Case Name: STATE v. NANCY CARPENTER
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1876-01
Citations: 74 N.C. 230
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE v. NANCY CARPENTER.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 74
Pages: 230–231

Head Matter:
STATE v. NANCY CARPENTER.
The plea of “not guilty” by a defendant charged with, an assault, makes it incumbent upon the State to prove everything necessary t© establish his guilt: Hence, when on the trial below, the State failed to prove that the offence' had been committed within two years before the finding of the indictment, the defendant was entitled toa. new trial.
. INDICTMENT for Assault and Battery, tried at Pall Term, 1875, of Gbaham Superior Court, his Honor Jjidge Gannon presiding.
The defendant pleaded “ not guilty,” and her counsel asked the court to charge the jury that “ as the State did not show, or offer to show, that the offence was committed within two years before the finding of the indictment, the jury must acquit.”
The court refused to charge as requested, and held that if the defendant relied on the statute of limitations, he must ahow it or give the State notice of such defence.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty and thereupon the defendant moved for a new trial. Motion overruled. Judgment and appeal.
No counsel for defendant in this court.
Attorney General Ilargrove, for the State.

Opinion:
Settle, J.
To ail indictment for an assault and battery tbe defendant plead " not guilty," and requested tlie court to charge the jury that as the State did not show, or offer to show, that the offence was committed within two years before the prosecution was instituted, they must return a verdict of not guilty. The court refused so to charge, and held " that if: the defendant relied upon the statute of limitations, he must show it or give the State notice of it." This was error.
The general issue " not guilty " made it incumbent upon the State to prove every thing necessary to establish the guilt of the defendant.
We believe a practice has grown up, under which the State does not usually, in the trial of misdemeanors, prove, in the first instance, venue, time, &c., unless some-point be-made thereon by the defendant, but this practice is permitted merely for convenience and the dispatch of business, and ought never to prejudice a defendant who, as in this case, relies upon such defences.
The court might have permitted the prosecution to recall a witness and prove time, place, &e., when the defendant asked for instructions to the jury, but instead of so doing a ruling was made to the prejudice of the defendant,- for which there must be a venire de novo.
Pek Cueiam. Yen ire de novo.