State v. Fowler

Decision Date10 January 1934
Docket NumberNo. 542.,542.
Citation205 N. C. 608,172 S.E. 191
PartiesSTATE. v. FOWLER et al.
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court

Appeal from Superior Court, Forsyth County; Sink, Judge.

Clyde Fowler and Fred Brincefield were convicted of dealing in a lottery, and they appeal.

Reversed as to defendant Brincefield.

No error as to defendant Fowler.

Criminal prosecution tried upon an indictment charging the defendants with dealing in a lottery in violation of C. S. § 4428, as amended by chapter 434, Public Laws 1933.

On the morning of May 25, 1933, about the hour of 9:30 a. m., a number of deputies sheriff of Forsyth county, armed with a search •warrant, entered a house just outside the city limits of Winston-Salem and found the defendants, together with their wives, in the front room. There was no one else in the house except one or two small children. The defendant Fowler said the house was rented by him and that he had been living there a month or six weeks. The defendant Brincefield said he lived on Fourth street in Winston-Salem, and that he had only been there a short time, about fifteen minutes.

In searching the premises, to which no objection was interposed, the officers found in a closet and an outhouse, or chicken house, certain tickets, paraphernalia, and material used in the operation of a lottery.

The defendants demurred to the state's evidence, and rested.

Verdict: Guilty as to each of the defendants.

Judgment: Six months on the road as to each of the defendants.

The defendants appeal, assigning errors.

John D. Slawter, of Winston-Salem, and Sanford W. Brown, of Asheville, for appellants.

Dennis G. Brummitt, Atty. Gen., and A. A. P. Seawell and T. W. Bruton, Asst Attys. Gen., for the State.

STACY, Chief Justice.

The evidence is sufficient to carry the case to the jury as against the defendant Fowler. Hence the verdict and judgment will be upheld as to him.

But, with respect to the defendant Brincefield, the evidence does no more than raise a suspicion, somewhat strong perhaps, of his guilt. Therefore the demurrer to the evidence will be sustained as to him. State v. Carter, 204 N. O. 304, 168 S. E. 204.

The defendants assail the constitutionality of chapter 434, Public Laws 1933, amending C. S. § 4428, which makes the possession of tickets, certificates, or orders used in the operation of a lottery prima facie evidence of a violation of said section, but the connection between the fact proved and the ultimate fact presumed seems to be a rational one; hence the...

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6 cases
  • State v. Williams
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • December 17, 1975
    ... ... Barrett, 138 N.C. 630, 50 S.E. 506, 1 L.R.A.,N.S., 626; State v. Dowdy, 145 N.C. 432, 58 S.E. 1002; State v. Hammond, 188 N.C. 602, 125 S.E. 402; State v. Fowler and Brincefield, 205 N.C. 608, 172 S.E. 191; Casey v. U.S., 276 U.S. 413, 48 S.Ct. 373, 72 L.Ed. 632; 16 C.J.S. Constitutional Law, § 128d ...         We note with interest that the author of Mullaney v. Wilbur, 421 U.S. 684, 95 S.Ct. 1881, 44 L.Ed.2d 508, Mr. Justice Powell, writing ... ...
  • State v. Hales, 217
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • December 13, 1961
    ... ... 31] the doing of certain acts prima facie proof of guilt or of some element of guilt.' To the same effect: State v. Barrett, 138 N.C. 630, 50 S.E. 506, 1 L.R.A.,N.S., 626; State v. Dowdy, 145 N.C. 432, 58 S.E. 1002; State v. Hammond, 188 N.C. 602, 125 S.E. 402; State v. Fowler and Brincefield, 205 N.C. 608, 172 S.E. 191; Casey v. U. S., 276 U.S. 413, 48 S.Ct. 373, 72 L.Ed. 632; 16 C.J.S. Constitutional Law § 128(d) ...         Speaking directly to the point in the Fowler and Brincefield case this Court says [205 N.C. 608, 172 S.E. 192]: 'The defendants assail ... ...
  • State v. Fowler
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • January 10, 1934
  • Current v. Church
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • January 28, 1935
    ... ... 748.Supreme Court of North Carolina.Jan. 28, 1935.Appeal from Superior Court, Forsyth County; Alley, Sr., Judge.Clyde Fowler was convicted of operating a lottery, and on appeal entered into a recognizance for appearance with J. S. Current as surety. On his failure to pay ... 83]against bond. From an order dismissing execution and returning to surety amount deposited in lieu of bond, the State and Board of Education of Forsyth County appeal. Affirmed.By agreement the petition filed in the above-entitled cause was transferred and treated as ... ...
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