Court Opinion

ID: 3650389
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:05:14.818213+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:15:06.310861
License: Public Domain

The defendant was indicted for violation of C. S., 4283, which makes it a misdemeanor to obtain property in return for a worthless check, draft, or order. The check for $25 was drawn on the Commercial and Farmers Bank of Enfield, and was signed "A.  W. Cotton Co., by E. O. Anderson." The defendant was convicted, and from the judgment he appealed, assigning error. *Page 378 
Whether the defendant was a member of the firm of the A.  W. Cotton Company was one of the controverted questions. He contended that he was; the State, that he was not. On this point the following instructions were given the jury: "If he signed the check as a partner of the A.  W. Cotton Company, and you should find that he was not a partner, then you should find him guilty. If he was a partner of the A.  W. Cotton Company, and had the right to sign checks, then he would be not guilty." Another question in dispute was that of the defendant's good faith in drawing the check. Among the canceled checks were about a dozen which had been signed "A.  W. Cotton Company, by E. O. Anderson." They had been paid, and this fact was material on the question of the defendant's intent, if he was not a partner in the business. There was evidence tending to show that his authority to sign checks had been revoked; but as the burden of proving the defendant's guilt was on the State the facts should have been submitted to the jury under appropriate instructions. Whether he was a partner would not necessarily determine the question of his guilt or innocence.
The instruction in reference to the partnership was excepted to; comment was also made on the failure of the judge to define the word "drawer" as applied to the check and to instruct the jury in relation to it; but as the case goes back for a new trial, these matters may be presented by relevant prayers for instructions.
New trial.