Case Name: STATE v. ROY KELLY, WADE HANFORD and RALPH HANFORD
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1940-01-03
Citations: 216 N.C. 627
Docket Number: 
Parties: STATE v. ROY KELLY, WADE HANFORD and RALPH HANFORD.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 216
Pages: 627–653

Head Matter:
STATE v. ROY KELLY, WADE HANFORD and RALPH HANFORD.
(Filed 3 January, 1940.)
1. Criminal Law § 53c — Charge on presumption of innocence and burden of proof held sufficiently full in the absence of request for special instructions.
A charge to the effect that the defendants are presumed innocent until their guilt has been established, and that the burden is upon the State to satisfy the jury of defendants’ guilt from all the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt, and that reasonable doubt does not mean a conjectural or fictitious doubt, but a doubt founded on some substantial reason growing out of the evidence, is held sufficiently full upon the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof in the absence of a request for more particular elaboration.
2. Criminal Law § 53a—
The failure of the court to charge the jury as to the credibility to be given the testimony of an accomplice, corroborated in every respect by other evidence, will not be held for error in the absence of a special request, C.- S., 564, whether such charge should be given being in the sound discretion of the trial court.
3. Same—
The failure of the court to instruct the jury that the fact that a defendant did not testify in his own behalf raises no presumption against him, will not be held for error in the absence of a request for instructions, C. S., 564, the matter being in the sound discretion of the trial court.
4. Homicide §§ 4d, 27c—
A homicide committed in the perpetration or an attempt to perpetrate a robbery is murder in the first degree, notwithstanding the absence of any fixed intent to kill or any previous purpose, design or plan, O. S., 4200, and an instruction to this effect upon supporting evidence is not error.
5. Homicide §§ 2, 27g—
Where several persons aid and abet each other in the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate a robbery and while so engaged one of them shoots and kills an officer of the law, all being present, each is guilty of murder in the first degree and an instruction to this effect upon supporting evidence is not error.
6. Homicide § 10—
The burden is upon defendants to prove to the satisfaction of the jury their plea of drunkenness interposed as a defense in a prosecution for murder in the first degree.
7. Homicide §§ 10, 16—
Drunkenness to such a degree as to render defendant incapable of premeditation and deliberation is a defense to a charge of murder in the first degree but an intentional killing with a deadly weapon constitutes murder in the second degree, at least, notwithstanding the plea of drunkenness.
8. Homicide § 27h — Evidence held to show murder in the second degree at least, and the failure of the court to submit the question of manslaughter was not error.
The evidence tended to show that appealing defendants were members of a gang that broke in a filling station, took some oil and anti-freeze solution therefrom, that several of the gang reentered the station to take the safe, the others being on the outside in cars to help in getting away, that officers of the law arrived and a gun battle ensued, resulting in the death of one of the gang and two officers. Defendants contended they were too drunk to know what they were doing. Held: Drunkenness cannot excuse defendants, but at most is a defense to the charge of first degree murder, and the evidence discloses murder in the second degree at least, and the failure of the court to submit the question of defendants’ guilt of manslaughter is not error, since there is no evidence justifying submission of the question of guilt of this degree of the crime.
9. Criminal Daw § 51—
An objection to the remarks of the solicitor in his argument to the jury to the effect that certain of the state’s evidence was uncontradicted cannot be sustained when it appears that on each occasion the court warned the jury not to consider such statements.
10. Criminal Daw §§ 41d, 78d—
An objection to the admission of impeaching evidence on the ground that the defendants had not testified or put their character in issue, is not available to defendants when it appears that the impeaching evidence related solely to the character of a participant in the crime who was not on trial, but who was killed in the gun fight ensuing when he and defendants were surprised by officers of the law.
11. Ci’iminal Daw §§ 41d, 33 — The whole of a confession should be taken together and admitted in evidence in its entirety.
In this prosecution for murder committed in the perpetration of a robbery, one of defendants objected to testimony of a witness to the effect that the defendant had admitted he was an escaped prisoner and had escaped from prison with one of the other participants in the crime, the objection being entered on the ground that defendant had not testified in his own behalf or put his character in issue. It appeared that the statements were made to the witness during, and constituted a part of, a conversation with the witness in which the defendant made a voluntary confession which had been admitted in evidence. Held: The exception is untenable, since the whole of a confession must be considered together, and should be admitted in evidence in its entirety.
12. Criminal Daw §§ 41cl, 29b — Evidence of defendant’s guilt of other offenses is competent for the purpose of showing intent, design or guilty knowledge constituting an element of the offense charged.
In this prosecution for murder committed in the perpetration of a robbery, one of defendants objected to testimony of a witness to the effect that the defendant had admitted he was an escaped prisoner and had escaped from prison with one of the other perpetrators of the crime, the objection being entered on the ground that defendant had not testified on his own behalf or put his character in issue. Held: Defendant’s exception is untenable, since the testimony objected to is competent for the purpose of showing intent, design or guilty knowledge.
Appeal by defendants from Sinclair, Emergency Judge, at 17 April, 1939, Special Term, of AlamaNce.
No error.
Tbe appealing defendants and one George Otbo Smith were indicted on tbe following bill of indictment: “Tbe jurors for tbe State upon tbeir oatb present, tbat Eoy Kelly, George Otbo Smith, Wade Hanford and Ealph Hanford, late of tbe County of Alamance, on tbe 7th day of December in tbe year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight, with force and arms, at and in tbe County aforesaid, while engaged in tbe perpetration, of tbe crime of store breaking and larceny, willfully, unlawfully, feloniously and with premeditation and deliberation, and of tbeir malice aforethought, did kill and murder one M. P. Eobertson, contrary to tbe form of tbe statute in such case made and provided, and against tbe peace and dignity of tbe State. W. H. Mur-dock, Solicitor.”
The record discloses tbat about 2 :00 o’clock a.m., on tbe morning of 7 December, 1938, there was an attempted and partial robbery of tbe Sprinkle Service Station, in Burlington, N. 0., near tbe underpass. Tbe building is of metal type construction, with glass front and sides. It is 38 feet paved from tbe edge of Trade Street to tbe Sprinkle Service Station. All tbe witnesses who testified were State’s witnesses. Defendants introduced no evidence.
