Case Name: State v. Lumbrick
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1814-04
Citations: 1 Car. L. Rep.  543
Docket Number: 
Parties: State v. Lumbrick.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 4
Pages: 543–544

Head Matter:
State v. Lumbrick.
The defendant was acquitted on a charge of Petit Larceny, and, on a motion that the prosecutor should pay the costs, under the act of 1799, C. 4, § 19, the question submitted was, whether the act embraced this offence?

Opinion:
Henderson, J.
delivered the opinion of the Court.
The act of 1777, C. 2, organizing the Superior and County Courts, gave to the latter, jurisdiction of this offence; and the section by which it is conferred, concludes with these words, "and other misdemeanors of what nature or kind soever, of an inferior nature." If the words, of "an inferior nature," had, prior to this act, a certain and definite meaning, it is admitted that the mode of using them here, would not have changed it. But, as no such precise meaning was attached to them, we know of no more certain rule, than the one contained in the act. It gives to the Superior Court jurisdiction over all offences affecting life, limb or member, and to the inferior Courts, jurisdiction over all petty larcenies, assaults and battery, &c. and other misdemeanors of an inferior nature. The act since passed, declaring in what cases the State shall be liable for costs, does not affect this case; for it is evident the Legislature did not intend to graduate offences. They had other objects in view, and, except as to them, were careless of the expressions employed. It is evident too, that the act was penned by a person totally ignorant of technical terms, for he thought capital punishment and corporal punishment were the same. The rule, therefore, which we should lay down, and which is founded on the act of 1777, is this, that in no case where the punish ment extends to life, limb, or member, can the Court, on the acquittal of the defendant, order the prosecutor to pay costs, In all other cases it may be done, if the prosecution should appear to be frivolous or malicious.
Let the prosecutor pay the costs.