Title: State v. Stegmann

State: north-carolina

Issuer: North Carolina Supreme Court

Document:

213 S.E.2d 262 (1975)
286 N.C. 638
STATE of North Carolina
v.
John Richard STEGMANN.
No. 38.

Supreme Court of North Carolina.
April 14, 1975.
*267 Kenneth A. Glusman, Fayetteville, for defendant-appellant.
James H. Carson, Jr., Atty. Gen., and James E. Magner, Jr., Asst. Atty. Gen., Raleigh, for the State of North Carolina.
HUSKINS, Justice:
The trial court admitted over objection the testimony of fourteen character witnesses offered by the State to show the good character and reputation of the prosecuting witness. Defendant's second and third assignments of error are based upon admission of this testimony. Following is a brief narration of the evidence in question.
Roger Frazee, manager of Aetna Finance Company where Mrs. Ruth Kendall had been working for fourteen months, testified that he knew her character and reputation in the community in which she lived and that it was outstanding.
Gilda Smith testified she had known Ruth Kendall for over four years, knew her character and reputation in the community in which she lived and that it was "very good, excellent."
*268 Reverend Clarence L. Hopkins testified he had known Ruth Kendall for about ten years, knew her character and reputation in the community in which she lived, and that it was outstanding. When asked to state on what he based his opinion, he replied: "As a pastor and counseling with other members of the church and their counseling with me and statements made about her and also in and out of the church I knew her."
Major Darryl C. Judson testified he had known Ruth Kendall for about eight years, knew her character and reputation in the community in which she lived, and that it was outstanding. When requested to state the basis for his answer, he replied: "I base this upon personal observation, talking with friends and conversation with other people and upon my own seeing what she has done on her courage and her integrity."
Will R. Godwin testified he had known Ruth Kendall for ten or twelve years, knew her character and reputation in the community in which she lived, and that it was very good. When asked to state the basis for his testimony he replied: "I am her Sunday School teacher and I am the director of the choir in which she sings. She is there every Wednesday night and every Sunday and I can find nothing wrong with her whatsoever. She is a very fine girl."
Eugene Arthur Ledbetter, a soldier in the United States Army, testified he had known Ruth Kendall between ten and twelve years, knew her character and reputation in the community in which she lived, and that it was excellent. When asked to state the basis for that opinion, he replied: "I base this on my own personal observation and discussions with other church leaders regarding positions of leadership that have been filled with the church and I know her reputation as being the finest a woman can have."
Pansy Cain Porter testified she had known Ruth Kendall approximately twelve years, knew her character and reputation in the community in which she lived, and that it was outstanding. When asked what she based that opinion on, she replied: "I have been knowing her approximately twelve years and personal contact. And working with her in the church and choir."
Roy A. Parker testified that he knew Ruth Kendall; that her character and reputation in the community in which she lived was very good and that he based his opinion upon talking with his friends and neighbors in the church and in the community and as a personal observation.
Mitchell Reinburger testified that he knew the character and reputation of the prosecuting witness in the community in which she lived and that it was outstanding; that his opinion was based on his personal knowledge of her and the opinions of his friends.
Catherine Reinburger testified that she knew the character and reputation of Ruth Kendall in the community in which she lived and that it was excellent; that her opinion was based on the fact that she had known Mrs. Kendall for three and one-half years, had been involved in activities with her and her husband, and from talking with friends and acquaintances.
Ann Riggin testified that she knew the character and reputation of Ruth Kendall in the community in which she lived and that it was excellent; that her opinion was based on living in the community with her when she was growing up, going to church with her, and having Mrs. Kendall in her home at Christmas time.
Tony Cimaglia testified that he knew the general character and reputation of the prosecuting witness in the community in which she lived and that it was very good; that his opinion was based on being with Mrs. Kendall and her husband on numerous occasions and through friends in the community and from knowing her personally.
Aldan Ernest Pease testified that he knew the character and reputation of Mrs. Kendall in the community in which she lived and that it was outstanding; that his *269 opinion was based on his personal acquaintance with Ruth Kendall and her husband "and through personal acquaintances with neighbors and church members."
