u201cA. Wade Aycoth at an earlier date said it was his car when we arrested him on another charge in his yard. His wife asked me to go search the car and see if I could find some articles that was left in the car setting in the yard when he was indicted for murder.\n\u201cObjectioN by Mr. Huffman.\n\u201cMr. Haweield: Objection and move to strike.\n\u201cMotion Allowed.\n\u201cCourt: Don\u2019t consider what he said about what his wife said, or when he was indicted for murder. Don\u2019t consider that, ladies and gentlemen of the jury.\u201d\nFowler was the last witness for the State. At the conclusion of his testimony, the State rested and each defendant moved for judgment as in case of nonsuit. During the consideration of these motions, in the absence of the jury, counsel for Aycoth also moved for a mistrial on the ground the unresponsive statement of Fowler \u201cpurposely or inadvertently materially prejudiced the rights\u201d of Aycoth to such extent that its prejudicial effect could not be removed by an instruction such as that given by the court. His motion for a mistrial was denied and Aycoth excepted.\n\u201cThe general rule is that in a prosecution for a particular crime, the State cannot offer evidence tending to show that the accused has committed another distinct, independent, or separate offense.\u201d S. v. McClain, 240 N.C. 171, 81 S.E. 2d 364, and cases and texts cited; S. v. Norkett, 269 N.C. 679, 153 S.E. 2d 362; Stansbury, North Carolina Evidence, Second Edition, \u00a7 91.\nThe unresponsive statement of Fowler informed the jury that Aycoth had been indicted for murder. The court allowed the motion to strike and instructed the jury as shown by the quoted excerpt from the record.\n\u201cIn appraising the effect of incompetent evidence once admitted and afterwards withdrawn, the Court will look to the nature of the evidence and its probable influence upon the minds of the jury in reaching a verdict. In some instances because of the serious character and gravity of the incompetent evidence and the obvious difficulty in erasing it from the mind, the Court has held to the opinion that a subsequent withdrawal did not cure the error. But in other cases the trial courts have freely exercised the privilege, which is not only a matter of custom but almost a matter of necessity in the supervision of a lengthy trial: Ordinarily where the evidence is withdrawn no error is committed.\u201d S. v. Strickland, 229 N.C. 201, 207, 49 S.E. 2d 469, 473; S. v. Green, 251 N.C. 40, 46, 110 S.E. 2d 609, 613, and cases cited. This is also the rule when unresponsive answers of a witness include incompetent prejudicial statements and the court on motion or ex mero motu instructs the jury they are not to consider such testimony. S. v. Brown, 266 N.C. 55, 145 S.E. 2d 297. Whether the prejudicial effect of such incompetent statements should be deemed cured by such instructions depends upon the nature of the evidence and the circumstances of the particular case. S. v. Aldridge, 254 N.C. 297, 118 S.E. 2d 766.\nThe trial judge was of opinion the trial could proceed without material prejudice to defendant. We are inclined to the opposite view. Upon the record before us, we apprehend the court\u2019s instruction did not remove from the minds of the jurors the prejudicial effect of the knowledge they had acquired from Fowler\u2019s testimony that Aycoth had been or was under indictment for murder.\nSubsequent incidents tend to emphasize rather than dispel the prejudicial effect of Fowler\u2019s testimony. Shadrick testified the arresting officer answered his inquiry as to why he was being arrested by saying, \u201cRunning around with Aycoth is enough.\u201d Too, the solicitor, in cross-examining Shadrick, asked (1) whether Shadrick had become acquainted with Aycoth in prison, and (2) whether Shadrick knew Aycoth while Shadrick was in prison. Although Shadrick gave a negative answer to each of these questions, the questions themselves clearly imply that Aycoth had been in prison.\nBeing of the opinion the incompetent evidence to the effect Aycoth had been or was under indictment for murder was of such serious nature that its prejudicial effect was not erased by the court\u2019s quoted instruction, we are constrained to hold that Aycoth\u2019s motion for a mistrial should have been granted. For failure of the court to grant such motion, Aycoth is entitled to and is awarded a new trial.\nNew trial.", "type": "majority", "author": "Bobbitt, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Attorney General Bruton and Staff Attorney White for the State:", "R. Roy Hawfield for defendant appellant." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "STATE v. WADE AYCOTH and JOHN SHADRICK, Defendants.\n(Filed 3 May, 1967.)\n1. Criminal Daw \u00a7 34\u2014\nTie general rule is that in a prosecution for a particular crime, tlie State cannot offer evidence tending to siow tiat tie accused ias committed anotier distinct, independent, or separate offense.\n2. Criminal Daw \u00a7 91\u2014\nWietier tie admission of incompetent evidence, including an unresponsive answer of a' witness containing incompetent matter, may be cured by tie witidrawal of suci evidence by the court with instruction to the jury not to consider it, depends upon tie nature of the evidence and the circumstances of each particular case.\n3. Same; Criminal Daw \u00a7 34\u2014\nIn tie cross-examination of a codefendant in this prosecution of defendants for armed robbery, tie codefendant made an unresponsive answer disclosing that defendant had been indicted for murder. Held: Under tie circumstances of the case witidrawal of tie unresponsive answer by the court and tie court\u2019s instruction to tie jury not to consider it, were not sufficient to cure its prejudicial .effect, and a new trial must be awarded.\nAppeal by defendant Aycoth from McLaughlin, J., October 31, 1966 Session of UnioN.\nCriminal prosecution on a .bill of indictment charging Wade Aycoth and John Shadrick with the armed robbery, as defined in G.S. 14-87, of Mrs. Keith Stevenson.\n'Evidence offered by the State tends to show Mrs. Stevenson, an employee, was in charge of Outen\u2019s Grocery on October 25, 1966, about 1:15 p.m., when Aycoth entered the store, armed with a pistol, and demanded and received .the money in the cash register, approximately $100.00; that Shadrick was riding in the car, as a passenger, when Aycoth drove to and from Outen\u2019s Grocery; and that Aycoth' and Shadrick were together when arrested in Union County about 9:00 p.m. the same day.\nEvidence offered by Shadrick, consisting 'of his own. testimony, tends to show he and Aycoth got together in Mecklenburg County about 3:00 p.m. and did not leave for Union County until 8:00 p.m.\nAycoth did not testify or offer evidence.\nEach defendant was represented by separate court-appointed counsel;'Aycoth by R. Roy Hawfield, Esq., and Shadrick by Robert Huffman, Esq. ...\nAs- to each defendant, the jury returned a verdict of .\u201cguilty of armed robbery.\u201d '\nJudgment as to Shadrick is not in the record before us. \u25a0\nAs to Aycoth, the court pronounced judgment that defendant \u201cbe confined in the State Prison for not less then eighteen (18) years -nor more than twenty-five (25) years.\u201d\nAycoth excepted and appealed.\nAttorney General Bruton and Staff Attorney White for the State:\nR. Roy Hawfield for defendant appellant." }, "file_name": "0270-01", "first_page_order": 310, "last_page_order": 313 }