(1) Roy Kelly. Evidence in part against him: A voluntary confession made to Sergeant T. J. Davis. He stated: “I am going to get it off my chest and tell you about it and tbe way I tell it is tbe only way it can prove out in court.” “He said on tbe night of December 6th tbat be, Wade Hanford and George Smith and Mary Fitts and Myra Buckner and Ealph Hanford rode from tbe Green Top Inn into Burlington and they went to tbe show, but I don’t remember whether be said be and Wade went to tbe show, anyway be said they got together on Worth Street in Burlington and went back to tbe Green Top Inn where they were to meet Eoy Huffman at 12 :00 midnight and Eoy bad not got there. Eight in there be said George and Ealph went away and they were to come back and he said George and Ealph came back. George Smith and Ealph Hanford at a little past 12 :00 and Eoy Huffman bad not shown up so be got George to carry him to tbe Wagon Wheel about a mile and a half from tbe Green Top Inn to see if be could locate Eoy Huffman, which they did. They went in George Smith’s car. He said they found tbe Pontiac and tbat be went in tbe cabin and found Eoy Huffman and Helen Holder and be asked Eoy if he had forgotten what they were supposed to do tbat night and be said No, be bad overslept and on the way out he got bis scarf and overcoat out of bis bag and went back to tbe Green Top Inn, and in a few minutes Eoy Huffman came and tbe five left in tbe two cars going to Burlington to rob this gas station. He did not mention the name of tbe gas station. He said be and Wade and Ralph and Roy Huffman had been planning to rob this station for two or three days. They came in near the Buick salesroom and stopped there to talk it over. He said they used two cars, 1937 Pontiac he was driving and 1935 Ford, Smith was driving. That they stopped and talked it over and the tools they were to break in with were in Kelly’s car, the Pontiac, and they taken them out and put them in Smith’s car and Roy Huffman and Ralph Hanford and Wade Hanford got in Smith’s car and drove down to the place and Smith stopped on a side street near the service station and he stopped about thirty-five feet back of Smith’s ear. The seat in Smith’s car had been loosened some time in the early evening to enable them to get the safe of the gas station in the car. He said that they knew they could not get the door shut after getting the safe in there and he was to stay back of Smith’s car in case the officers got after them and he was to block the officers in case the officers drove up. He was to stay between Smith’s car and the officers so the officers could not get to Smith’s car, knowing the door would have to be open on Smith’s car. He said they drove down there and saw Roy Huffman and Wade and Ralph get out of the car and go to the station. In a short time Roy Huffman came back to his car with some oil and anti-freeze and put it in his car and he saw one of the Hanford boys go back to George’s car and put some package in there and return in the direction of the gas station. Immediately after that he said he heard the shooting and George Smith started his car and turned around in the street and drove away and he backed up into the side street and waited for a second to see if any of the rest were coming and they did not and he drove on down Main Street in Burlington. Drove back by the station and saw a man lying there with an officer’s cap, and after that he went back to the Green Top Inn and saw George Smith in the act of turning around and asked him what had happened and he told him, ‘You know as much about it as I do,’ and they went back to Hanford’s home and found Wade and Ralph and they went back and parked on the side road to try to decide what they would do with Helen Holder. Said he finally decided to go get her and he brought her back there and they all talked about what had happened and the shooting and all, and decided to separate and not be seen together, but he said he asked Wade to go with him. Wade told him no, he was going to Haw River to Minnie Goodman’s, where he could establish an ironclad alibi, she would say he had been there all night, and he had not seen them since, and late that evening he carried the Holder girl back to Greensboro. He said that when the shooting started Huffman fell. One of the Hanford boys said that, I don’t remember which one, and that they dropped down there and after the shooting was over they ran out and went borne. He said be bad a .45 automatic and tbat "Wade Han-ford bad a .32 special Smith & Wesson pistol. I think be said be bad two, but I won’t be positive about tbat. He said be didn’t see any arms on tbe rest of tbem. He said tbat be was an escaped prisoner and escaped with Roy Huffman, to Richmond, Ya., and was brought back from Richmond. He didn’t say be saw tbem go into tbe filling station. He .said they went to tbe filling station and returned there with tbe oil, Huffman bringing some oil and some anti-freeze to bis car and one of the Hanford boys carrying some to tbe Smith car. . . . From tbe things be told me about it I can tell you where it was parked so far as I know. I would say it was about 50 or 60 yards from tbe station.”
Tbe court below instructed tbe jury not to consider tbe confession as evidence against any of tbe other defendants but only against Roy Kelly. This testimony was corroborated by George Smith, which directly involved him as being a pariiceps criminusj also by Helen Holder.
O. A. Stanford testified, in part: “I am chief of police of tbe city of Burlington. I received an early morning call on December 7, 1938. I dressed and went to town. I went by tbe police station and went on to tbe service station. I stayed in tbe police station about one minute and went to tbe Sprinkle Service Station, which is located on Church and Trade Streets. When I arrived at tbe station I saw tbe bodies of Officer Yaugbn and Sheriff Robertson. (Witness points out on tbe diagram tbe location of tbe bodies.) Yaugbn’s body was about twenty-five feet from tbe door of tbe service station, and Robertson’s body at about ten feet from tbe building. Tbe door is about ten feet from tbe corner. I found near tbe body of Officer Yaugbn a pistol and flashlight. His flashlight was turned on. I made an examination of tbe interior of tbe Sprinkle Service Station. In there I found tbe body of Roy Huffman. I did not know him at tbat time. It was lying between tbe desk and tbe safe. His feet were towards tbe desk and bis bead toward tbe safe. I found near bis body a .45 automatic revolver. I have tbat gun with me. (Witness produces gun. Witness explains condition of tbe gun when be found it.) When tbat gun shoots tbe last shell in it, it stays tbat way (illustrates with gun). When it ejects tbe last shell it stands with tbe ejector back. Roy Huffman was lying on bis left side. Tbe gun was right .at bis right side by tbe edge of bis body. I searched tbe body of Roy Huffman. Tbe coroner and myself searched him together. We got twelve .45 shells tbat" bad not been fired out of bis pocket. We got a pocketbook with some identification in it, but it was not Roy Huffman’s pocketbook. I cannot recall tbe name on tbe identification card. We found one cartridge in tbe desk drawer. There was a bole in tbe desk drawer. Tbat was a wooden desk drawer with heavy wooden bandies. It was shot through tbe handle into tbe desk and made a dent in tbe side of the drawer and it was in there. It bad not gone through. There was a gallon can of anti-freeze on the desk. It was on the corner of the desk near the door where the gallon can was sitting. The can had a hole shot through it. It appeared to have gone from the inside of the building and towards Church Street. I found one bullet near the stove on the floor. It was a .45 type. I found five empty shells out of the .45 in the service station. They were scattered. Some were behind the oil. They have some oil cans sitting near the wall and some were behind that. We picked them up in different places in there. I found four .32 cartridges that had not been fired under the desk on the floor, right under the leg of the desk near the door. They had not been fired.”
Wade Hanford made a voluntary statement as follows: (The court instructs the jury that this statement alleged to have been made by "Wade Hanford may be considered by the jury as evidence against him, and not as evidence against any of the other defendants.) “Statement of Wade Hanford of Burlington, N. 0., as told to R. B. Christian on the 23rd of January, between the hours of 3 to 5 a.m. We were talking about Roy Kelly and Wade said Kelly was talking too damn much, the long-tongued S- of a B-. I asked him if Kelly had told anything on him. He said that Kelly had talked too damn much. I asked him if Kelly was at the filling station the night of the killing of the two officers. He said he was just above the filling station at the time of the shooting and that Kelly and Smith ran when the shooting started and left him and Ralph and Huffman at the filling station. He said Huffman was behind the desk in the filling station and he was down behind the safe door. He said Huffman was shooting at the officers. He also had two .32 S. & W. pistols, and that he had hid them before he left North Carolina. Ralph had one of these pistols the night of the shooting. He also told about Ralph wrecking a Zepkyr-Lincoln on a curve while trying to make 100 miles per hour, and that this car belonged to Smith, and that he, Ralph and Smith later pulled a $4,000.00 job and Ralph gave Smith $1,000 of this and he gave Smith $500 of this $4,000 for the wrecked Zephyr-Lincoln and that was when Smith joined him and Ralph in these robberies. Wade told me about Huffman jumping up from behind the desk when he was shot and that he came out with his hands up when he saw Huffman was dead. Wade said he tried to get Huffman to talk to him but Huffman was struggling and never spoke after he was shot. When he came out of the place he saw the other officer, whose name is. Bailiff, running away from the place as though going for more help. He also said that Ralph and himself walked away from the filling station after the shooting. Smith and Kelly had run off and left them and he next saw Kelly and Smith at a tourist place where they had been staying near Haw River or Burlington.” “I didn’t say that I wrote that down as be stated it. I wrote it immediately. I bad tbis pad in my car outside tbe hospital. I went out and got tbis pad and took a memorandum of wbat be told me. I wrote it no longer tban two minutes after tbe statement was made. I wrote it from memory. My memory was fresber tben tban it is now as to wbat be said.”
