State v. Martin , 30 N.C. App. 512 ( 1976 )

PARKER, Judge.

In the indictment returned as a true bill on 3 February 1975, defendant was charged with forging a bill of sale “by forging the name of Claude R. Rogers, a notary, and the name of Jack M. Jones.” Defendant admitted that he signed the names of both of these persons to the bill of sale, but testified he did so by their authority. “To show that the defendant signed the name of some other person to an instrument, and that he passed such instrument as genuine, is not sufficient to establish the commission of a crime. It must still be shown that it was a false instrument, and this is not established until it is shown that the person who signed another’s name did so without authority.” State v. Dixon, 185 N.C. 727, 731, 117 S.E. 170, 172 (1923). Here, the State presented no evidence regarding the identity of or want of authority from Jones. “Where defendant signs the name of another person to an instrument, there is no presumption of want of authority.” State v. Phillips, 256 N.C. 445, 448, 124 S.E. 2d 146, 148 (1962). Rogers, called as a witness for the State, testified that he expressly authorized defendant to sign his name to the bill of sale. There was no evidence to the contrary. For failure of the State to present any evidence to show that the signatures which defendant was charged with forging were signed by him without authority, the defendant’s motion for nonsuit as to the charge of forgery should have been allowed.

As to the other case, in which defendant was charged with violating G.S. 14-214 by presenting a false and fraudulent insurance claim by reporting the Cadillac as having been stolen on 21 October 1974, there was sufficient evidence to require submission of the case to the jury. The evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, would support a jury finding that the automobile, on which defendant obtained the insurance policy and for loss of which he presented a claim under the policy, had been destroyed by fire several months before the policy was issued and was not in existence on the date defendant reported it was stolen from him. Such a finding by the jury would, of course, compel the further finding that defendant was guilty of the exact offense charged in the bill of indictment, i.e., the presenting of a false and fraudulent claim for the payment of a loss and other benefits upon the contract of insurance “by reporting a 197 U Cadillac Eldorado, two door hardtop, Vehicle Identification Number 6Lh.7SUQU06Ji.60 as being stolen on October 21, 197U-” (Emphasis added.) Defendant’s testimony that he rebuilt the car and that it was in actual existence on the date he reported it to have been stolen, was for the jury to evaluate. Defendant’s motion for nonsuit on the charge of presenting a false insurance claim was properly overruled.

However, for failure of the court to “declare and explain the law arising on the evidence given in the case,” as required by G.S. 1-180, defendant is entitled to a new trial in the case in which he was charged with presenting a false insurance claim. In this connection, the court did instruct the jury correctly, but in general terms, concerning the elements of the offense. However, the court failed to instruct the jury in sufficiently specific terms what facts, if found by them from the evidence given in the case, would warrant a verdict finding defendant guilty of the offense set forth in the indictment. This was important in this case, since, under the charge as given by the court, the jury might have found defendant guilty of making a false and fraudulent claim on the insurance policy, not by falsely reporting the Cadillac automobile as being stolen, but by presenting a false bill of sale to show his ownership of the Cadillac. The bill of indictment set forth in specific terms the manner in which defendant allegedly committed the offense, and it was incumbent on the State to prove the charge as contained in the indictment. As above noted, the State’s evidence was sufficient for that purpose. However, under the court’s charge to the jury it would have been possible for the jury to return a verdict of guilty, not because it found that defendant had presented a fraudulent claim by falsely reporting the car as being stolen, which is the offense charged in the indictments, but because it found that defendant presented to the insurance company a false bill of sale.

The result is:

In the case in which defendant was charged with forgery, there was error in failing to grant his motion for nonsuit, and the judgment imposed in that case is vacated.

In the case in which defendant is charged with presenting a false insurance claim, defendant is entitled to a

New trial.

Judges Hedrick and Arnold concur.