Case Name: STATE v. GORDON WATKINS
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1931-04-29
Citations: 200 N.C. 692
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE v. GORDON WATKINS.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 200
Pages: 692–701

Head Matter:
STATE v. GORDON WATKINS.
(Filed 29 April, 1931.)
Homicide D a — Whether pair of handcuffs was “deadly weapon” held question for jury, and instruction in this case was reversible error.
As to whether a pair of handcuffs will be considered as a deadly weapon ordinarily depends upon their size, the material of which made, the relative strength and weakness of the assailant and assailed, and is usually a question for the jury, and under an indictment for a felonious killing, evidence that the assailant struck the deceased with a pair of handcuffs with other evidence tending to show that other causes resulted in the death of the deceased, an instruction “that an assault, when made with an instrument such as a pair of handcuffs would constitute in law an assault with a deadly weapon” is error, the question being for the determination of the jury.
ClaRkson, J., dissenting.
Stacy, C. J., concurring quwre de dtMis.
Adams, Clarkson, Connor and Broqden, JJ., approving another instruction as to manslaughter, assault, and assault with a deadly weapon.
Appeal by defendant, Gordon 'Watkins, from Sink, Special Judge, at October Term, 1930, of Wake.
Criminal prosecution tried upon tbe following bill of indictment:
“Tbe jurors for tbe State upon their oath, present, tbat Gordon Watkins, Nance Mangum and Swannie Council, late of tbe county of Wake, on tbe 26tb day of July, in tbe year of our Lord, 1930, witb force and arms, at and in tbe county aforesaid, unlawfully, wilfully and feloniously did kill and slay Willie Bellamy, against tbe form of tbe statute in such case made and provided, and against tbe peace and dignity of tbe State.”
Gordon Watkins, Yance Mangum and Swannie Council were supervisor, tractor driver and guard, respectively, of Prison Camp No. 5, Wake County, and Willie Bellamy was a prisoner assigned to work at said camp under a miitimus from tbe city court of Raleigh.
Tbe evidence is in sharp conflict as to tbe character of treatment accorded tbe deceased by tbe defendants who bad him in custody while a prisoner assigned to work on tbe public roads of Wake County. Tbe State contended tbat Bellamy’s death resulted from working him in tbe hot sun, while sick, without adequate food, and thereafter confining him in a sweat-box for disciplinary purposes. He died at St. Agnes Hospital, 11:30 p.m. Saturday, 26 July, 1930. Tbe cause of death was stated by tbe attending physician to be, “Heat prostration witb convulsive seizures, producing acute congestion of brain. Contributing cause, excessive hot weather.”
Willie Bellamy was a large, colored man wbo weighed about 175 or 180 pounds. Tbe evidence tends to sbow tbat be was unruly, sullen; impudent; declined to work; refused to obey orders; and tbat be tried to assault tbe defendant Watkins.
At tbe close of defendants’ evidence, tbe State called two witnesses in rebuttal, one of tbem Ed. Perry, a fellow refractory prisoner, wbo testified tbat, when tbe prisoners came into tbe camp from tbeir work at tbe end of tbe balf-day, noon Saturday, 26 July, Willie Bellamy “tried to drink some water from tbe wash basin (provided for batbing purposes). Capt. Gordon (Watkins) knocked it out of bis bands and asked bim wbat be was trying to do. He bit bim on the nose with a pair of handcuffs. They carried bim to tbe dark cell and I did not see bim any more.” (Cross-examination) “Capt. Gordon (Watkins) bit bim on tbe nose with handcuffs'.”
All tbe witnesses for tbe defendant, wbo were present at tbe time, denied tbat tbe defendant struck tbe deceased with bis handcuffs. Tbe only mark on tbe body of tbe deceased was a slight abrasion on tbe nose, which H. P. Thompson, witness for tbe State, thought was caused by a protruding plank in tbe solitary confinement cell. He said: “It stuck out about an inch and bis nose was resting on that, and it looked like tbat was wbat might have caused it.”
It is not contended tbat tbe blow on tbe nose with tbe handcuffs, if made, caused Bellamy’s death or contributed thereto.
Tbe court instructed tbe jury tbat “an assault, when made with an instrument such as a pair of handcuffs, would constitute in law an assault with a deadly weapon.” Exception.
Yerdict: Not guilty as to Yance Mangum and Swannie Council. Guilty of “an assault with a deadly weapon” as to Gordon Watkins.
Judgment: Imprisonment in county jail for a term of six months.
Tbe defendant, Gordon Watkins, appeals, assigning errors.
Attorney-General Brummitt and Assistant Attorney-General Nash for the State.
John W. Hinsdale, Percy J. Olive and J. 0. Little for defendant.

Opinion:
Stacy, C. J.
Tbe question of assault with a deadly weapon was not tbe principal matter debated on the bearing, but rather tbe charge of manslaughter, tbe main contention of tbe State being tbat Bellamy's death resulted from criminal neglect on tbe part of tbe defendants.
Tbe only evidence to support tbe verdict "guilty of an assault with a deadly weapon" is tbe bare statement of Ed. Perry (repeated on cross-examination) tbat tbe defendant, Watkins, bit tbe deceased on tbe nose with a pair of handcuffs. There is no description by tbe witness of the size of tbe handcuffs, whether large or small, nor of tbeir weight, whether heavy or light, nor of their character, whether of metal, leather or rope, nor of the manner of their use, whether a light, glancing or full-faced blow was struck. Nor were the handcuffs themselves offered in evidence. It is not contended that the assault with the handcuffs caused the death of the deceased or contributed thereto.
In this state of the record, we think his honor erred in instructing the jury that "an assault, when made with an instrument such as a pair of handcuffs, would constitute in law an assault with a deadly weapon." S. v. Smith, 187 N. C., 469, 121 S. E., 181.
Any instrument which is likely to produce death or great bodily harm, under the circumstances of its use, is properly denominated a deadly weapon. S. v. Craton, 28 N. C., 165 at page 179. But where it may ox-may not be likely to produce such results, according to the manner of its use, or the part of the body at which the blow is aimed, its alleged deadly character is one of fact to be determined by the jury. S. v. West, 51 N. C., 505. "Where the deadly character of the weapon is to be determined by the relative size and condition of the parties and the manner in which it is used," the question is for the jury. S. v. Archbell, 139 N. C., 537, 51 S. E., 801; S. v. Norwood, 115 N. C., 789, 20 S. E., 712; S. v. Huntley, 91 N. C., 621. "If its character as being deadly or not depended upon the facts and circumstances it became a question for the jury with proper instructions from the court." S. v. Beal, 170 N. C., 764, 87 S. E., 416. See, also, S. v. Hefner, 199 N. C., 778; S. v. Phillips, 104 N. C., 786, 10 S. E., 463; S. v. Porter, 101 N. C., 713, 7 S. E., 902; S. v. Collins, 30 N. C., 407.
There are other exceptions appearing on the l'ecord worthy of consideration, but as they are not likely to ai-ise on another heai-ing, we shall not consider them now.
New trial.