Mary Fitts testified, in part, that sbe knew George Smith and on Tuesday morning, 6 December, was with him. Sbe told in detail tbe conduct of tbe parties that day. On cross-examination sbe testified: “I knew George Smith at Boanoke Eapids. That is bis borne too. I went with him. I was bis sweetheart and bad been going with him about a year. I bad never been with him to ‘Correct Time Inn’ before. . . . They knew that I was George’s sweetheart. They did not tell me they bad arranged for George to turn State’s evidence. I did not know it and did not know wbat arrangements bad been made with my sweetheart’s attorney for him to become a witness in tbis case. Nobody bad said that to me. Have bad no conversations with George Smith since tben and nobody has ever mentioned it to me. Tbe drinks referred to were whiskey. I don’t remember tbe number of drinks of whiskey we bad that night. I can’t give tbe jury any estimate of tbe number. I don’t know whether Ealpb Hanford and "Wade Hanford were drunk that night or not. They were drinking. I was not drunk. I don’t know bow many drinks it takes to make me drunk. I have never been drunk. I took about three or four drinks. I did not take any at tbe ‘Correct Time Inn.’ ”
Myra Buckner testified, in part: "I know Ralph Hanford. I have known him about three and one-balf years. Met him at bis home in Burlington and have been going with him since that time. I was bis sweetheart. I saw Ealpb on tbe morning of December 6th at bis home. . . . ¥e stayed at tbe ‘Green Top Inn’ until after three and went to the ‘Wagon Wheel.’ Ealpb Hanford, George Smith and Mary Fitts were along in George’s Ford. Helen Holder, Eoy Kelly and Eoy Huffman joined us there. From there we went to Hillsboro. On tbe way we stopped at some place and picked up Wade Hanford down near Haw Biver. Tben we went on to Hillsboro to a place where they dine .and dance. All eight of us were there. Stayed there around two hours. From there we came back to tbe ‘Green Top Inn.’ I came back with Ealpb Hanford, Wade Hanford and Eoy Kelly in tbe car. Tbe others joined us at tbe ‘Green Top Inn’ — Mary Fitts, George Smith, Helen Holder and Eoy Huffman. We left ‘Green Top Inn’ around seven ■o’clock. I left with Mary Fitts, Ealpb Hanford, George Smith, Wade Hanford, Eoy Kelly and went to tbe show’ in Burlington. Ealpb Han-ford, Mary Fitts and George Smith went with me. Got out of tbe show about 9. :30 o’clock and went to a cafe and bad something to eat. Eoy Kelly and Wade Hanford joined us there. I was in George Smith’s car.. From there we went to the ‘Green Top Inn/ arriving there a little after 10:00 o’clock and left around 11:00 o’clock. Mary Fitts, Ralph Han-ford, George Smith and I left together in George Smith’s ear. We left. Roy Kelly, Wade Hanford at the ‘Green Top Inn.’ We went to ‘Correct. Time Inn,’ rented a cabin with two rooms. I occupied a room with Ralph Hanford. This cabin has one door to the front and another that' goes into the garage. We all entered the same door. Ralph Hanford, and George Smith left us there around 12:00 o’clock. They returned something between three and four o’clock. I let them in. We left the-cabin around 10 :30 and 11:00 next morning. . . . (Cross-examination.) Ralph Hanford was good and drunk that night and so was Wade. They were both drinking very much, I don’t know if they were drunk.”
Helen Holder was permitted to testify that Roy had been sentenced to. prison and escaped and she saw him last fall, about 20 November. The court below charged that this was no evidence against the other defendants. She testified further: “Roy Kelly was with him. He came to my house in Greensboro. Kelly was with him. They were driving.a 1937 Pontiac. We went to ride around Greensboro. The next time I saw Roy Huffman was four or five days later. On that occasion Roy Kelly was with him. They came to my home. I left with them then. We went to Washington, D. C. ... I stayed with them until the 4th or 5th of December, from about the 28th or 30th of November to the-first part of December. I was Roy Huffman’s girl. ... I heard Myra Buckner and Mary Fitts on the witness stand and heard them relate a trip to a dance and dine place near Hillsboro. I was on that, trip. Ralph Hanford, Wade Hanford, George Smith, Mary Fitts, Myra Buckner, Roy Huffman, Roy Kelly and myself. I heard them testifying about coming back to the ‘Green Top Inn’ on that day after we left and came back to Hillsboro. It was about a quarter of 7 :00. I left with Huffman in a 1937 Pontiac and went to the ‘Wagon Wheel.’ That is a dine and dance place. It has cabins. There we rented a cabin, Huffman and I. I occupied the cabin with Huffman. He left me about 12:00. He never returned. The next person I saw on that night after Roy Huffman left in the cabin at the ‘Wagon Wheel’ was Roy Kelly. He came out to the cabin and told me to get up and dress and I did. It was about three in the morning. . . . Kelly came back to the cabin and told me to get up and dress, and I got up and dressed and when we got to the car he told me Huffman had got shot and I asked him how he got shot and he said that he and Huffman and some other boys went to rob a place and they went in and the safe was open and the officers drove up in front and Huffman started to shooting and that Huffman got shot. Kelly and I went to some little country road .around Graham or Burlington. I don’t know just where it was. There we met Ealph Hanford, Wade Hanford and George Smith. There was another automobile there but I didn’t know whose it was. It was a 1935 Ford. Ealph Hanford, Wade Hanford and George Smith got out ■of the Ford and got in the Pontiac and we all five sat in the Pontiac and talked. I think Ealph was the first that spoke. He said he went in the place and he told it like Kelly did. The safe was open and the officers drove up in front and Huffman started shooting and the two officers fell and someone shot Huffman and he fell, and he said it was Ealph Han-ford and Wade Hanford in the place and Eoy Kelly was in the Pontiac. He was parked in a side street. This was Ealph talking and all of them present in the same automobile. Everyone could hear everything and everyone else talking. Smith was there. Ealph said that Eoy got shot twice and he didn’t fall and the third time he fell and when Eoy Huffman got shot the third time it was through the left arm. Ealph said he got shot through the left arm and said that Eoy fell and by that time he was dead and said they got out and got in the Ford and left. . . . After we got together in the car all the boys were telling each other to keep their mouths shut and not to talk and each one was saying he knew he would not talk and he said he thought it best to split up for a few days so that people would not see them together. . . . On these ■occasions when I would ride along with Huffman and Kelly I saw one gun. It was in the car. I mean pistol. It was a .45 in the pocket of the car. . . . (Cross-examination.) I am 17 years old. ■ Live in Greensboro with my mother and father. I came to Burlington with Eoy Huffman and Eoy Kelly around the 3rd or 4th of December. I think it was some time the last of the week. We stayed at the 'Correct Time Inn.’ I met Kelly about the 20th of November. Went to Washington and came back to my home and then came down here. We stayed all night at the ‘Correct Time Inn.’ There are houses there. I occupied a room with Eoy Huffman. . . . Ealph in my presence said he was there and Kelly said he was in a Pontiac watching. They were talking to each other. They pleaded guilty in my presence. . . . They put me in jail in Keidsville but did not charge me with stealing chickens. They found me with the chickens. I stole somebody’s chickens in Eock-ingham since I have been on this case. Did not tell mama about that. I was with Eoy Huffman on the 6th. I meant to tell Mr. Glidewell that I was with the man that stole the chickens. I didn’t steal the chickens myself. I have never been tried for anything. He was tried for it and convicted.”
D. Y. Bradley testified that he was proprietor of the Sprinkle Service Station. He further testified, in part: “I had in the way of merchandise motor oil and anti-freeze and a few belongings that you have to have with, a service station, such as extra bose and bulbs. Had a large desk. . . . It was there on December 7th. The door was closed when I left there on the previous night and-locked. Both doors of the safe were open. The door opened to the right. We had a line of three oil drums,, oil and anti-freeze. I had a little space where they sat, sitting stacked up in the corner and the anti-freeze on top of them. I left the station .the night of December 6th fifteen minutes after eight o’clock. There-was nobody at the station when I left. I locked the station. It has a Tale lock placed into the regular long door-lock, steel lock, and this lock is manufactured in there from the cold steel company, and we lock that,, and it is about an inch and a half that turns into the lock and locks the-door. The door is of cold steel, double ply. I saw the building after leaving that at 8 :15 the next time at 3 :30 next morning. I came to it-at that time. I found the door had been forced open, the officers were in the place and a number of people gathered about. The lock was in bad condition. It had been forced by a heavy bar of some description,, had pried the steel holding it on each side to a bulged condition, and that wrecked the part that held the lock on the wall and door frame to one side, showing it had been forced by a heavy instrument of some type. There was a dent right across the lock that had bent the lock way in, causing the lock to give way, and another dent just above it that indicated that something behind the instrument had been used as a scotch,, while pushing it in, or a bushing. Three windows were broken out. One had- just a hole of a bullet through it, one was completely out, the other was about two-thirds out and powder burns on the window. I observed the merchandise that was in the building when I left there the night before and observed the merchandise that was in it when I went back the next morning. I am sure I missed one case of Penn oil and one case of Superpyro anti-freeze put up by the Firestone people. Each of those contained six gallons in quart cans. The safe is an all steel safe, a small size safe. It stands approximately three feet high. The safe is about as high as the top of that table and about 2% feet across. It weighed 800 or 1,000 pounds. I have not seen either of the cases I missed since that time. . . . The place was lighted by two street lights about 300 feet away, also the Pickett Hosiery Mills, which has power lights in a number of windows. ... I can see the keyhole the darkest night that comes, so that I do not have to turn on a light to see it. That is how well lit it is from the street and from the mill lights. When I got there at 3 :30 these two lights were burning and burning at 8 :30 when I left.”
