Case ID: nc_208/html/0352-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Stacy, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

STATE v. TAFT WILLIAMS, Alias WILLIAM TAFT WILLIAMSON.
    (Filed 26 June, 1935.)
    Criminal Law L a.—
    Where defendant, convicted of a capital felony, fails to make out and serve liis statement of case on appeal within the time fixed, he loses his right to prosecute the appeal, and the appeal will be dismissed upon motion of the Attorney-General when no error appears upon the face of the record proper.
    MotioN by State to docket and dismiss appeal.
    
      Attorney-General Seawell and Assistant Attorney-General Ailcen for the State.
    
   Stacy, C. J.

At the January Term, 1935, Columbus Superior Court, the defendant herein, Taft "Williams, alias William Taft Williamson, was tried upon indictment charging him with the murder of one Blanch Williams, 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, and was allowed thirty days within which to make out and serve statement of case on appeal. The clerk certifies that nothing has been done towards perfecting the appeal, and the time for serving statement of case has expired. S. v. Brown, 206 N. C., 747, 175 S. E., 116. No bond was required, as the defendant was granted the privilege of appealing in forma pau-peris. S. v. Stafford, 203 N. C., 601, 166 S. E., 734.

The prisoner, having failed to make out and serve statement of case on appeal within the time fixed, has lost his right to prosecute the appeal, and the motion of the Attorney-General to docket and dismiss must be allowed. S. v. Johnson, 205 N. C., 610, 172 S. E., 219. 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. Tbis we have done in tbe instant case without discovering any error on tbe face of tbe record. S. v. Hamlet, 206 N. C., 568, 174 S. E., 451.

Tbe motion of tbe Attorney-General must be allowed. S. v. Watson, ante, 70.

Appeal dismissed.