Mrs. Roland Harris, Jr., testified that she knew the general character and reputation of the prosecuting witness in the community in which she lived and that it was good; that her opinion was based on her own personal observation. "The witness testified that the prosecuting witness and her husband had been in the witness' home several times during the time they were dating and since then and the witness further testified that in her opinion the prosecuting witness is a fine Christian girl."
It is the general rule in this State that a sustaining or impeaching character witness must first qualify himself by indicating whether he knows the general reputation or character of the person. Johnson v. Massengill, 280 N.C. 376, 186 S.E.2d 168 (1972); State v. Ellis, 243 N.C. 142, 90 S.E.2d 225 (1955); State v. Bowen, 226 N.C. 601, 39 S.E.2d 740 (1946); State v. Colson, 193 N.C. 236, 136 S.E. 730 (1927); State v. Steen, 185 N.C. 768, 117 S.E. 793 (1923); 1 Stansbury's North Carolina Evidence, § 114 (Brandis Rev. 1973).
When thus qualified, the character witness may then indicate, of his own accord or by prompting from counsel, what that general reputation is. State v. Smoak, 213 N.C. 79, 195 S.E. 72 (1938); State v. Sentelle, 212 N.C. 386, 193 S.E. 405 (1937); State v. Nance, 195 N.C. 47, 141 S.E. 468 (1928); Edwards v. Price, 162 N.C. 243, 78 S.E. 145 (1913); State v. Ussery, 118 N.C. 1177, 24 S.E. 414 (1896).
Chief Justice Stacy in State v. Hicks, 200 N.C. 539, 157 S.E. 851 (1931), states the rule for qualifying a character witness and eliciting character testimony from him in these words:
This procedure was followed in the examination of witnesses Roger Frazee and Gilda Smith. In the examination of the remaining twelve witnesses, however, the district attorney added the question: "On what do you base your opinion?" Defendant contends this question spawned expressions of personal opinions and narrations of specific acts relating to Ruth Kendall's good character in violation of the rule that character may not be shown by the opinion of the character witness or by specific acts of the person whose character is in question. See Johnson v. Massengill, 280 N.C. 376, 186 S.E.2d 168 (1972).
Although unnecessary and ineptly phrased, the additional question and the answers thereto tended to show the foundation for the character evidence given by the witnesses. A strong or weak foundation for the testimony of a witness aids the jury in determining the weight it will give that testimony. State v. Young, 210 N.C. 452, 187 S.E. 561 (1936); Moss v. Knitting Mills, 190 N.C. 644, 130 S.E. 635 (1925); 2 Wigmore, Evidence § 655 (3rd Ed. 1940). Thus the question was properly permitted, and we perceive no prejudice from either the question or the responses. State v. Kiziah, 217 N.C. 399, 8 S.E.2d 474 (1940).
In the cross-examination of Ruth Kendall, defense counsel attempted to elicit *270 testimony tending to show that she consented to the intercourse with defendant and fabricated the alleged rape because she was afraid her husband would learn the truth concerning her rendezvous with defendant. The questions implied that Mrs. Kendall had willingly engaged in an adulterous act and then sought to conceal it by false testimony on direct examination. In that setting, the district attorney was entitled, while making out the State's case in chief, to offer evidence of her good character and reputation to sustain and strengthen her veracity and virtue. Ingle v. Transfer Corp., 271 N.C. 276, 156 S.E.2d 265 (1967); Lorbacher v. Talley, 256 N.C. 258, 123 S.E.2d 477 (1962); State v. Hooks, 228 N.C. 689, 47 S.E.2d 234 (1948); State v. Litteral, 227 N.C. 527, 43 S.E.2d 84, cert. denied, 332 U.S. 764, 68 S. Ct. 69, 92 L. Ed. 349 (1947); State v. Bethea, 186 N.C. 22, 118 S.E. 800 (1923); 1 Jones on Evidence § 4:37 (6th Ed. 1972); 1 Stansbury's North Carolina Evidence § 50 (Brandis Rev. 1973); 4 Wigmore, Evidence § 1104 (Chadbourn Rev. 1972); 29 Am.Jur.2d, Evidence § 342 (1967). Moreover, "the character of the complainant in rape may, it seems, be shown as bearing on the question of consent." 1 Stansbury's North Carolina Evidence § 105 (Brandis Rev. 1973); State v. Grundler and Jelly, 251 N.C. 177, 111 S.E.2d 1 (1959), cert. denied, 362 U.S. 917, 80 S. Ct. 670, 4 L. Ed. 2d 738 (1960); State v. Hairston, 121 N.C. 579, 28 S.E. 492 (1897); State v. Daniel, 87 N.C. 507 (1882); State v. Jefferson, 28 N.C. 305 (1846). In every criminal prosecution a defendant may offer evidence of his good character and have it considered as substantive evidence in his favor. On the same theory, in a prosecution for rape, where the credibility of the prosecutrix is attacked either by evidence or by questions on crossexamination insinuating that she consented to sexual relations with the defendant, the State is entitled to offer evidence of the good character of the prosecutrix. The defense of consent is a charge that the prosecutrix has, under oath, falsely accused a man in a matter involving his life or death. The State, therefore, may put in evidence any circumstance tending to lessen the likelihood that she is guilty of such criminal and iniquitous conduct. See 1 Stansbury's North Carolina Evidence §§ 104 and 105 (Brandis Rev. 1973). In situations where the defendant does not question the fact of rape but denies that he is the guilty party, the character of the prosecutrix is not directly involved in the issue.
