State v. Wilson, 726

Decision Date15 January 1965
Docket NumberNo. 726,726
Citation263 N.C. 533,139 S.E.2d 736
PartiesSTATE, v. William E. WILSON.
CourtNorth Carolina Supreme Court

T. W. Bruton, Atty. Gen., Harry W. McGalliard, Deputy Atty. Gen., Richard t. Sanders, Asst. Atty. Gen., E. Glenn Kelly, Staff Atty., for the State.

Clarence Ross, B. F. Wood, Graham, for defendant appellant.

PER CURIAM.

The assignments of error based on exceptions to the charge are defective. The appellant should quote in each assignment the part of the charge to which he objects. An assignment based on failure to charge should set out the defendant's contention as to what the court should have charged. The assignments should present the questions without requiring 'a voyage of discovery' through the record.

The requirement that the assignments disclose the matters alleged as error is for the benefit of all members of the Court in their pre-argument examination of the record. After the argument the author, in preparing the opinion, makes a meticulous examination of the record. Ordinarily, however, the other members of the Court examine and check the opinion in the light of appellant's exceptive assignments. 'Always the very error relied upon shall be definitely and clearly presented, and the court not compelled to go beyond the assignment itself to learn what the question is.' Nichols v. McFarland, 249 N.C. 125, 105 S.E.2d 294.

The assignments of error, when properly prepared, pinpoint the controversy. This Court is entitled to that assistance from appellant's counsel.

The record before us does not disclose error of law in the trial.

No error.

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29 cases
  • State v. Baldwin
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • June 12, 1970
    ...up any part of the charge for review by this Court. State v. Kirby, supra; Lewis v. Parker, 268 N.C. 436, 150 S.E.2d 729; State v. Wilson, 263 N.C. 533, 139 S.E.2d 736. Objections to the statement of contentions must ordinarily be brought to the attention of the court before verdict--otherw......
  • State v. Benton
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • June 12, 1970
    ...statement of the law. 'The appellant should quote in each assignment the part of the charge to which he objects.' State v. Wilson, 263 N.C. 533, 534, 139 S.E.2d 736, 737. '(A) mere reference in the assignment of error to the record page where the asserted error may be discovered is not suff......
  • State v. Fowler
    • United States
    • North Carolina Supreme Court
    • April 10, 1974
    ...as to what the court should have charged. State v. Crews, supra; State v. Kirby, 276 N.C. 123, 171 S.E.2d 416 (1970); State v. Wilson, 263 N.C. 533, 139 S.E.2d 736 (1965). Even though this assignment does not comply with the well-established rules, since a death sentence is involved we have......
  • State v. Chavis
    • United States
    • North Carolina Court of Appeals
    • December 18, 1974
    ...question of law be grouped under a single assignment of error. E.g., State v. Blackwell, 276 N.C. 714, 174 S.E.2d 534; State v. Wilson, 263 N.C. 533, 139 S.E.2d 736; Conrad v. Conrad, 252 N.C. 412, 113 S.E.2d 912; State v. Atkins, 242 N.C. 294, 87 S.E.2d 507; Dobias v. White, 240 N.C. 680, ......
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