Norman Yates testified, in part: “I am nineteen years old. I live in Durham now, working there. In December, 1938, I was living at 311 Fisher Street, Burlington. At that time was working for the Melville Dairy. I was delivery boy and salesman. Went to work at 2:00 in tbe morning. Went to work on tbe morning of December 7, 1938. I went up Fisber Street. I came from tbe north. I came down Trade Street to intersection of Trade Street and G-arves Street. I came in on opposite side of tbe station. It was ten minutes until 2 :00 o’clock when I got to tbe intersection. At tbe intersection I took Oburcb Street on tbe side tbat is paved going toward tbe underpass. Tbat is in tbe direction of tbe main part of Burlington, and in tbe direction of tbe Melville Dairy where I was employed. I noticed three men. One was standing at this corner of tbe station, one at tbat corner, and one at tbe door. Govld not tell what they were doing. I know tbat two of them were white men. Tbe moon was shining and they were turned one side of their faces toward me. Tbat time I continued walking on toward tbe underpass on Church Street. I walked on tbe sidewalk. Just before I got to tbe underpass I scraped my foot on tbe sand tbat made a noise. I looked toward tbe station and when I made a noise they left their posts. This one left from this corner. They were between tbe air stand and these pumps. They were mumbling but I could no.t understand what they were saying. I continued up Oburcb Street to tbe underpass and turned down Front Street and went to police headquarters and reported what I saw. I saw Sheriff Bobertson, Officer Vaughn, and Officer Bailiff. After I reported what I bad seen they got in an automobile and left in Sheriff Eobertson’s car. I don’t remember who was driving. I continued on to Melville Dairy and went to work. Arrived there about five minutes after two. I was supposed to be at work at two. I learned about 5 :30 o’clock tbat Sheriff Bobertson and Officer Vaughn bad been killed.”
F. B. Bailiff testified, in part: “I am a police officer of tbe city of Burlington and was so engaged on December 7, 1938. I was working on tbe third shift. I went to work at 11:00 on December 6th. I was at tbe police station at approximately 2:00 a.m., on tbe morning of December 7, 1938. Sheriff Bobertson and Officer Vaughn and Sergeant Ausley were there. I know Norman Yates who just left tbe stand. He came to tbe police station tbat morning. He said there was someone breaking tbe Sprinkle Service Station beyond tbe underpass. In consequence of tbat report we got in Sheriff Bobertson’s car and went over there. Sonny Vaughn accompanied us. We arrived at tbe Sprinkle Service Station a little after 2:00, I don’t remember tbe time. We went out Church Street, right tbe other side of tbe new underpass and drove up in front of tbe door and me and Mr. Bobertson — he got out tbe left side of tbe ear and I got out on tbe right and Vaughn got out on the left. Mr. Bobertson’s car was an Oldsmobile sedan. He parked it right in front of tbe door. When we got there I crossed behind and went to tbe corner and he went in front of the door. Vaughn was behind him. The lights were not turned off before the three of us got out of the car. I mean the car lights, headlights. There is a street light right by the stop light on the highway if I recollect. As I got behind Sheriff Robertson to get to this corner of the station I got a glimpse of two people inside the station. There was no light inside the station at that time. As we three officers approached the front of the station I think the door was open, I am pretty sure it was. Sheriff Robertson walked up into the door and I walked to the corner and when I got to the corner the light was shining good enough that I could see some fellow jerk out a gun and I hollered Hook out’ and when I did we started shooting, I mean me and the fellow inside. I don’t think that Robertson or Vaughn fired a shot. There wasn’t much difference who started shooting first. I shot twice and I saw some fellow fall inside the station and I looked around and saw Mr. Robertson and Vaughn falling, and I knew there was someone else in there and I ran for some help. I ran up Trade Street to the warehouse and got to a telephone and called Sergeant Ausley for some more help and the ambulance that we had two men shot. I didn’t know whether they were dead or not. I had a .38 Service revolver. I fired twice. ... I shot through the second glass, threw my gun against the glass and pulled the trigger. The man I shot and saw fall was a white man. I cannot tell how many shots were fired then. I later learned that the man I killed in the station was Roy Huffman. Robertson was shot three times and Vaughn was shot twice. I don’t know whether there were any more shots fired or not. It all happened so quick. It sounded like there were two shooting the best I could tell.”
W. B. Linens testified, in part: “I live in Burlington. I work for Rich and Thompson Funeral Home as an embalmer. I was called to the Sprinkle Service Station on the morning of December 7th. I went in an ambulance. I was called between 2:30 and 3 :00 o’clock, I think. When we got to the Sprinkle Service Station we found Mr. Sonny Vaughn and Mr. M. P. Robertson outside the station. Robertson was to the left of the front door toward the pump, possibly ten feet from the front door. Vaughn’s body was out beyond these pumps back toward the street. The coroner was not there when we got there, we called him. Did not move the bodies until after the coroner came. I would say it was 20 or 25 minutes. The men were dead when we got there. Took the bodies to our funeral home. The coroner came over and examined them. We were all there when we examined them. We embalmed them. We always do in cases like that. I helped make the chart. I observed the holes in Sheriff Robertson. We found eight holes in Sheriff Robertson’s body. Eight different ones. We found they were bullet holes. . . . The shots went straight through. One hole was in the right arm, just above the elbow and straight through the chest and came out on the left side. There was a hole in the back between the shoulders, about midway, and also one on the left side just below the ribs. That is four. There was also one on the left leg, and another over here on this side. I mean on the outside of the left leg. This was superficial. That makes eight. That is all. I assisted in embalming the body of Mr. Yaughn and made an examination as to how many holes were in his body. I made a record of what I found. Here it is. I found two holes in the body and one on the finger. There was one hole here in the chest, the front part of the chest, and one about an inch below it, about an inch apart on his chest, in the middle of his chest. One on the third finger on the left hand in the first joint. It was kind of torn there. It wasn’t completely off, just a little skin holding it. There were eleven shots in all in the two officers.”
