Court Opinion

ID: 3674315
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:21:41.029643+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:21:45.288396
License: Public Domain

The defendant was indicted for a breach of the prohibition laws. The State's evidence tended to show that after the defendant's car had been overtaken and stopped by an officer three seats were removed and three cases of whiskey (21 gallons) were found under quilts, and that farther back under the seat were 2 1/2 gallons of liquor in half-gallon fruit jars. The defendant was the driver of the car. Immediately after his arrest he was taken to the courthouse; an indictment was prepared and returned as "a true bill"; the case was then called in less than an hour after the arrest and the defendant pleaded guilty. He made no motion for a continuance or for time to employ and confer with counsel or for a subpoena for witnesses. Time to employ counsel or to get witnesses was not denied the defendant by the court, but was waived by the defendant when he entered his plea and admitted his guilt. In the absence of a motion for a reasonable continuance an exception to the short time intervening between the arrest and the arraignment does not constitute sufficient cause for a new trial.
The third assignment of error is that the sentence was excessive, but as it was authorized by the law it cannot be held to be "cruel or unusual" within the contemplation of Art. I, sec. 14, of the Constitution. S. v.Manuel, 20 N.C. 144; S. v. Pettie, 80 N.C. 367; S. v. Farrington, 141 N.C. 844; S. v. Dowdy, 145 N.C. 432.
No error.