We note that each character witness categorically stated that Ruth Kendall's character and reputation was "outstanding," "very good," or "excellent." Then in response to the additional question the witnesses indicated that their testimony was based on association, observation and discussion with Ruth Kendall and her associates. Eight of the witnesses (Hopkins, Judson, Ledbetter, Parker, Mitchell, Reinburger, Cimaglia and Pease) testified they had gained knowledge of Ruth Kendall's reputation through personal observation and by talking with church members, friends, neighbors, personal acquaintances, and other members of the community. The testimony of each witness, when taken as a whole, indicates that the witness was in a position to observe Ruth Kendall and to gain knowledge of her general reputation in the community from those knowledgeable of that reputation. Such testimony, as well as the length of time each witness had known Ruth Kendall, was admissible to show the foundation for their estimate of her character. State v. Carden, 209 N.C. 404, 183 S.E. 898, cert. denied, 298 U.S. 682, 56 S. Ct. 960, 80 L. Ed. 1402 (1936).
The fact that several of the witnesses attended the same church as Ruth Kendall and based their testimony on what had been heard in the church community did not render the testimony inadmissible. Evidence of Ruth Kendall's general reputation among the members of the church community was competent. State v. McEachern, 283 N.C. 57, 194 S.E.2d 787 (1973). And the number of character witnesses who were permitted to testify rested in the *271 sound discretion of the trial court. State v. Wright, 274 N.C. 380, 163 S.E.2d 897 (1968); Wells v. Bissette, 266 N.C. 774, 147 S.E.2d 210 (1966); see Annot., Propriety and Prejudicial Effect of Trial Court's Limiting Number of Character or Reputation Witnesses, 17 A.L.R.3d 327 (1968). The number permitted in this case by the trial judge is understandable since Mrs. Kendall's character was under attack.
Only the testimony of Mrs. Roland Harris, Jr., appears to be grounded solely on personal opinion and thus inadmissible. Error in admitting her testimony is harmless since Ruth Kendall's good reputation was well established by other admissible evidence. State v. Killian, 173 N.C. 792, 92 S.E. 499 (1917); accord, United States v. Neff, 343 F. Supp. 978 (E.D.Pa.1972), aff'd, 475 F.2d 861 (3rd Cir. 1973). We conclude, for the reasons stated that defendant's second and third assignments of error are without merit.
Assignments of error five, six and eleven assert error in the admission of evidence tending to show defendant had been arrested for rape in 1971. One question of law is presented under the three assignments, so we consider them together.
Ruth Kendall testified on direct examination that defendant told her "that he had had a lady in 1971 and that he had done the same thing to her that he had done to me and he had beat the rap, and that he had spent time in jail for it." When the police came to her home, she told them what defendant had said "concerning 1971." She said she did not know defendant's name at that time and the name Stegmann was not mentioned by anyone. Defendant made no objection and took no exception to the introduction of her testimony.
Defendant Stegmann took the stand and testified he did not tell Ruth Kendall that he had previously been charged with rape. On cross-examination he stated that Mrs. Kendall had lied about the statement.
