State v. . Lawson
Cases that cite this one
3 later published cases cite this decision.
- State v. Spinks (N.C. Ct. App. 1979)
- State v. Broome (N.C. 1967)
- State v. . Williams (N.C. 1939)
This list shows which later cases cite this one. It does not say how they treated it, and no review of that has been done. Not a substitute for Shepard’s or KeyCite — verify before relying.
Opinion of the Court
The defendant says in his brief: “There is a conflict in the testimony of Williams and Lawson. Of course, if Williams is to be believed, Lawson is guilty. On the other hand, if Lawson is to be believed he is not guilty, and he is entitled to have a jury pass upon the facts.”
It must be conceded, we think, that the evidence is sufficiently equivocal, if not contradictory, to require its submission to the jury without peremptory instruction. S. v. Anderson, 208 N. C., 771; S. v. Hicks, 200 N. C., 539, 157 S. E., 851; Strunks v. Ry., 187 N. C., 175, 121 S. E., 436; Overall Co. v. Holmes, 186 N. C., 428, 119 S. E., 817.
In the absence of some admission or incriminating testimony on the part of the defendant, it is seldom that a verdict of guilty can properly be directed in a criminal case. S. v. Singleton, 183 N. C., 738, 110 S. E., 846; S. v. Hill, 141 N. C., 769, 53 S. E., 311; S. v. Riley, 113 N. C., 648, 18 S. E., 168.
New trial.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.