Case Name: STATE vs. NORTON
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1864-06
Citations: 1 Win. 303
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE vs. NORTON.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 60
Pages: 303–306

Head Matter:
STATE vs. NORTON.
When a question arises on a jury trial concerning the competency of a witness, and the parties disagree about the facts oh which the witness’ competency depends, and the Judge decides that the witness is competent, but does not state the facts which in his opinion the evidence' proves, this Court cannot revise his decision.
In such case the prisoner is entitled to a venire de novo..
TRe case of the State vs. Godwin, 6 Ire., 401, cited and approved.
This was an indictment for murder, tried before Osboríte, Judge, at the Fall Term of Richmond Superior Court, 1863.
The defendant was indicted for the murder of one Angus Campbell.
The Solicitor for the State proposed to examine one Woodel as a witness, but it was objected by the prisoner, that he was of negro blood within the prohibited degree, which being proved, the Solicitor replied that the prisoner was also of negro blood, and to establish this fact introduced a witness by the name of McNeill, who said he knew the father and grandmother of the prisoner, and they were reputed to be of negro blood ; that the grandmother of the prisoner was very dark, and that he should suppose that she was at least one-fourth of negro blood; that he had no particular skill in telling the degrees of negro blood from the complexion, was not an expert and knew nothing of the subject except from general observation, and could not form an opinion from the complexion to be satisfactory. One Gribson also proved that the grandmother of the prisoner was reputed to be a mulatto, she was quite dark, but he did not know whether she was of one-fourth negro blood or not. One Mrs. Huckaby testified that she knew the grandmother of the prisoner, whose maiden oíame was Brigiman, that she was reputed to be a 'mulatto, was very dark and must from ber complexion have had a good deal of negro blood in her veins, but how much she was unable to say. Two witnesses examined by the prisoner-testified that they knew the father of the prisdber ; that he was reputed to be a white man and was allowed to vote; the mother of the prisoner was a white woman from Scotland.
Upon this evidence the Court held'that the witness was competent, and he was examined..
The jury found the prisoner guilty.
Winston, Sr., tor the State.
No counsel'for the prisoner in this Court.

Opinion:
PeaksoN, C. J.
On the argument Mr. Winston assumed that the grandmother of the prisoner had one-fourth negro blood-; from this he, inferred that one of his great grand parents had oh e-half negro blood, and one of his great great grand parents was full negro ; and insisted from this fact that the prisoner was. of mixed blood within the meaning of the statute, and, consequently, that negro testimony was competent on his trial.
The record does not present the question ; it is not found as a fact that "the grandmother of the prisoner had one-fourth negro blood."
His Honor, in making a statement of the case, sets out all the evidence, and his conclusion as a matter of law, that '"upon this testimony the , witness was competent." But he does not find or set out the fact or facts upon which this conclusion is based. In other words, he did not have hig-attention called to the difference between "the evidence" and the fact or facts established, by the evidence. So the case comes up in such a condition that this Court cannot revise his decision as to the law, because we do not know upon what state of facts he formed his opinión. It is the province of tbe jury to pass on'the issues .-joined by the pleadings; but when a collateral question arises, as in this instance,, it is the province of the Judge tó decide the questions .of fact as w;ell as of law, and the record' should state the facts found by the Judge, as well as his conclusion as to the law arising on that state -'of facts, so as to put it in the power of this Court to. review _ his opinion as to the law. State vs. Godwin, 5 Ire., 401. It may. be,' when the evidence is clear and there is no conflict, so that if the case was for the jury the J udge would be at liberty to charge "if you believe the witnesses, you will find'for the plaintiff, ' ' it would be sufficient for the Judge merely to set out the evidence. But when, as in this instance, the testimony is not clear, and the witnesses on behalf of the State can only give matter of opinion and conjecture, which; is unsatisfactory even to the witnesses themselves, apd there is conflicting testimony offered on the part of the prisoner, it is necessary for the Judge to state his conclusions as to the facts.
.For the sake of illustration, a special verdict instead of finding the facts, merely sets out the evidence, which is unsatisfactory and conflicting. The judge can nof decide the law, for there is no question of law presented ; and if he does undertake to do it, this flourt cannot review his decision, for it can not be known upon what state of facts he based hip opinion ; such is our case. The question is, mfist'the prisoner be prejudiced and-lose his right to have the opinion of the J udge reviewed by this Court, or should there be a venire de novo ?
The general rule is, judgment must be affirmed unless error app'ears ; and it is the misfortune of the appellant, if by reason of an omission in making up the statement of the case, the point on which he relies is .not presented. We are satisfied, however, that this case does not fall under the general rule. There is a defect, not in the statement of the case, but in the record proper ; in this : it does not show the facts on whick the Court decided the law. The illustration drawn from a special verdict, makes the matter and the distinction very clear. Suppose a special verdict sets out the evidence and does not find any fact, and the Court gives judgment, clearly there is error in thé face of the record, and the judgment would be arrested, for there is cc no verdict " or finding of the facts by the jury.
In our case there is the same error ; the Judge does not find the facts.
As the matter relates to a collateral issue, touching the competency of a witness, its effect is to entitle the prisoner to a venire de novo.
Let this opinion be certified to tho Superior Court of law for Richmond County, that the judgment may be reversed and a venire facias de bovo be awarded.
Note. In the transcript of the record in this cause, as well iu the record proper, as in the case stated by the Judge, the word " defendant " was used instead of " prisoner." The Court ordered the clerk to strike out the first mentioned word wherever it occurred, and insert " prisoner." The same order was made as to the transcripts of the record in otner capital cases, where the like mistake had bien made; and the clerk corrected there', ml accordingly.