On the direct examination of Deputy Sheriffs Conerly and Martin, the district attorney inquired whether the officers had reviewed their files as a result of Ruth Kendall's description of the suspect and the statement concerning his arrest for rape in 1971. The witnesses in substance testified that such a review was made and, as a result, the defendant's name was turned over to Detective Merritt of the Fayetteville City Police Department. Detective Merritt testified that he received defendant's name from the sheriff's department and that defendant was arrested. Objections and exceptions to the questioning and testimony of these witnesses constitutes defendant's fifth assignment of error.
In a series of questions propounded on cross-examination, the district attorney asked defendant, inter alia, whether he knew Diane Hoffman, whether he raped her in September 1971 and used a knife in the process, whether he had sexual intercourse with her, and whether he knew Officer House who was sitting in the courtroom. Defendant responded that he had known Diane Hoffman for approximately five or six hours and admitted having sexual intercourse with her. However, he denied using his knife and raping her. He stated that he knew Officer House. Objections and exceptions to these questions and testimony constitute defendant's sixth assignment of error.
During argument to the jury the district attorney recapitulated the above testimony, stating at one point that it showed the steps leading to the identification and apprehension of defendant. At another point in his argument he invited the jury to "draw the reasonable inferences" from it. Objections and exceptions to such argument constitutes defendant's eleventh assignment of error.
Defendant argues that one of the major thrusts of the State's case was directed towards proving and arguing that defendant had a prior arrest for rape. He contends such testimony and argument should have been excluded under authority of State v. Williams, 279 N.C. 663, 185 S.E.2d 174 (1971).
*272 In Williams the defendant was tried for robbery. On cross-examination he was asked whether he was under indictment for other unrelated robberies. Overruling a line of cases to the contrary, this Court held that "for purposes of impeachment, a witness, including the defendant in a criminal case, may not be cross-examined as to whether he has been indicted or is under indictment for a criminal offense other than that for which he is then on trial." The Court also held, a fortiori, that "for purposes of impeachment, a witness, including the defendant in a criminal case, may not be cross-examined as to whether he has been accused, either informally or by affidavit on which a warrant is issued, of a criminal offense unrelated to the case on trial, nor cross-examined as to whether he has been arrested for such unrelated criminal offense." In conclusion, Chief Justice Bobbitt, writing for the Court, defined the limits of that decision:
The Williams decision does not affect the general rule that in a prosecution for a particular crime the State cannot offer evidence tending to show the accused committed another distinct, independent or separate offense. See State v. Jones, 278 N.C. 88, 178 S.E.2d 820 (1971); State v. McClain, 240 N.C. 171, 81 S.E.2d 364 (1954). Nor does Williams displace the many recognized exceptions to that general rule. See State v. McClain, supra; State v. Harris, 223 N.C. 697, 28 S.E.2d 232 (1943); State v. Hight, 150 N.C. 817, 63 S.E. 1043 (1909).
When the general rule excluding evidence of other offenses is stated in terms of relevancy of evidence, the rule becomes absolute. Professor Stansbury correctly states the rule as follows:
Under this rule evidence tending to show that defendant had been arrested for rape in 1971 is admissible if it is relevant to some legitimate issue in the trial other than defendant's character or disposition for crime. We find it admissible to show identification and to corroborate the testimony of Ruth Kendall.
Ruth Kendall testified defendant told her he had committed a similar act in 1971 for which he spent time in jail, but that he ultimately "beat the rap." The subsequent questioning and testimony of the officers and defendant, which tended to show that he had in fact been arrested for a similar incident, was obviously relevant to show that defendant was the person who had raped Ruth Kendall and made the statement concerning a similar offense in 1971. State v. Perry, 275 N.C. 565, 169 S.E.2d 839 (1969); see also State v. Shutt, supra; State v. Williams, 276 N.C. 703, 174 S.E.2d 503 (1970), rev'd on other grounds, 403 U.S. 948, 91 S. Ct. 2290, 29 L. Ed. 2d 860 (1971), and cases cited therein.
