State v. Larkin

Citation229 N.C. 126,47 S.E.2d 697
Decision Date19 May 1948
Docket NumberNo. 652.,652.
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court
PartiesSTATE. v. LARKIN.

Appeal from Superior Court, Robeson County; W. C. Harris, Judge.

T. D. Larkin was convicted of feloniously receiving an automobile knowing it to have been stolen, and he appeals.

New trial.

Criminal prosecution upon indictment charging in two counts, substantially, that defendant (1) did on 14 March, 1947, feloniously steal, take and carry away a certain Mercury motor vehicle, an automobile, of the value of $1,000, property of one H. B. Wentz, and (2) on same date did feloniously receive and have said automobile, knowing it to have been feloniously stolen, taken and carried away, contrary to the form of the statute in such case made and provided.

The defendant pleaded not guilty.

And upon the trial below motion of defendant for judgment as of nonsuit as to the first count, entered when the State first rested its case, was granted by the court. But like motion entered at same time as to the second count, was overruled, and the trial proceeded on this count only. Defendant, reserving exception to the denial of his latter motion, offered evidence, and renewed the motion at the close of all the evidence, --to the denial of which he excepted.

Verdict: Guilty of receiving stolen goods knowing them to be stolen.

Judgment: Imprisonment in jail, and assigned to work under the supervision of the State Highway and Public Works Commission for a term of twelve months.

Defendant appeals therefrom to Supreme Court and assigns error.

Harry M. McMullan, Atty. Gen., T. W. Bruton, Hughes J. Rhodes and Ralph M. Moody, Asst. Attys. Gen., for the State.

McKinnon & Seawell, of Lumberton, for Defendant-Appellant.

WINBORNE, Justice.

The evidence shown in the record, considered in the light most favorable to the State, is sufficient to take the case to the jury on the charge, under G.S. § 14-71, of receiving the automobile in question, knowing it to have been feloniously stolen or taken. Hence the assignment of error based upon exception to denial of defendant's motion for judgment as of nonsuit entered at close of all the evidence is held to be untenable.

However, defendant properly assigns as error the portion of the charge in which the court instructed the jury as follows: "There is no presumption of guilt because he had this car in his possession; that is a presumption of fact for you to consider, but not a presumption of guilt."

The effect of this instruction is that while in...

To continue reading

Request your trial
6 cases
  • State v. Phillips, 509
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • 9 d5 Julho d5 1954
    ...is insufficient in law and logic even to charge the wife with guilty knowledge of how the proceeds were obtained. State v. Larkin, 229 N.C. 126, 47 S.E.2d 697; State v. Yow, 227 N.C. 585, 42 S.E.2d 661; State v. Oxendine, 223 N.C. 659, 27 S.E.2d 814; State v. Lowe, 204 N.C. 572, 169 S.E. 18......
  • State v. Neill
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • 6 d3 Junho d3 1956
    ...of receiving stolen property knowing it to have been stolen or taken. State v. Hoskins, 236 N.C. 412, 72 S.E.2d 876; State v. Larkin, 229 N.C. 126, 47 S.E. 2d 697; State v. Yow, 227 N.C. 585, 42 S.E.2d 661; State v. Oxendine, 223 N.C. 659, 27 S.E.2d 814; State v. Lowe, 204 N.C. 572, 169 S.E......
  • State v. Scoggin
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • 22 d5 Agosto d5 1952
    ...Best, 202 N.C. 9, 161 S.E. 535; State v. Lowe, 204 N.C. 572, 169 S.E. 180; State v. Oxendine, 223 N.C. 659, 27 S.E.2d 814; State v. Larkin, 229 N.C. 126, 47 S.E.2d 697. The State also, in citing State v. Brannon, supra, points out that where, in a murder trial, it is proved or admitted that......
  • State v. Hoskins
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • 5 d3 Novembro d3 1952
    ...Best, 202 N.C. 9, 161 S.E. 535; State v. Lowe, 204 N.C. 572, 169 S.E. 180; State v. Oxendine, 223 N.C. 659, 27 S.E.2d 814; State v. Larkin, 229 N.C. 126, 47 S.E.2d 697. Applying the provisions of the statute and this principle to the evidence offered upon the trial below, taken in the light......
  • Request a trial to view additional results

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT