re than a suspicion or conjecture that defendant was present or actively participated in the offense. "From S. v. Goodson, 107 N.C. 798, 12 S.E. 329, where the evidence was held insufficient to sustain a conviction for murder, we quote the apt language of Chief Justice Merrimon: `Thus full summary of the incriminating facts, taken in the strongest view of them adverse to the prisoner, excite suspicion in the just mind that he is guilty, but such view is far from excluding the rational conclusion that some other unknown person may be the guilty party.' S. v. Montague, 195 N.C. 20, 141 S.E. 285; S. v. Woodell, 211 N.C. 635, 191 S.E. 334; S. v. Madden, 212 N.C. 56, 192 S.E. 859; S. v. English, 214 N.C. 564, 199 S.E. 920. `It all comes to this, that there must be legal evidence of the fact in issue and not merely such as raises a suspicion or conjecture in regard to it.' S. v. Prince, 182 N.C. 788, 108 S.E. 330; S. v. Patterson, 78 N.C. 470; S. v. Martin, 191 N.C. 404, 132 S.E. 16; S. v. Epps, 214 N.C. 577, 200 S.E. 20; S. v. Norggins, 215 N.C. 220, 1 S.E.2d 533. "The motion for nonsuit should have been allowed, and the judgment is reversed."
They may be sufficient to excite suspicion, somewhat strong perhaps, but they apparently leave too much to surmise or assumption to carry the cases to the jury. S. v. Epps, 214 N.C. 577, 200 S.E. 20; S. v. Jones, 215 N.C. 660, 2 S.E.2d 867. The evidence must do more than raise a suspicion or conjecture in regard to the essential facts of the case.
" S. v. Montague, 195 N.C. 21, 141 S.E. 285; S. v. Woodell, 211 N.C. 635, 191 S.E. 334; S. v. Madden, 212 N.C. 56, 192 S.E. 859; S. v. English, 214 N.C. 564, 199 S.E. 920. "It all comes to this, that there must be legal evidence of the fact in issue and not merely such as raises a suspicion or conjecture in regard to it." S. v. Prince, 182 N.C. 788, 108 S.E. 330; S. v. Patterson, 78 N.C. 470; S. v. Martin, 191 N.C. 404, 132 S.E. 16; S. v. Epps, 214 N.C. 577, 200 S.E. 20; S. v. Norggins, 215 N.C. 220, 1 S.E.2d 533. The motion for nonsuit should have been allowed, and the judgment is