Even so, defendant contends that the issue of identification was never really in issue since the defense was based on consent rather than misidentification. Nevertheless, his plea of not guilty put in issue every material element of the State's charge against him. State v. McWilliams, 277 N.C. 680, 178 S.E.2d 476 (1971); State v. Courtney, 248 N.C. 447, 103 S.E.2d 861 (1958). Regardless of the development at the previous trial or defendant's testimony in the trial now under consideration, it was incumbent on the prosecution to prove that defendant committed the alleged crime. 65 Am.Jur.2d, Rape § 53 (1972). The district attorney was not required to speculate as to possible defenses before defendant put on evidence.
Moreover, the evidence tended to confirm the statement that defendant had committed a similar offense in 1971 which would indicate that Ruth Kendall did not fabricate her testimony concerning the statement. The evidence strengthened what Ruth Kendall had said, and therefore was admissible for corroboration purposes. See State v. Case, 253 N.C. 130, 116 S.E.2d 429 (1960), cert. denied, 365 U.S. 830, 81 S. Ct. 717, 5 L. Ed. 2d 707 (1961); State v. Lippard, 223 N.C. 167, 25 S.E.2d 594, cert. denied, 320 U.S. 749, 64 S. Ct. 52, 88 L. Ed. 445 (1943); State v. Morton, 107 N.C. 890, 12 S.E. 112 (1890).
Even assuming arguendo that the evidence served no relevant purpose and was inadmissible, there was no prejudicial error. On both direct and cross-examination Ruth Kendall testified that defendant told her he had committed a similar offense and "beat the rap." Since defendant made no objection to her testimony, his subsequent objections to evidence of the same or like import were of no avail. State v. Van Landingham, 283 N.C. 589, 197 S.E.2d 539 (1973); State v. Davis, 282 N.C. 107, 191 S.E.2d 664 (1972); State v. Jarrett, 271 N.C. 576, 157 S.E.2d 4 (1967); State v. Wright, 270 N.C. 158, 153 S.E.2d 883 (1967). Assignments of error five, six and eleven are overruled.
Assignments of error eight and ten are directed to the district attorney's argument to the jury.
Assignment eight alleges error in the following portion of the argument, which reads:
Defendant's objections to this portion of the argument and a motion for mistrial grounded thereon were denied.
Numerous cases hold that the argument of counsel must be left largely to the control and discretion of the presiding judge and that counsel must be allowed wide latitude in the argument of hotly contested cases. E. g. State v. Monk, 286 N.C. 509, 212 S.E.2d 125 (1975); State v. Barefoot, 241 N.C. 650, 86 S.E.2d 424 (1955); State v. Bowen, 230 N.C. 710, 55 S.E.2d 466 (1949); State v. Little, 228 N.C. 417, 45 S.E.2d 542 (1947).
It is the duty of the prosecuting attorney in all phases of the trial to present the State's case with earnestness and vigor and to use every legitimate means to bring about a just conviction. See State v. Monk, supra; State v. Westbrook, 279 N.C. 18, 181 S.E.2d 572 (1971), vacated on other grounds, 408 U.S. 939, 92 S. Ct. 2873, 33 L. Ed. 2d 761 (1972); 23A C.J.S. Criminal Law § 1081 (1961).
Such is the case here. Both counsel for defendant and the district attorney presented forceful arguments to the jury. Defense counsel repeatedly argued that there was no evidence that defendant was arrested for rape in 1971, just accusations. Defense counsel's remarks invited the district attorney's response indicating why he had not introduced such evidence. Although we do not concede, as the district attorney apparently thought, that the stated rule precluded the actual introduction of such evidence for relevant purposes other than impeachment, we perceive no error in the trial court's ruling upon the district attorney's responsive argument. State v. Seipel, 252 N.C. 335, 113 S.E.2d 432 (1960); State v. Knotts, 168 N.C. 173, 83 S.E. 972 (1914); 75 Am.Jur.2d, Trial § 233 (1974). Defendant's eighth assignment is overruled.
Defendant's tenth assignment of error is also directed to portions of the district attorney's argument. Exceptions 58, 61-64 and 67 are grouped under this assignment and relate to the following excerpts from the argument:
In presenting the State's case, the prosecutor must "show the whole transaction as it was." He has much latitude in the language and manner of presenting his side of the case "consistent with the facts in evidence." State v. Westbrook, supra; 23A C.J.S. Criminal Law §§ 1081 and 1090 (1961).
