State v. . Swepson ( 1881 )

At the August term, 1879, of the superior court for the county of Wake, a motion was made in behalf of the state to amend the record of the minute docket of spring term, 1875, so as to show that the defendant, Swepson, was not present at the time of the trial, verdict and judgment then and there had in the case; and the judge presiding refused to hear evidence as to the proposed amendment or to allow the same, on the ground of the want of power; and from that judgment the solicitor for the state appealed to this court. The appeal was dismissed for the reasons set forth in the opinion of this court in the case of the State v. Swepson, 82 N.C. 541.

The solicitor for the state then, in consequence of that decision, made application for a writ of certiorari to remove the said record and proceedings, on the motion to amend, into this court. The petition for thecertiorari was heard at the June term, 1880, of this court; and, after argument, the writ was ordered, which has brought the record and proceedings in the case upon the said motion before this court, which we now proceed to consider.

Judge DILLARD, on the petition for the writ in the case of State v.Swepson, 83 N.C. 584, delivered an able and elaborate opinion, in which he concluded that the court below did possess the power to make the amendment. In speaking for the majority of the court, he said: "The grievance in this case is, that on a motion by the state to amend the record of the trial, verdict and judgment of the superior court of Wake, at August term, 1875, in the case of the State v. Swepson, the judge refused to hear evidence in support of the proposed amendment on the ground of the want of power; and thereupon the only question is, was the refusal to entertain the motion for the reason alleged, such an error as to require correction in the exercise of the supervisory power conferred on this court, and is the writ of certiorari a fit and proper writ to be issued? Of the power of the superior court of Wake, and, indeed, of any court, and for that purpose, to hear evidence, and thereupon to so amend the record as to make it speak the truth, there can be no doubt. State v. King, 5 Ired., 203; State v. Davis, 80 N.C. 384; State v. Craton, 6 Ired., 164; State v.Reid, 1 Dev. Bat., 377; and other cases. But it is equally well established that the propriety of an amendment and the particulars wherein it is to be amended, are matters discretionary with the judge; and if, in the exercise of his discretion, the amendment is refused, then no appeal nor certiorari in the nature of a writ of error lies to review his judgment. Stephenson v. Stephenson, 4 Jones, 472; Bright v. Sugg, 4 Dev., 492; Winslow v. Anderson, 2 Dev. Bat., 9; Anders v. Meredeth, 4 Dev. Dev., 199; and Freeman v. Morris, Busb., 287. If, however, the judge refused to entertain a motion to amend and to hear the evidence on the ground of the want of power, then the fails to exercise his discretion; and therein a question of law is made which is reviewable on appeal, when that is allowed; and in state cases when no appeal is allowed, it is an error, which may be brought up and reviewed in the exercise of the supervisory power of this court, by a writ of certiorari, as was done in the case of the State v. Swepson, 81 N.C. 571. It is our opinion, taking the facts stated in the petition to be true, there was error in the refusal of thejudge, on the ground of the want of power, to entertain the motion of thestate to amend the record."

This opinion of Judge DILLARD, in reference to the power of the court on the subject of amendment, has anticipated that of the court at this stage of the case; and on the principle of "stare decisis", we adhere to that decision. The judge of the superior court has entire discretion over the question. He may hear or refuse testimony and grant or disallow the motion, as he may deem proper. With the exercise of his discretionary powers in this respect we have nothing to do. But we would take this occasion to suggest that when a defendant has been acquitted by the verdict of a jury, it is a power that should be exercised with extreme caution. Being one of those questions of fact which does not necessarily require the intervention of a jury, the judge, in hearing the motion to amend under such circumstances, should be careful to weigh the facts and consider the question in all its legal bearings; for while there is no danger to be apprehended so long as the judicial power rests with such worthy and trusted men as now adorn our superior court bench, we can well conceive how, under the sanction of a hasty and ill-advised precedent, the exercise of such a power in the hands of bad men might be turned to purposes of injustice and oppression.

We hold there is error in the ruling of His Honor in the court below. Let this be certified to the superior court of Wake county, to the end that that court may proceed to exercise its discretion in the matter of the amendment.

Error. Reversed.