(2) George Otho Smith. The State accepted a plea of second degree murder as to George Smith. He testified in part: “I live in Roanoke Rapids. Have lived there about 25 years. I operate some trucks, dump trucks' hauling gravel for the State. Have been in that business three years. Was in that business in December, 1938. I am married. Do not live with my wife; have one child. I was in Burlington on December 6, 1938, came to Burlington the night before, December 5th. I knew Wade Hanford before that time, have known him about three years. Met him in the penitentiary. I went through the walls of the penitentiary at that time. I was going to Hillsboro to a camp and I spent one night there. I was a prisoner and met Wade Hanford there. I know Ralph Hanford, met him in 1932 on the chain gang. He was on the chain gang with me at that time. I didn’t know Roy Kelly. I now know Roy Kelly. ... I went to Haw River, Myra, and Mary, Ralph and I, Roy Kelly, Roy Huffman and Helen Holder went to Haw River. It was Minnie Goodman’s place. Saw Wade Hanford there. From Minnie Goodman’s place we went to a place near Hillsboro' where we danced. The eight of us went to Hillsboro. From Hillsboro' we went back to the ‘Green Top Inn.’ . . . We all got together again. From there we went back to the ‘Green Top Inn.’ Got back there I imagine about 10:00 o’clock. That afternoon when we went over to Minnie Goodman’s Wade mentioned to Roy Huffman that they might as well go down and get a safe that night and that is all that was said about it at that time. . . . Then we went to the ‘Correct Time Inn,’ Ralph and Myra and Mary and I. I don’t know where Roy Huffman was. Kelly and Wade were at the ‘Green Top Inn.’ When I started to leave Wade asked me if I would come back out to the ‘Green Top Inn’ and I told him I would. After we had gone to the ‘Correct Time Inn’ I was coming back to the ‘Green Top Inn.’ He said to come back about 12:00 o’clock. We got to tbe ‘Correct Time Inn’ about 11:00 o’clock and stayed until about 12:00 and tben went back to tbe ‘Green Top Inn.’ Found Wade and Kelly. ... We went to tbe ‘Wagon Wheel,’ I stopped in front of tbe place and be went around to tbe cabin and said be found Eoy around there in tbe cabin. . . . Saw Huffman again that night, just a few minutes after we got there be came up. Wade was at tbe filling station. Ealpb was with him. Saw Eoy Kelly, we were all at tbe filling station — at ‘Green Top Inn.’ This was about a quarter of one I imagine. Eoy Huffman called me out to tbe back of tbe filling station and be went out across a fence in a pasture to a stump bole and reached in and got a jar and pulled a small bottle out of the. jar and said that it was nitro-glycerine, and said be wanted to use my car to go down to carry a safe from tbe Sprinkle Service Station. . . . Wben we got to tbe filling station be called Kelly and told him be wanted him to go down and put tbe safe in my car and drive bis car behind so if anybody got after us, be could block tbe road. Kelly said all right, be would. Tbe Hanfords were inside tbe filling station. Tbe seat of my car was loosened so you could get a safe in it. . . . About that time Eoy Huffman walked out of tbe place and came where Wade and I were talking and asked Wade if be was not going down to get tbe safe and be said yes be was and that is wben we took tbe seat out of my car. We left tbe ‘Green Top Inn’ and went over to Burlington, went in about two blocks of tbe filling station and I told Huffman I did not know where tbe place was and be said that be would show me. Ealpb and Huffman were with me. Wade and Slim were in a Pontiac right behind us. Slim is Kelly. Eoy Huffman told me to park my car and I parked it on tbe side of tbe street and Kelly drove up and we all got in bis car and we drove past tbe filling station and be pointed it out and said that was tbe place and we drove around two or three blocks and went back to my car. Tben Ealpb and Eoy Huffman got back in tbe car with me and we drove down within a half block of tbe filling station and parked ■on tbe side of tbe street. ... We parked on tbe right side of tbe street about middle ways of tbe block. Kelly’s car about thirty feet behind mine. From tbe place v?e parked, I could see tbe filling station. . . . Wben I parked on tbe side of tbe street, Ealpb and Eoy got out and took their overcoats off and laid them in tbe car and Eoy Huffman told me to be careful that tbe nitro-glycerine vras in bis overcoat pocket and they started across tbe street and Wade Hanford joined them. Wade was in tbe other car. They went straight down in front of tbe filling station to tbe front door and started to break tbe door in. They bad a screwdriver and a small crowbar and just as they started to break tbe door in a man came to tbe corner and turned tbe corner, and they saw him, and ran behind tbe filling station. He walked along there and almost stopped looking at tbem and as soon as be got past tbe filling station, tbey came back around and started to break tbe door in again and tbis fellow ran it looked to me like. I could see bim wben be got past tbe filling station and it looked like be started to run. Tbey broke tbe door in and in a minute tbey came out witb three cases of oil, one apiece, Wade, and Eoy Huffman carried tbeir cases to tbe Pontiac, tbe one Kelly was driving. Ealpb Hanford brought tbe other case to my car. I asked bim what it was and be said cylinder oil and told me to open tbe door and banded it to me and I put it in tbe back seat. I asked Ealpb, ‘Did you see that fellow come down tbe street?’ and be said ‘Yes’ and be turned around and about that time Wade and Huffman bad started back down there and by that time be started back. I told Ealpb that fellow has gone after tbe law. I saw bim running and Ealpb kept on walking just like be did not bear. ... I turned to tbe left and went out tbe highway and drove around I reckon five minutes trying to find some place to put that oil. I did not want to have it in tbe ear. I finally found a side road and turned up and bid tbe oil in tbe woods and got tbe bottle of nitro-glyeerine out of Huffman’s pocket and put it witb tbe oil and then I went back on tbis same street and then went out to tbe ‘Green Top Inn.’ I went back by tbe filling-station. I looked down but I couldn’t see anything. I went to tbe ‘Green Top Inn’ and wben I turned around at tbe ‘Green Top Inn,’ Eoy Kelly was driving behind me witb bis lights off and I stopped and be asked me didn’t I bear all tbe shooting down there. I told bim I did not. He said that after I left be backed bis car up to tbe corner and be said be stepped out on tbe running board and saw an officer fall in tbe front of tbe filling station and be then drove off. ... We drove to Ealpb Hanford’s borne and there was a light in bis room. We drove about two blocks and turned and came back and I parked in front of bis borne and went around to tbe back of tbe bouse and to bis room. I could see through tbe window. Wade was talking to Ealpb and I told tbem to come out and so Ealpb bad gone to bed. He finished putting bis clothes on and came out. It must have been around 2:30 wben I got to Hanford’s or a quarter to three, just long enough to drive from there to tbe ‘Green Top Inn’ and back then we drove to where Kelly’s car was. Kelly was witb me, tbe four of us together. I asked Eoy what bad happened and all, and be told me about tbe officers driving up in front. He said tbe officers drove up in front of tbe place and got out of tbe car and started to tbe door up in front of tbe place and Huffman told tbem to stop. Ealpb was in tbe car witb me wben be was telling me tbis and Wade Hanford and Eoy Kelly was in tbe car. He said that Huffman told tbe officers to stop and that tbey kept on walking and be said all at once all of tbem started shooting all at tbe same time. He said be did not know who shot first and wben they started shooting he laid down on the floor and Wade said he laid down near the safe. . . . Wade Hanford and Ralph Hanford were in my car. We turned off on a country road and Kelly got in the car with us, and we sat there talking. I guess this was a little after three. We were all four there talking. We were trying to decide what to do with Helen Holder. Wade said he was afraid she would talk and said he thought it would be a good thing to get rid of her. He said bump her off. I told him I didn’t think that would be a good idea and Kelly said if he did he didn’t know where to put her and he said he didn’t think Helen would say anything and he would go get her and all of us could talk to her and we agreed to that. So he went over to the ‘Wagon Wheel’ and got her and brought her where we were waiting and Ralph proceeded to tell her just what had happened up there and all five of us were together. Ralph said he did not shoot any. Wade said he shot three times. Ralph asked Wade what he did with the empty cartridges and Wade said he left them on the floor. Ralph told Helen what had happened at the filling station that night. I heard her testify and I have told what he said. We decided to split up at that time. . . . Wade asked me to carry him to Haw River. He said he would get Minnie Goodman to say he had been there all night. I took him to Haw River. Ralph stayed with me. Helen went with Kelly. After we carried Wade to Haw River, we went back to the ‘Correct Time Inn’ and spent the night — the rest of the night. It was close to five o’clock when we got back there. I spent the night there. We left ‘Correct Time Inn’ about eleven the next day, carried Myra home. She lives at Elon College and then we carried Mary home in Burlington, the place she had been staying. ... I did not have a gun that night. Ralph did not have a gun. Wade had one, just one. I saw the gun. Roy Kelly had one, looked like a thirty-eight to me, revolver. The case of oil put in my car was in a paper carton. I left it in the woods. I never moved it from that place. I have seen that place since that time. After I was arrested Mr. Davis carried me there. The old case was there, but the oil was gone. Sergeant Davis was with me at the time. I pointed the place out to him as being the one.” On cross-examination Smith admitted he was a married man and had one child, but had not lived with his wife for six years. That he came to Burlington to see Mary Fitts, a young girl who came from Roanoke Rapids. He was keeping her. He took her from one roadhouse to another and from one saloon to another. Did not know Roy Kelly or Ralph Hanford but entered into company with these parties. They drank four pints of whiskey from 12 :00 that day to 12 :00 that night. “I saw them when they went in the door the first time. I carried them down there in my car that I came from Roanoke Rapids in. Tbe front seat of my car was tbe one tbat was loosened. Tbe seat was not taken out of tbe back, just a little pin tbat bolds tbe seat steady was taken loose so it could be removed. Tbey were intending to put tbe safe in it, Eoy Huffman, Wade and Ealpb Hanford. Kelly was not a party to tbat transaction at tbat time I don’t guess. He was supposed to drive tbe car behind us after we put tbe safe on there. I don’t see where I would have any more to do with it than tbe rest of them. Tbey were intending to put tbe safe in my car, it is true. I guess I would have driven away from there with it. Tbat is what I went down there to do. . . . Nobody made me go. Tbey did not over-persuade me and tbey asked me to go there and tbe condition I was in I went. I bad been drinking right much, all of them bad been drinking, tbe whole crowd. Tbe Hanford boys were drunk and I finally consented to go and use my car.”
