State v. Block

Decision Date20 March 1957
Docket NumberNo. 220,220
Citation97 S.E.2d 243,245 N.C. 661
PartiesSTATE, v. Stephen BLOCK.
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court

George B. Patton, Atty. Gen., T. W. Bruton, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

Taylor, Kitchin & Taylor, Wadesboro, for defendant appellant.

WINBORNE, Chief Justice.

The sole assignment of error presented on this appeal is based upon exception to the denial by the trial court of motion of defendant for judgment as in case of nonsuit. G.S. § 15-173.

In this connection the statute, G.S. § 14-90, under which defendant is indicted and convicted, provides in pertinent part that 'If * * * any agent * * * of any person shall embezzle or * * * knowingly and willfully * * * convert to his own use * * * any money, * * * belonging to any other person * * * which shall have come into his possession or under his care, he shall be guilty of a felony, and shall be punished as in cases of larceny.'

This statute, G.S. § 14-90, has been the subject of numerous decisions of this Court, notably: State v. Hill, 91 N.C. 561; State v. McDonald, 133 N.C. 680, 45 S.E. 582; State v. Blackley, 138 N.C. 620, 50 S.E. 310; State v. Gulledge, 173 N.C. 746, 91 S.E. 362; State v. Eubanks, 194 N.C. 319, 139 S.E. 451; State v. Gentry, 228 N.C. 643, 46 S.E.2d 863.

In the light of the provisions of this statute, as interpreted and applied by this Court, in order to convict a defendant of embezzlement, as declared in opinion by Clark, C. J., in State v. Blackley, supra [138 N.C. 620, 50 S.E. 312], 'four distinct propositions of fact must be established: * * * that the defendant was the agent of the prosecutor, and by the terms of his employment had received property of his principal; that he received it in the course of his employment, and knowing it was not his own, converted it to his own use.' To like effect is decision in State v. Eubanks, supra, citing other cases.

Now, defendant stressfully contends that when the evidence offered upon the trial below is tested by these elements necessary to constitute embezzlement the State has failed to make out such a case against him.

In this connection it is well settled rule of law in this State that in considering a motion for judgment as in case of nonsuit in a criminal prosecution, the evidence must be taken in the light most favorable to the State, and if when so taken there is any competent evidence to support the allegation of the bill of indictment, the case is one for the jury. And, on such motion the State is...

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18 cases
  • State v. Carson
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • November 28, 1978
    ...bill of indictment which charged defendant with first degree rape. State v. Bell, 285 N.C. 746, 208 S.E.2d 506 (1974); State v. Block, 245 N.C. 661, 97 S.E.2d 243 (1957). Neither do we find merit in defendant's argument that the charges of rape should have been dismissed because there was n......
  • State v. Walker, 373
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • January 14, 1960
    ... ... State v. Horner, 248 N.C. 342, 103 S.E.2d 694; State v ... Block, 245 N.C. 661, 97 S.E.2d 243; State v. Simpson, 244 N.C. 325, 93 S.E.2d 425. If, however, the evidence amounts to no more than suspicion or conjecture, the motion to nonsuit should have been allowed. State v. Glenn, 251 N.C. 156, 110 S.E.2d 791 ...         The bills charge that ... ...
  • State v. Corl
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • May 6, 1959
    ...is entitled to the benefit of every reasonable intendment thereon and every reasonable inference to be drawn therefrom. State v. Block, 245 N.C. 661, 97 S.E.2d 243; State v. Burgess, 245 N.C. 304, 96 S.E.2d 54; State v. Simpson, 244 N.C. 325, 93 S.E.2d 425; State v. McKinnon, In our opinion......
  • State v. Walker
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • March 20, 1957
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