State v. . Morse

Waleer, J. Tbe appellant moved in tbe court below for a judgment of nonsuit; but we are of tbe opinion tbat there was sufficient evidence of bis guilt to be submitted to tbe jury. Whether -be is actually guilty or not is for tbe jury to decide, after weighing tbe testimony and ascertaining tbe facts. It is not necessary to state tbe evidence in detail, but it is quite sufficient to say tbat appellant’s relations with bis codefendant, bis conduct with reference to her, bis frequent visits to her bouse day and night, and bis remaining at her borne all night, with other circumstances of more or less significance, are sufficient in law for tbe consideration of a jury. Tbis motion, therefore, was properly denied. Several remarks of tbe court were tbe subjects of exceptions, and assigned by appellant as error, because they constituted an expression of opinion upon tbe evidence adverse to him, and injuriously so. Two of them are properly characterized as such expressions of opinion, and tbe third was calculated to prejudice tbe defendant; but we need not discuss them, as they will not occur again, and a new trial should be granted for another reason. The defendant offered evidence of bis good character and requested tbe court to instruct tbe jury tbat they should consider it in passing upon bis guilt. The court refused to do so, and defendant excepted. We have held repeatedly that a defendant in an indictment for a crime has *778 the right to prove his good character and to have it considered by the jury, but the proof must be restricted to general character. S. v. Thornton, 136 N. C., 610. The question was discussed in S. v. Cloninger, 149 N. C., 567, and it was there said that “When a defendant introduces evidence himself to prove his good character, it is substantive evidence of the fact, and may be considered by the jury as such.” And in S. v. Hice, 117 N. C., 782, it was held, the present Chief 'Justice writing the opinion, that in all cases a person accused of a crime, whatever the grade may be, whether a felony or a misdemeanor, has the right to offer, in his defense, testimony of his good character, citing S. v. Henry, 50 N. C., 65; S. v. Johnson, 60 N. C., 151; S. v. Laxton, 76 N. C., 216; 3 A. and E. Enc. of Law, p. 111. It was further said that this right is not dependent upon the defendant having been examined as a witness in his own behalf, and was recognized long before defendants were allowed to testify in their own behalf, but that it is limited to evidence of general character, “and opens the door, which' otherwise would be closed to the prosecution, to show the defendant’s general bad character, either by cross-examination of him or by other witnesses.” Citing Rex v. Stannard, 7 Carr. and P., 673; 2 Hawkins P. C., ch. 46, sec. 194. It follows, therefore, that the refusal of the court to submit the evidence of his character to the jury, as requested by the defendant, was error. The fact, as stated in the case, that the court overlooked the defendant’s prayer for the instruction, does not atone for the error and cannot deprive him of the right to another hearing. New trial.