He served a road sentence for an assault on a man at a filling station and was given 18 months. He bad been tried and served time for speeding and reckless driving, and six months for fighting. He knew Ealpb Hanford and Wade Hanford when tbey were in Hillsboro Camp serving time. Was tried in Petersburg, Va., “same as tbey bad Ealpb for” and paid out; tried twice for whiskey and paid out; skipped a $250.00 bond in Virginia and another charge for whiskey. He testified further: “I said I didn’t want to go to tbe place, we were all too drunk to go. I think something like tbat was said tbat I told them tbey were too drunk. . . . I did not decide tbat I would swear these other boys to death to save my own neck. I just decided to tell tbe truth regardless of what it cost. Tbey have not promised me anything to plead guilty to murder in tbe second degree. Tbey accepted it today, but did not tell me until today. I did not know tbat tbey would accept it until today. I did not know tbat at tbe psychological moment tbey would accept my plea and plead guilty to second degree murder. I am telling tbe truth. I bad no promise tbat if I would swear against tbe Hanford boys tbey would let me plead guilty of murder in tbe second degree. I never beard of tbat. My attorney came to see me after I .came back about a week after I got back to Graham. I have not talked to tbe solicitor or counsel at tbe solicitor’s table. . . . My lawyer told me tbat tbey did not promise me anything. My lawyer said be was going to try to enter tbat plea, be didn’t know whether tbey would accept it or not. Just a minute before be asked for it, be said be was going to ask for it and see if tbey would. When be got up and tendered tbe plea, I didn’t know tbat tbey would accept it.”
(3) Wade Hanford. Evidence, in part, against him. Testimony of George Smith tbat directly involved him in tbe robbing and killing. He made a voluntary confession.to E. B. Christian. His whereabouts the day before was testified to by Helen Holder, who also testified to the robbery and killing as related by Ralph Hanford in his presence when they all sat in the Pontiac automobile together.
(4) Ralph Hanford. Evidence, in part, against him. Testimony of George Smith that involved him in the robbery and killing. This testimony was corroborated by his sweetheart, Myra Buckner, as to his whereabouts the day before and just before and after the killing. Helen Holder as to the statement of Ralph Hanford in her presence as to what took place at the killing when they all sat in the Pontiac automobile together.
The jury convicted Roy Kelly, "Wade Hanford and Ralph Hanford of murder in the first degree and each was sentenced to suffer death by the administration of lethal gas. The defendant George Smith was sentenced to a term of twenty-five (25) years in the State’s Prison. The defendants made numerous exceptions and assignments of error and appealed to the Supreme Court. The material ones and other necessary facts will be set forth in the opinion.
Attorney-General McMullan and Assistant Attorney-General Bruton for the State.
B. 8. Hurley and Glidewell & Glidewell for defendants.

Opinion:
Clarkson, J.
The alleged crime was committed in Alamance County, N. C. The court below ordered a special venire from Orange County, N. C., and defendants were tried and convicted by a jury of Orange County.
The first question involved, as presented by defendants: "(a) The judge's failure to charge as to the presumption of innocence; (b) to define the burden of proof and place it upon the State; (c) to give and explain the rule as to the credibility of the testimony of an accomplice; (d) and to instruct that failure to take the stand raises no presumption, and is not to be taken against the defendants."
The defendants were tried under the following statute in this State — • N. 0. Code, 1935 (Michie), sec. 4200: "A murder which shall be perpetrated by means of poison, lying in wait, imprisonment, starving, torture, or by any other kind of willful, deliberate and premeditated killing, or which shall be committed in the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate any arson, rape, robbery, burglary or other felony, shall be deemed to be murder in the first degree and shall be punished with death. All other kinds of murder shall be deemed murder in the second degree and shall be punished with imprisonment of not less than two nor more than thirty years in the State Prison." The court below read this section to the jury and fully charged the jury as to its meaning. A homicide com mitted in tbe perpetration of robbery is murder in tbe first degree. S. v. Lane, 166 N. C., 333; S. v. Donnell, 202 N. C., 782; S. v. Glover, 208 N. C., 68.
In tbe charge is tbe following: "Now, gentlemen of tbe jury, tbe prisoners in tbis case, as are tbe defendants in any and every criminal case tried in our courts, are presumed to be innocent until tbeir guilt bas been established, and in order to establish tbe guilt, tbe burden is upon tbe State to satisfy tbe jury from all tbe evidence, beyond a reasonable doubt, that they are guilty. Seasonable doubt is a legal term and bas a meaning. Tbe law does not say that tbe defendant bas to be convicted beyond a doubt. That does not mean a conjectural or fictitious doubt. It does not mean a doubt founded upon something that you might imagine, but it means a doubt founded upon some substantial reason growing-out of tbe evidence itself which you have beard, so in order to convict these men or any of them, it will be necessary for you to be satisfied from all tbe evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that they are guilty."
Tbe defendants rely on S. v. Hardy, 189 N. C., 799 (805). We do not think that tbeir position can be sustained. In S. v. Jordan, ante, 356 (365-6), is tbe following: "An examination of tbe numerous propositions as to which tbe trial judge must give instruction, without special request, shows that tbe duty to so instruct bas arisen in two ways : First, through tbe operation .of C. S., 564, requiring a statement of tbe evidence and tbe application of tbe law thereto; and, second, through precedent establishing tbe duty because of its substantial importance to. tbe rights of tbe defendant on trial. As to tbe proposition last stated, we find no precedent other than S. v. Hardy, supra, if it be a precedent; as to tbe first — and tbe defendant claims under tbe statute — it is difficult to see bow tbe duty of such an instruction can be brought within tbe requirements of a statute which simply says that tbe trial judge 'shall state in a plain and correct manner tbe evidence given in tbe ease and declare and explain tbe law arising thereon.' A reference to tbe record and tbe briefs in tbe Hardy case, supra, discloses that tbe omission to instruct tbe jury that the failure of defendant to go on tbe stand was not to be taken to bis prejudice is not brought up by tbe two exceptions taken to tbe judge's charge, nor was it adverted to in tbe briefs, and it was not, therefore, before tbe Court. It may be treated as a dictum. Treating tbe question raised, therefore, as a matter of first impression, it is debatable whether tbe judge does not do tbe defendant a disfavor by emphasizing tbe failure of tbe defendant to go upon tbe stand and, thereby, deepening an impression which is perhaps hardly ever removed by an instruction which requires a sort of mechanical control of thinking in tbe face of a strong natural inference. S. v. Bynum, supra (175 N. C., 777); S. v. Spivey, supra (198 N. C., 655). Upon these considerations, we think tbe matter bad best be left to tbe sound discretion of tbe defending attorney whether be shall forego tbe instruction or specially ask for it."
In S. v. Ashburn, 181 N. C., 717 (727), "Tbe conviction of defendant was almost entirely on tbe unsupported testimony of Essie Hardy — from tbe entire record shown to be an accomplice." At p. 728 it is written: "In S. v. Miller, 97 N. C., 487, Davis, J., said: 'It has been repeatedly laid down that a conviction on tbe testimony of an accomplice uncorroborated is legal, Roscoe's Criminal Evidence, 121; and this has been well settled as tbe law of this State, certainly since tbe cases of S. v. Haney, 19 N. C., 390; S. v. Hardin, ibid., 407; and S. v. Holland, 83 N. C., 624. It is, however, almost tbe universal practice of tbe judges to instruct juries that they should be cautious in convicting upon tbe uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice, and Gaston, J., in S. v. Haney, supra, says: 'The judge may caution them against reposing hasty confidence in tbe testimony of an accomplice. . . . Long usage, sanctioned by deliberate judicial approbation, has given to this ordinary caution a precision which makes it approach a rule of law.' If tbe unsupported testimony of tbe accomplice produce undoubting belief of tbe prisoner's guilt, tbe jury should convict.' S. v. Register, 133 N. C., 746; S. v. Shaft, 166 N. C., 407. Tbe court below charged tbe law fully and cautioned tbe jury, 'You may convict on the unsupported testimony of an accomplice, but "¿hat it is dangerous and unsafe to do so." ' 'The charge was all, and perhaps more, than tbe defendant was entitled to.' " Tbe matter was in tbe sound discretion of tbe court below. There was evidence to tbe effect that tbe accomplice's testimony was corroborated in every respect.