The prosecutor is entitled to argue to the jury the law and the facts in evidence and all reasonable inferences to be drawn therefrom. State v. Conner, 244 N.C. 109, 92 S.E.2d 668 (1956); State v. Willard, 241 N.C. 259, 84 S.E.2d 899 (1954); State v. Campo, 233 N.C. 79, 62 S.E.2d 500 (1950). On the other hand, he may not place before the jury incompetent, irrelevant and prejudicial matters, and may not "travel outside the record" by injecting into his argument facts of his own knowledge or other facts not included in the evidence. State v. Monk, supra; State v. Crisp, 244 N.C. 407, 94 S.E.2d 402, 67 A.L.R.2d 236 (1956); State v. Phillips, 240 N.C. 516, 82 S.E.2d 762 (1954); State v. Dockery, 238 N.C. 222, 77 S.E.2d 664 (1953); State v. Buchanan, 216 N.C. 709, 6 S.E.2d 521 (1940).
The fact that the sympathy or prejudice of the jury may be aroused by the argument of counsel does not render the argument improper when it is legitimate and based on competent evidence. Only comments calculated to inflame unduly the passions and prejudices of jurors are improper.
*276 Applying these principles to this case, the district attorney's argument is within permissible bounds of fair debate, except the portion to which Exception No. 67 is addressed. That portion was improper and the trial judge stopped it before any prejudice, beyond that created by the facts themselves, was done. See State v. Barefoot, 241 N.C. 650, 86 S.E.2d 424 (1955). Assignment number ten is overruled.
Assignments one, seven and nine are not discussed in defendant's brief and are therefore deemed abandoned. Rule 28, Rules of Practice in the Supreme Court, 254 N.C. 783, 810 (1961).
The witness Alden Ernest Pease testified that Ruth Kendall's character and reputation in the community in which she lived was outstanding. On cross-examination he testified that he was a special investigator with an intelligence unit involving seven states but, by reason of the confidential nature of his work, could not reveal details concerning the type of work involved or the identity of his employer. Defendant's fourth assignment of error is addressed to the refusal of the court to require the witness to reveal that information. It suffices to say that the nature of Mr. Pease's work had nothing to do with the basis of his testimony concerning Mrs. Kendall's character and reputation in her community. This assignment is overruled without further discussion.
Defendant's twelfth assignment of error argues the unconstitutionality of the death penalty. This point has already been the subject of final judicial determination in this State until and unless further review is required by legislative enactment or by the Supreme Court of the United States. State v. Waddell, 282 N.C. 431, 194 S.E.2d 19 (1973); State v. Jarrette, 284 N.C. 625, 202 S.E.2d 721 (1974); State v. Crowder, 285 N.C. 42, 203 S.E.2d 38 (1974); State v. Fowler, 285 N.C. 90, 203 S.E.2d 803 (1974).
Examination of the entire record discloses that defendant received a fair trial free from prejudicial error. The verdict and judgments must therefore be upheld.
No error.
SHARP, Chief Justice, dissents as to the death sentence and votes to remand for imposition of a sentence of life imprisonment for the reasons stated in her dissenting opinion in State v. Williams, 286 N.C. 422, 434, 212 S.E.2d 113, 123 (1975).
COPELAND, Justice, dissents as to death sentence and votes to remand for imposition of a sentence of life imprisonment for the reasons stated in his dissenting opinion in State v. Williams, 286 N.C. 422 at 437, 212 S.E.2d 113 (1975).
EXUM, Justice (dissenting):
In my view there was prejudicial error in the trial in the admission of much of the character evidence and in the prosecutor's closing argument.
The testimony of several of the character witnesses in response to the district attorney's questions regarding the "basis" for earlier and properly expressed opinions constituted an improper effort by the State to prove, over objection of the defendant, the character of the prosecuting witness by specific acts and personal opinion. The witness Judson was allowed to testify that his opinion of the prosecuting witness' character was based upon "personal observation" and "upon my own seeing what she has done on her courage and her integrity." The witness Godwin testified that the prosecuting witness was in his Sunday School Class and the choir which he directed and that she regularly attended meetings every Wednesday night and every Sunday and that he could "find nothing wrong with her whatsoever." The witness Ledbetter said his opinion was based on his "own personal observation." The witness Reinburger said that her opinion was based on her own "personal observation of the prosecuting witness' reaction to things." The witness Riggin testified that she had had the prosecuting witness in her home on Christmas *277 and her opinion of her character was based on "just personal observation." The witness Harris testified that "in her opinion the prosecuting witness is a fine Christian girl."
