The sheriff was permitted to testify, over objection of defendant, that one John Burns who had been arrested as a suspect, prior to the defendant, and charged with entering the store and stealing the goods in question, said to him while in his custody: “If you will get Henry Setzer you will be on the right track.” This evidence was incompetent as against the defendant, who was not present at the time the statement was made, and should have been excluded. S. v. Simmons, ante, 599; S. v. Green, 193 N. C., 302, 136 S. E., 729.

The declaration of a third person, not an agent of the party sought to be affected, made in the absence of such party, is inadmissible as hearsay. S. v. Lassiter, 191 N. C., 210, 131 S. E., 577; Daniel v. Dixon, 161 N. C., 377, 77 S. E., 305.

The error is just one of those mishaps which, now and then, befalls the most circumspect in the trial of causes on the circuit. S. v. Griggs, 197 N. C., 352, 148 S. E., 547. But the defendant has appealed, and he is entitled to a ruling on the exception.

New trial.