State v. Banks

87 S.E.2d 558 (1955) 242 N.C. 304

STATE
v.
Mollie BANKS, Jr., Samuel Perry and Oren Evans.

No. 579.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.

May 25, 1955.

Harry McMullan, Atty. Gen., T. W. Bruton, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Taylor & Mitchell, Raleigh, Frank Brower, Durham, for defendants appellants.

WINBORNE, Justice.

Appellants contend, first that the trial court erred in refusing to allow their motions, aptly made, for judgment as of nonsuit.

Considering the evidence, shown in the record of case on appeal, in the light most favorable to the State, as is done when testing the sufficiency thereof to withstand the challenge of demurrer thereto, this Court is of opinion and holds that the evidence is sufficient to take the case to the jury as to each defendant, and to support a conviction as to each of them on the charge under which they stand indicted. Hence the exceptions to denial of their motion for judgment as of nonsuit were properly overruled. However, as there must be a new trial, for reasons hereinafter stated, the Court refrains from a discussion of the evidence in detail.

Appellants contend next, and properly so, that there is prejudicial error in the charge of the court in respect to the law relating to aiding and abetting. The court used this language: "Mere presence, the courts have held, is enough to make one an aider or abettor where both or all of the defendants are friends." True this portion of the charge appears within an extended declaration of the law, yet it is set apart as a complete sentence, without qualification. In appropriate connection this Court in State v. Holland, 234 N.C. 354, 67 S.E.2d 272, 274, opinion by Johnson, J., declared that "It is settled law that all who are present (either actually or constructively) at the place of a crime and are either aiding, abetting, assisting, or advising in its commission, or are present for such purpose, to the knowledge of the actual perpetrator, are principals and are equally guilty. * * * `A person aids when being present at the time and place he does some act to render aid to the actual perpetrator of the crime, though he takes no direct share in its commission; and an abettor is one who gives aid and comfort, or either commands, advises, instigates or encourages another to commit a crime'", citing State v. Johnson, 220 N.C. 773, 18 S.E.2d 358. See also State v. Birchfield, 235 N.C. 410, 70 S.E.2d 5.

And in State v. Williams, 225 N.C. 182, 33 S.E.2d 880, 881, it is stated: "`Though when the bystander is a friend of the perpetrator, and knows that his presence will be regarded by the perpetrator as an encouragement and protection, presence alone may be regarded as an encouragement', and in contemplation of law this was aiding and abetting." State v. Holland, supra.

However, it is not understood that this Court has gone so far as to hold that "mere presence * * * is enough to make one an aider or abettor where both or all of the defendants are friends." Compare State v. Birchfield, supra.

There are other assignments of error based upon numerous exceptions,—none of which is of sufficient import to merit express consideration. They may not recur upon another trial.

For reasons stated, let there be a

New trial.