In S. v. Herring, 201 N. C., 543 (551), is tbe following: "Tbe courts below ordinarily in tbe charge to tbe jury apply tbe 'Presumption of innocence' in tbe interest of life and liberty, and enlarge on 'reasonable doubt,' 'fully satisfied' or 'satisfied to a moral certainty.' S. v. Sigmon, 190 N. C., 627-8; S. v. Tucker, 190 N. C., 709; S. v. Walker, 193 N. C., at p. 491. When instructions are prayed as to 'presumption of innocence' and to enlarge on 'reasonable doubt' it is in tbe sound discretion of tbe court below to grant tbe prayer. Tbe court below told tbe jury 'my duty is to instruct you that it is your duty to not repose hasty confidence in tbe testimony of Chevis Herring. You must scrutinize tbe testimony of Chevis Herring carefully and cautiously,' etc. Tbe court could have instructed tbe jury that tbe uncorroborated testimony of an accomplice, if believed by tbe jury beyond a reasonable doubt, is sufficient to convict, but tbe court below rightly gave tbe caution. This is in tbe sound discretion of tbe court. S. v. Ashburn, 187 N. C., at p. 728."
From tbe well settled authorities in this State, defendants' contentions cannot be sustained on any of tbeir objections on this aspect.
The second question involved, as presented by defendants: "The judge's charge that it was unnecessary to find any previous purpose or plan in order to convict all of the defendants of first degree murder where the homicide was allegedly committed by one of them."
The court below charged on this aspect: "Now, gentlemen of the jury, I charge you that if you find from all the evidence, and beyond a reasonable doubt that these three defendants, or any of them, killed Sheriff Robertson by perpetrating or attempting to perpetrate robbery, that would make all three of them guilty, that is, if one actually did the shooting and the others were participating in the act of robbery. I charge you, gentlemen, that the law is this: When two or more persons aid and abet each other in the commission of a crime, all being present, all are principals and equally guilty. If you find that one of this party was committing this robbery and any of the other defendants were there present aiding and abetting and encouraging, then it would be immaterial which one actually fired the fatal shot. The man who was there aiding and abetting and participating in the robbery would be equally guilty with the man who fired the shot. . I charge you also that it makes no difference whether they intended to shoot the officer when they went there or not; whether it was the plan to shoot the officers is immaterial. Even though you find that they had no previous purpose and design and plan, still if they were there and perpetrated the robbery and the officer was killed in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of the robbery, that would make them all guilty regardless of who fired the shot and would make them all equally guilty and make them guilty of murder in the first degree, unless as I say you find from the evidence that they were in such drunken condition they didn't know and understand and realize what they were doing."
In S. v. Cloninger, 149 N. C., 567 (573), is the following: "John Cloninger and Charles Costner were aiders and abettors. There is abundant evidence to sustain a conviction where the bystander is a friend of the perpetrator, and knows that his presence will be regarded by the perpetrator as an encouragement and protection. Presence alone may be regarded as encouraging. S. v. Jarrell, 141 N. C., 725. To like effect is S. v. Finley, 118 N. C., 1161."
In S. v. Bell, 205 N. C., 225 (226-7), speaking to the subject, we find: "The ease was tried upon the theory that if the defendants conspired to burglarize or to rob the home of George Dryman and a murder were committed by any one of the conspirators in the attempted perpetration of the burglary or robbery, each and all of the defendants would be guilty of the murder. This is a correct proposition of law. S. v. Don nell, 202 N. C., 782, 164 S. E., 362; S. v. Miller, 197 N. C., 445, 149 S. E., 590. It is provided by C. S., 4200, that a murder 'which shall be committed in the perpetration or attempt to perpetrate any . . . robbery, burglary or other felony, shall be deemed to be murder in the first degree.' "
In S. v. Ray, 212 N. C., 725 (731), it is stated: "The principle is well established that one who, being present, gives aid and comfort, counsel or encouragement to another, in the commission of a crime, is guilty as a principal. S. v. Cloninger, 149 N. C., 567; S. v. Hart, 186 N. C., 582; S. v. Dail, 191 N. C., 234; S. v. Cosnell, 208 N. C., 401."
In S. v. Epps, 213 N. C., 709 (713), it is said: "In S. v. Davenport, 156 N. C., 596 (614), is the following: 'A person aids and abets when he has "that kind of connection with the commission of a crime which, at common law, rendered the person guilty as a principal in the second degree. It consisted in being present at the time and place, and in doing some act to render aid to the actual perpetrator of the crime, though without taking a direct share in its commission." Black's Dict., p. 56, citing Blackstone, 34. An abettor is one who gives "aid and comfort," or who either commands, advises, instigates, or encourages another to commit a crime — a person who, by being present, by words or conduct, assists or incites another to commit the criminal act (Black's Dict., p. 6) ; or one "who so far participates in the commission of the offense as to be present for the purpose of assisting, if necessary, in such case he is liable as a principal," ' " citing numerous authorities.
Defendants' contentions cannot be sustained on this aspect.
The third question involved, as presented by defendants : "The judge's charge that defendants must affirmatively assume the burden of proving drunkenness and even if they did so to the satisfaction of the jury, proving lack of mental capacity to understand what they were doing, this would still make defendants guilty of murder in the second degree.
In S. v. Cloninger, supra, at p. 572, it is said: "'Transitory homicidal plea' as to Will Cloninger. The presumption is that he was sane. The burden was on him to show the contrary. S. v. Potts, 100 N. C., 465. Will Cloninger testified: 'I guess I was unconscious. . I saw Mauney coming towards me, he said he was going to kill me, and I thought he was. I then struck him.' His Honor charged: 'If the person at the time of the homicidal act was in a state of mind to comprehend his relation to others, or, knowing the criminal character of the act, was conscious that he was doing wrong, he was responsible; otherwise he was not, and such would be your verdict.' This charge follows S. v. Haywood, 61 N. C., 376, which has been approved since on this point. S. v. Potts, 100 N. C., 465; S. v. Davis, 109 N. C., 784; S. v. Branner, ante, 559, and in other cases."
It is a well settled rule that "the burden rests upon the defendant to prove the defense of drunkenness to the satisfaction of the jury to mitigate the offense." S. v. Hammonds, ante, 67 (78). And the charge that if the jury found that these defendants were so drunk that they did not know or realize what they were doing, they would not be guilty of murder in the first degree but would be guilty of murder in the second degree has been approved in effect by this Court in the case of S. v. Williams, 189 N. C., 616-620. Here the Court approved the following-charge in this regard: " 'Drunkenness under the law is no excuse for crime and does not relieve the person of guilt for crime entirely. But in the case of murder, if a person is so intoxicated and rendered so insensible and so irrational by intoxication of any kind, or is naturally so weak-minded from natural causes that he cannot form an intent and cannot premeditate and deliberate, then it reduces the offense from murder in the first degree to murder in the second degree.' "
The court below charged the jury: "The law presumes, gentlemen, that every man is sane and when a man comes into court and sets up a plea of drunkenness in order to excuse himself from some violation of the law, he must satisfy the jury from the evidence that he is not responsible by reason of the fact that he did not have mental capacity sufficient at the time to thoroughly know and understand what he was about and what he was doing."
Defendants object to the charge of the court with regard to the degree of proof necessary to be offered by them as to their mental capacity, to reduce the crime from murder in the first degree to murder in the second degree, and argues under these exceptions that the judge should have submitted to the jury the issue of manslaughter; and complains further that the court did not properly define murder in the first degree and murder in the second degree. The court defined murder in the first degree as follows: "Murder in the first degree not only is the unlawful, felonious, and malicious slaying of another, but a killing that has been done with premeditation and deliberation." And defined murder in the second degree as: "The unlawful and malicious killing of a human being. . . . The killing with malice, nothing else appearing, is murder in the second degree." The court further charged the jury as to murder in the second degree as follows: ". . . A killing with a deadly weapon, nothing else appearing, is at least murder in the second degree. It is not necessary to actually prove malice, if one kills another with a deadly weapon . . . the fact that a deadly weapon was used would make that murder in the second degree at least." And with regard to that portion of the charge complained of, "Unless you find from the evidence that the killing was entirely without malice," attention is called to that portion of the charge: "In order for a defendant to reduce the crime from murder in the second degree, in order to sbow justifiable homicide, the burden would be upon the defendant to satisfy the jury, not by the greater weight of the evidence, nor beyond a reasonable doubt, but the burden would be upon the defendant to satisfy the jury that the killing was without malice before it could be reduced to any lower degree than murder in the second degree."
