Case ID: nc_208/html/0140-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Stacy, O. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

STATE v. LEWIS SENTELL.
    (Filed 10 April, 1935.)
    Criminal Law L a — Appeal must be dismissed where defendant fails to make out and serve statement of case on appeal within required time.
    Where defendant in a caxntal case fails to make out and serve his statement of case on appeal within the statutory period, or the time extended, he loses his right to prosecute the appeal, and same will be dismissed upon motion of the Attorney-General after examination of the record proper for errors appearing upon its face.
    Motion by State to docket and dismiss appeal.
    
      Attorney-General Seawell and Assistant Aitorneys-General Ailcen and Bruton for the State.
    
   Stacy, O. J.

At the January Term, 1935, Cleveland Superior Court, the defendant herein, Lewis Sentell, was tried upon indictment charging him with the murder of one Mrs. "William Drake, which resulted in a conviction of murder in the first degree and sentence of death. From the judgment thus entered, the defendant gave notice of appeal to the Supreme Court. The clerk certifies that nothing has been done towards perfecting the appeal, albeit the defendant was allowed thirty days from the rising of the court within which to prepare and serve statement of case on appeal. The time for serving statement of case has now expired. S. v. Brown, 206 N. C., 747, 175 S. E., 116.

The prisoner having failed to make out and serve statement of case on appeal within the statutory period, or the time extended, has lost his right to prosecute the appeal, and the motion of the Attorney-General to docket and dismiss under Rule 17 must be allowed. S. v. Watson, ante, 70; S. v. Etheridge, 207 N. C., 801; S. v. Hooker, 207 N. C., 648; S. v. Lea, 203 N. C., 316, 166 S. E., 292. It is customary, however, in capital cases, where the life of the prisoner is involved, to examine the record to see that no error appears upon its face. S. v. Goldston, 201 N. C., 89, 158 S. E., 926. This we have done in the instant case without discovering any error on the face of the record. S. v. Hamlet, 206 N. C., 568, 174 S. E., 451.

Appeal dismissed.