State v. . Luquire

Adams, J. There was ample evidence of the defendant’s guilt, and bis five exceptions are addressed to the sole question whether he was protected from prosecution by section 3406 or 3411(g) of the Consolidated Statutes. These sections are as follows: “No person shall be excused from testifying on any prosecution for violating any law against the sale or manufacture of intoxicating liquors, but no discovery made by such person shall be used against him in any penal or criminal prosecution, and he shall be altogether pardoned for the offense done or participated in by him.” Sec. 3406. “No-person shall be excused, on the ground that it may tend to incriminate him or subject him to a penalty or forfeiture, from attending and testifying, or producing boohs, papers, documents, and other evidence in obedience to a subpoena of any court in any suit or proceeding based upon or growing out of any alleged violation of this article, but no natural person shall be prosecuted or subjected to any penalty or forfeiture for or on account of any transaction, matter, or thing as to which, in obedience to a subpoena and under oath, he may so testify or produce evidence; but no person shall be exempt from prosecution and punishment for perjury committed in so testifying.” 3 C. S., 3411(g). Section 3406 was enacted in 1913 (Laws 1913, c. 44, sec. 7), and section 3411(g) in 1923 (Laws 1923, c. 1, sec. 7). The provision last set out is a part of the act which was intended to make the State law conform to the Federal law in relation to intoxicating liquors. In accord with this purpose is section 28 of the act of 1923, which repeals all laws in conflict with it. Section 3411(g) is a reproduction or copy of the National act of 1919 (41 Stat., 317; U. 8. Compiled Statutes, 1923, see. 10138% (g), and was evidently intended to supersede section 3406. As suggested in the State’s brief the latter section has been rewritten and modified and section 3411(g) now constitutes the law within the provisions of which the defendant must bring his claim to immunity from prosecution. The Constitution provides that in all criminal prosecutions “every man shall have the right . . . not to be compelled to give evidence against himself.” But it is compulsion which is inhibited; and the right to invoke the constitutional privilege of exemption from testifying” may be waived. S. v. Thomas, 98 N. C., 599; S. v. Allen, 107 N. C., 805. In S. v. Mitchell, 119 N. C., 784, it is said that a party may waive the benefit of a constitutional as well as a statutory provision either by express consent or by failure to assert it in apt time or by conduct inconsistent with a purpose to insist upon it. *482 In tbe present case tbe defendant did not testify under compulsion. Section 3411(g) relates to testimony given in obedience to a subpcena. A subpcena is process, — a writ or order requiring a person to be present at a designated time and place for tbe purpose of testifying as a witness. Tbe defendant’s appearance before tbe grand jury as a witness was not in obedience to tbe process of tbe court but in response to bis expressed desire to give evidence. Tbe presiding judge found as a fact, “Tbe defendant was not subpoenaed, but was called or summoned orally by tbe officer of tbe grand jury wben tbe indictment was under consideration, after having expressed a desire to tell wbat be knew.” Having expressed a desire to testify be was permitted to do so; and naturally be did not object to telling wbat be knew on tbe ground that bis testimony would tend to incriminate bim or subject bim to a penalty or forfeiture. He must bave known as bis Honor states, “Tbe evidence before tbe grand jury was not used or attempted to be used and could not be used against bim.” In any view of tbe case be waived bis right to claim immunity. We find No error.