While the State was entitled to prove the character of the prosecuting witness both on the issue of her credibility and on the issue of whether she consented to the sexual intercourse, the only method of proof previously sanctioned by this Court and most other jurisdictions is by showing the general reputation of the witness in the community where she lived. Michelson v. United States, 335 U.S. 469, 69 S. Ct. 213, 93 L. Ed. 168 (1948); State v. McEachern, 283 N.C. 57, 194 S.E.2d 787 (1973); State v. Steen, 185 N.C. 768, 117 S.E. 793 (1923). See 1 Stansbury's North Carolina Evidence, Brandis Revision, § 110, pp. 336-337, and cases cited, where it is stated:
It is clear that the character of the prosecuting witness was not directly but only collaterally in issue. Character is directly in issue only when it is one of the ultimate facts to be proved or disproved in the case, for example, in actions for defamation where injury to reputation is one of the principal measures of damage or in prosecutions for the seduction of an "innocent and virtuous woman" under General Statute § 14-180. 1 Stansbury's North Carolina Evidence, Brandis Revision, § 102. Where character evidence "is offered on the question of a witness' credibility, or as evidence that a party or third person did or did not do a particular thing" it is only collaterally in issue. 1 Stansbury's North Carolina Evidence, Brandis Revision, § 111, n. 5. A criminal defendant may offer evidence of his good character both on the question of his credibility if he testifies and on the question of his guilt whether or not he testifies, but his proof must be limited to his general reputation in the community. Michelson v. United States, supra; State v. McKissick, 271 N.C. 500, 507, 157 S.E.2d 112, 118 (1967); State v. Sentelle, 212 N.C. 386, 193 S.E. 405 (1937). The Supreme Court of the United States, reviewing the general law on the subject, stated the rule as follows:
This is also the North Carolina rule stated in State v. Steen, 185 N.C. at 770, 117 S.E.  at 794 as follows:
This same rule has previously been true with regard to the prosecutrix in a rape case. "The State may only prove her general characterit may not offer proof of particular traits of character." State v. Grundler, 251 N.C. 177, 192, 111 S.E.2d 1, 12 (1959).
The reason for the rule limiting character evidence to general reputation is grounded not in logic but in policy and expediency. Michelson v. United States, supra; State v. Adams, 193 N.C. 581, 137 S.E. 657 (1927). Certainly the opinion of a witness who knows the person whose character is in question and prior specific acts of that person are highly relevant on the question of the person's character. We have said, however, that the rule prohibiting this kind of evidence "is both sound and salutary, for the reason that it obviates a mass of collateral questions which would interminably prolong trials and inevitably result in drawing the minds of the jurors far afield from the merit of the case." State v. Adams, 193 N.C. at 582, 137 S.E.  at 658.
The holding of the majority, I fear, dangerously ignores the policy for limiting character evidence previously recognized by this and other courts. If the good character of the prosecuting witness in a rape case may be shown by the State through the personal opinion of witnesses who know her and by their revelation of her specific acts then the defendant must be allowed to attack her character by the same kind of testimony. The character of a defendant may likewise be proved. The majority opinion takes us back to what Justice Jackson in Michelson v. United States, supra, called "the frontier phase of our law's development, [where] calling friends to vouch for defendant's good character, and its counterpartcalling the rivals and enemies of a witness to impeach him by testifying that his reputation for veracity was so bad that he was unworthy of belief on his oathwere favorite and frequent ways of converting an individual litigation into a community contest and a trial into a spectacle." 335 U.S.  at 480, 69 S. Ct.  at 220, 93 L. Ed.  at 176.
At Stegmann's first trial character evidence was not offered. The jury was unable to agree on a verdict. The improper admission of this evidence was clearly prejudicial to the defendant.
