Case Name: STATE v. WILL RECTOR
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1932-06-15
Citations: 203 N.C. 9
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE v. WILL RECTOR.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 203
Pages: 9–10

Head Matter:
STATE v. WILL RECTOR.
(Filed 15 June, 1932.)
Criminal Law L a — Defendant failed to prosecute appeal and it is dismissed.
Where the defendant, convicted of a capital offense, is given leave to appeal in forma pauperis but nothing is done to perfect .the appeal and the case is not docketed within the time required or motion for certiorari made, the appeal will be docketed and dismissed on motion of the Attorney-General, no error appearing upon the face of the record.
MotioN by State to docket and dismiss appeal.
Attorney-General Brummitt and Assistant Attorney-General Seawell for the State.

Opinion:
Stacy, C. J.
At the August Term, 1931, Burke Superior Court, the defendant herein, Will Rector, was tried upon an indictment charging him with rape, which resulted in a conviction and sentence of death. Prom the judgment thus entered, the prisoner gave notice of appeal to the Supreme Court, and was allowed 60 days from the adjournment of the trial term of court within which to make out and serve statement of case on appeal, and the solicitor was given 30 days thereafter to prepare and file exceptions or counter case, but nothing has been done towards perfecting the appeal.
The case was not docketed here until 12 May, 1932, and there was no application for writ of certiorari at the next succeeding term of the Supreme Court commencing after the rendition of the judgment in the Superior Court, the term to which the appeal should have been brought. S. v. Harris, 199 N. C., 377, 154 S. E., 628; S. v. Farmer, 188 N. C., 243, 124 S. E., 562. Nor was the Attorney-General notified of the appeal, and stay of execution, as required by C. S., 4654; albeit the clerk of the Superior Court, whose duty it was to act in the matter, signed the order authorizing an appeal m forma pauperis. In extenuation, however, perhaps it should be said that ordinarily appeals in such cases are perfected by counsel employed or assigned.
The prisoner having failed to prosecute his appeal, or to comply with the rules governing such procedure, the motion of the Attorney-General to docket and dismiss must be allowed. S. v. Massey, 199 N. C., 601, 155 S. E., 255; S. v. Taylor, 194 N. C., 738, 140 S. E., 728.
No error appears on the face of the record. S. v. Edney, 202 N. C., 706.
Appeal dismissed.