State v. . Taylor

Stacy, C. J. It is apparent from a careful perusal of the record that the defendant’s plea of self-defense was not very impressive to the jury. At any rate, the threat of harm from a gun hanging on a rack in another part of the house thirty feet away was not regarded as immediate, or such as to excuse the brutal killing. The plea was rejected. It is not perceived upon what theory the bad reputation of deceased’s house “for drinking and frolicking parties” could have affected the result. The exclusion of this evidence was without significance in the case. S. v. Hodgin, 210 N. C., 371, 186 S. E., 495; S. v. Baldwin, 184 N. C., 789, 114 S. E., 837; S. v. Davis, 175 N. C., 723, 95 S. E., 48; S. v. Peterson, 149 N. C., 533, 63 S. E., 87; S. v. Banner, ibid., 519, 63 S. E., 84; S. v. Hogue, 51 N. C., 381. The exception is not sustained. The trial court properly refused the defendant’s request to instruct the jury that in no view of the evidence could they find the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree. S. v. Jones, 145 N. C., 466, 59 S. E., 353; S. v. Daniel, 139 N. C., 549, 51 S. E., 858. There was ample evidence of premeditation and deliberation. S. v. Bell, 212 N. C., 20, 192 S. E., 852; S. v. Buffkin, 209 N. C., 117, 183 S. E., 543; S. v. Evans, 198 N. C., 82, 150 S. E., 678; S. v. Miller, 197 N. C., 445, 149 S. E., 590; S. v. Baity, 180 N. C., 722, 105 S. E., 200; S. v. Bynum, 175 N. C., 777, 95 S. E., 101; S. v. Walker, 173 N. C., 780, 92 S. E., 327; S. v. Lipscomb, 134 N. C., 689, 47 S. E., 44. The dealing of lethal blows after the deceased had been felled and rendered helpless was evidence from which the jury could infer the defendant’s deliberate and premeditated purpose. S. v. Steele, 190 N. C., 506, 130 S. E., 308; S. v. Merrick, 172 N. C., 870, 90 S. E., 257; S. v. McClure, 166 N. C., 321, 81 S. E., 458. Nor was it error, of which the defendant can complain, for the court to instruct the jury that a killing with a deadly weapon raises a presumption of murder in the second degree. S. v. Alston, 210 N. C., 258, 186 S. E., 354; S. v. Miller, supra. All the evidence tends to show an *524 intentional killing. S. v. Gregory, 203 N. C., 528, 166 S. E., 387. Indeed, tbe defendant’s plea of self-defense is based upon an intentional killing. S. v. Robinson, ante, 278. Tbe record is free from reversible error. Tbe verdict and judgment will be upheld. No error. Seawell, J., took no part in tbe consideration or decision of this case.