The district attorney's argument to the jury, set out verbatim in the majority opinion, to the effect that because of the rules of evidence the State was unable to present certain evidence to the jury and that these rules were for the protection of the defendant was improper. It permitted the jury to speculate on what might have been offered; it allowed the State to circumvent the rules of evidence and do indirectly what it could not do directly. The majority justifies the permissibility of the argument on the ground that it was invited by defense counsel and seems to say that it related solely to the question of whether the defendant had previously been arrested for rape. Defense counsel did, indeed, argue that there was no evidence that defendant had been arrested for rape"just accusation." There was, however, evidence that he had been so arrested from the testimony of the prosecuting witness herself regarding statements made to her by the defendant. The majority recognizes that testimony of officers for the State and of the defendant "tended to show that he had in fact been arrested for a similar incident." Defense counsel, moreover, argued justifiably the failure of the State to offer into evidence the black underpants of the prosecuting witness. Whatever the district attorney's intent, the jury may well have understood from his *279 argument that the State, somehow, was precluded by law from offering this evidence.
This kind of argument by the prosecution has been consistently condemned and held to be reversible error in cases from this and other jurisdictions. State v. Roach, 248 N.C. 63, 102 S.E.2d 413 (1958) ("I tell you I could get a number of people, at least one hundred, to come in here and testify to his bad character"); Ginsberg v. United States, 257 F.2d 950 (5th Cir. 1958) ("I could probably have fifty people in here who would show that [defendant] isn't a good character"); Snipes v. United States, 230 F.2d 165 (6th Cir. 1956) ("We could have made thirty or forty counts in this thing, if you had wanted to be here a couple of weeks trying this lawsuit"); People v. Talle, 111 Cal. App. 2d 650, 676-677, 245 P.2d 633, 649 (1952) ("[Argument which] broadly implies the prosecution is possessed of much evidence tending to show guilt that has not been introduced, is erroneous and prejudicial"). It has been so held even where the argument was prompted by statements made by defense counsel and curative instructions were given by the trial court. State v. Eagle, 233 N.C. 218, 63 S.E.2d 170 (1951); Kitchell v. United States, 354 F.2d 715 (1st Cir. 1965). But see Commonwealth v. French, 357 Mass. 356, 259 N.E.2d 195 (1970) ("[Y]ou have to use your imagination. There are many things in a court of law that can't be introduced." Held, improper but harmless because of adequate curative instructions.)
In State v. Eagle, supra, a drunk driving prosecution, defendant had argued the failure of the State to introduce into evidence a bottle of whiskey referred to in the testimony of State's witnesses. In his argument to the jury the district attorney explained why the whiskey bottle had not been produced, stated that he had sent for the bottle and had it in a paper sack and was willing for it to be shown to the jury. Defendant objected and moved for an instruction that the jury not consider the argument. The motion was denied but in his instructions to the jury the trial judge told them to disregard that portion of the State's argument. We, nevertheless, because of this argument awarded defendant a new trial.
In Kitchell v. United States, supra, the government argued:
Upon objection the trial judge immediately instructed Government counsel to make no further argument of that nature. But counsel returned to say to the jury. "The issue is not, does he know these other defendants? If that were the issue, we would bring in an entirely different set of witnesses." Id. These arguments were held to justify a new trial. The court said:
In State v. Monk, 286 N.C. 509, 212 S.E.2d 125 (1975), we held it to be prejudicial error for the State to argue that a person's criminal record cannot be offered in evidence unless the person testifies on the ground, however, that the remark amounted to an impermissible comment upon the failure of the defendant to testify in his behalf.
*280 Stegmann, through counsel, promptly objected to the prosecutor's argument here complained of and moved for a mistrial. His objection was overruled and motion denied. No curative instructions were attempted. This constituted error, in my opinion, entitling defendant to a new trial.
The evidence in this case is sharply conflicting. The question of guilt hangs largely on the credibility which the jury accords to the prosecuting witness and to the defendant. I am unable to say that the improper character evidence and the improper portions of the State's closing argument constituted error which was harmless beyond a reasonable doubt.
I also dissent from the imposition of the death sentence for the reasons stated in my dissenting opinion in State v. Williams, 286 N.C. 422, 212 S.E.2d 113 (1975).