Opinion ID: 1224549
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Warrant for Larceny

Text: This warrant charges that defendant did willfully, unlawfully, and feloniously steal, take and carry away one can of tomato paste, value $.15 cents, from Cottinghams Groc. Store, 421 S. Bloodworth St. of the value of $.15 cents of the goods, chattels and moneys of one J. L. Cottinghams then and there being found and did then and there receive and conceal the said property with intent to appropriate the same to his own use knowing the same to have been stolen, etc. This warrant sufficiently charges the criminal offense of misdemeanor larceny and is not vulnerable to attack by motion in arrest of judgment. At the conclusion of the State's evidence, and again at the conclusion of all the evidence, defendant moved for judgment as in case of nonsuit on the ground there was a fatal variance between the warrant and the proof. The evidence on which the State relies relates to a can of tomato paste taken from Cottingham's Grocery Store of which Mr. Hayes was manager. We find nothing in the evidence tending to identify this store or the merchandise therein as the property of J. L. Cottingham. Hence, nonsuit on the ground asserted should have been allowed. State v. Stinson, 263 N.C. 283, 139 S.E.2d 558; State v. Brown, 263 N.C. 786, 140 S.E.2d 413. Hence, in respect of the prosecution on this warrant, the verdict and judgment are vacated; and the court's ruling in respect of nonsuit is reversed.