Opinion
Filed 29 October, 1958.
1. Criminal Law 154 — An assignment of error not supported by an exception is ineffectual.
2. Criminal Law 156 — When the charge read contextually clearly presents the applicable principles of law in such manner as to leave no reasonable ground to believe that the jury was misinformed or misled, an assignment of error thereto cannot be sustained.
APPEAL by defendant from Clark, J., January Term, 1958, of GRANVILLE.
Attorney-General Seawell and Assistant Attorney-General McGalliard for the State.
Hugh M. Currin for defendant, appellant.
PARKER, J., not sitting.
Indicted for the murder of Murphy Ellis, defendant was put on trial for second degree murder or manslaughter as the evidence might justify.
The jury's verdict was "Guilty of Manslaughter." Thereupon, the court pronounced judgment imposing a prison sentence of 15 years, from which defendant appealed, assigning errors.
There was ample evidence to support the verdict. Indeed, no question is raised as to the sufficiency of the evidence. The assignments of error brought forward in defendant's brief, referred to below, relate solely to the charge.
Assignments 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, based on exceptions of like number, are directed to designated portions of the charge. Assignment 9, based on Exception 9, is directed to the failure of the court to instruct the jury as set out in this exception and assignment. Assignments 11, 12, and 13 are not supported by exceptions; hence, no question of law is presented thereby. Rigsbee v. Perkins, 242 N.C. 502, 87 S.E.2d 926; S. v. Britt, 225 N.C. 364, 34 S.E.2d 408.
Careful consideration of each of defendant's assignments fails to disclose prejudicial error; for the charge, when read as a composite whole, indicates clearly that the applicable principles of law were presented in such manner as to leave no reasonable ground to believe that the jury was misinformed or misled. Hence, defendant's assignments are overruled.
No error.
PARKER, J., not sitting.