"We think this charge covers the contention complained of by defendants. The court did not submit to the jury the issue of manslaughter, because there is no evidence in the record which would justify the submission of such an issue. The matter complained of is not prejudicial to the defendants.
Defendants' contentions cannot be sustained under this aspect.
The fourth question involved, as presented by defendants: "This contention relates to the remarks of the solicitor in his argument to the jury to the effect that certain of the State's evidence was 'uncontra-dicted.' " The court on each occasion warned the jury not to consider such statements and ordered the solicitor in no uncertain terms not to continue such argument. Our Court has held that such an argument to the jury is free from error when the court has properly warned the jury not to consider the same. S. v. Weddington, 103 N. C., 364; S. v. Hooker, 145 N. C., 581; S. v. Winner, 153 N. C., 603; S. v. Davenport, 156 N. C., 596. The language complained of in the case of S. v. Hooker, supra, at p. 584, almost the identical language was objected to. In this case the Court said: "The last exception is to the solicitor's comment that 'none of the evidence as testified to by the State's witnesses has been contradicted and no one has said that it was not true.' This could not be taken as a criticism upon the failure of the defendant to put himself upon the stand."
Defendants' contentions cannot be sustained under this aspect.
The fifth question involved as presented by defendants: "The judge's numerous errors in permitting testimony impeaching the character of the defendants, when defendants had neither taken the stand nor directly placed their characters in issue." All these objections relate to questions and answers concerning Roy Huffman, one of the participants in the robbery and murder. Huffman was killed in the fight at the filling station when the officers arrived; he was not on' trial and evidence as to the fact that he had been a former convict cannot be taken advantage •of in the way of an objection by either of these defendants.
Other contentions are to the court's permitting the solicitor for the •State to ask the witness if Roy Kelly had made a statement to him as to whether or not he was an escaped prisoner, and permitting the witness to also state that Roy Kelly had informed him at this time that he had •escaped from prison with Roy Huffman. Both these statements were made to tbe witness T. I. Davis, tbe officer to wbom Eoy Kelly made an oral confession, and were made at tbe time of tbe confession. These declarations of tbe defendant made to tbe officer during tbe course of bis conversation witb bim and at tbe time of tbe confession were properly admitted.
In tbe case of S. v. Swink, 19 N. C., 9 (13), it was said: "It is undoubtedly law that in criminal as well as civil eases tbe whole of an admission or declaration made by a party is to be taken together," etc.
In tbe case of S. v. Edwards, 211 N. C., 555 (556), tbe Court, also speaking to this subject, says: "Tbe defendant was entitled to have tbe confession considered as given in its entirety, witb whatever views or theories it afforded," citing authorities.
In Burnett v. People, 204 Ill., 208, 68 A. S. E., 206, 66 L. R. A., 304, tbe following instruction was held to be a correct statement of tbe law: " 'The court instructed tbe jury that where a confession of a prisoner charged witb a crime is offered in evidence, tbe whole of tbe confession so offered and testified to must be taken together, as (well as) that part which makes in favor of tbe accused, as that part which makes against bim, and if tbe part of tbe statement which is in favor of tbe defendant is not disproved by other testimony in tbe case and is not improbable or untrue, considered in connection witb all tbe other testimony of tbe case, then that part of tbe statement is entitled to as much consideration from tbe jury as tbe parts which make against tbe defendant.' "
Notwithstanding tbe above, evidence of a former prison record, an escape from prison of tbe defendant is competent in this case. He bad escaped from prison witb Huffman, one of tbe parties to tbe crime who was killed in its commission, all bis companions were ex-convicts and evidence that tbe defendant Kelly was an escaped prisoner and that be bad escaped witb Huffman, one of tbe perpetrators of tbe crime, is competent to show "quo animo, intent, design, or guilty knowledge, where such requirements are so connected as to throw light upon tbe question." S. v. Godwin, ante, 49.
As said in S. v. Payne, 213 N. C., 719 (725): "We think tbe evidence of tbe occurrences in which tbe defendants made their escapes singular from tbe State Prison and subsequent evasions of arrest are competent as tending to show tbe state of mind of tbe defendants at tbe time of tbe killing of George Penn, at tbe end of a running gun battle in an attempt to escape arrest by bim. In their confession tbe defendants separately admit that they knew that an officer was pursuing them and that they beard tbe siren on bis automobile."
We have stated tbe facts and law at some length, as tbe matter is of such grave importance. After thorough consideration of tbe record and able briefs of the Attorney-General and counsel for defendants, we see no prejudicial or reversible error in the record.
The court below tried the case with care and ability; applying the law applicable to the facts, in accordance with the decisions of this Court. The court quoted the evidence and set forth the contentions of the State and of defendants accurately and without bias.
By competent evidence introduced on the trial, it was shown that the defendants and Roy Huffman (who was killed) attempted to rob the Sprinkle Service Station of a safe and committed the robbery of some oil and anti-freeze. They were all ex-convicts and all aided and abetted the robbery and attempted robbery. The plan was agreed upon by all. Two automobiles were used for the purpose — a Pontiac and a Ford— one of which had the seat loosened so that the safe which they were to take from the service station could be placed in it. The two automobiles were nearby to help and protect the robbers — one to haul the safe in and the other to watch and block the road if the officers or anyone pursued them. They had burglary tools and nitro-glycerine, which was known to all the participants. Some oil and anti-freeze were taken from the service station and placed in the cars in waiting. The robbery was a bold one, as the place was well lighted, in Burlington near the underpass. The defendants had broken the lock and gone into the station. They had weapons' — one a .45 automatic revolver, and the other a .32 Smith & Wesson pistol. As they were forcing the door open they were seen by a young man employed by a dairy who was on his way to work. He reported the matter to the sheriff of the county and the sheriff and two police officers went to the scene. When they arrived men were on the inside of the service station. One of the officers fired into the service station and shot and killed one of the men (Roy Huffman). The sheriff and one of the police officers (Yaughn) were killed in the gun-battle. Twelve loaded .45 shells that had not been fired were taken from the pocket of Roy Huffman, who was killed in the station. There were five empty shells from the .45 pistol in the service station and four .32 cartridges that had not been fired. Roy Kelly did not go into the service station, but was in waiting in one of the cars outside. Wade Hanford had two .32 Smith & Wesson pistols and Ralph Hanford had one of them on the night of the shooting. They and Huffman went into the service station. When Huffman was killed, Wade Hanford said he shot three times and came out of the service station with his hands up. Wade and Ralph Hanford went away from the station after the shooting and fled.
There were eight different bullet holes in the body of Sheriff Robertson. In Yaughn's body, the police officer who was killed, there were two holes and one in his finger. There were eleven shots in all in the two officers.
All tbe defendants, wbo were ex-convicts, bad sweethearts or girl friends. Tbe evidence was to tbe effect that they bad all been drinking and staying in tourist cabins witb their sweethearts or girl friends tbe day before. They stayed at "Tbe Green Top Inn," "Tbe Correct Time Inn," "The Wagon Wheel," etc. None of these parties were working. Tbe evidence shows that this robbery and killing was committed by men wbo bad criminal records. It was a bold crime, in almost tbe heart of tbe town, tbe men "armed to tbe teeth" and with burglary tools. Tbe .sheriff and Officer Yaugbn were killed on tbe battlefield of duty and law enforcement. Tbe evidence is plenary in every respect that tbe •defendants were guilty of tbe killing of these two officers. Tbe places they habitually frequented witb their sweethearts and girl friends indicate were places of vice and dives which usually are breeding places for crime. They bad all been drinking. Tbe evidence shows that tbe perpetrators were criminals of desperate character, moved and instigated by tbe devil witb hearts fatally bent on mischief.
For tbe reasons given, we find in tbe record no prejudicial or reversible error.
No error.