State v. Flinchem, 228 N.C. 149 (1947)

Nov. 5, 1947 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

228 N.C. 149

STATE v. JAMES W. FLINCHEM, JR., and STATE v. JAMES W. FLINCHEM, JR.

(Filed 5 November, 1947.)

1. Automobiles § 30(3—

Testimony of witnesses to tbe effect that while defendant was unconscious from a blow on tbe bead received in tbe collision they smelled tbe odor of alcohol on bis breath, with testimony of tbe opinion of one of them from such observation that defendant was under tbe influence of some intoxicant, though witness would not undertake to say be had enough to intoxicate him while driving, is held no substantial evidence that defendant was under tbe influence of intoxicants as defined by tbe statute while driving prior to tbe accident, and defendant’s motion to nonsuit in a prosecution under G. S., 20-138, should have been allowed.

2. Automobiles § 29b—

An instruction that if the jury is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant is guilty of reckless driving to convict him, otherwise to acquit him, is insufficient in a prosecution under G. S., 20-140, to meet the requirements of G. S., 1-180, since it fails to explain the law or apply the law to the facts as the jury should find them to be.

Appeal by defendant from Clement, J., at August Term, 1947, of Wilkes.

Tbe defendant was indicted in one case for operating a motor vehicle on tbe highway while under tbe influence of intoxicating liquor, and in tbe other for reckless driving. Tbe two cases were tried together.

Tbe State’s evidence tended to show that on tbe night of 1 April, 1947, tbe defendant was driving bis automobile on tbe highway from North Wilkesboro toward Elkin; and that a collision occurred between bis automobile and one being driven in tbe opposite direction by tbe witness H. T. Davis. At tbe point of collision tbe road was straight and tbe paved surface 20% feet wide. As tbe cars approached both drivers dimmed their lights. In passing tbe defendant drove bis automobile two feet over and beyond tbe center of tbe highway and struck or sideswiped Davis’ automobile, damaging it, and tbe defendant himself was thrown out of bis automobile and rendered unconscious by tbe impact, while bis automobile rolled 170 feet further before coming to rest. Davis testified that he himself was on his own side of the road, and that the defendant “was going at a pretty good rate of speed.” Davis further testified that he got out of his car, went to where the defendant lay unconscious, and that he smelled “a foreign odor coming from Flinchem — some kind of intoxicating drink,” and that in his opinion he was under the influence, of some intoxicant. Also, a nurse at the hospital to which the defendant was immediately taken testified she smelled an odor from the mouth of the unconscious man which induced the opinion she expressed that he was under the influence of intoxicants, but she testified she would not undertake to say whether he had enough whiskey to intoxicate him when he was brought to the hospital, or how he was feeling when the collision occurred. He had a deep cut on the head and was bleeding and unconscious from the injury. T. G-. Eoberts, the highway patrolman who investigated the collision, a State’s witness, testified he saw the defendant in the hospital shortly after he was taken there, was near him, but did not smell “a sign of any intoxicating odor.”

The defendant testified that he had had nothing intoxicating to. drink that day or for sometime prior; that he was driving on his own side of the road, and as Davis’ car approached the light from it was flashed in his face, and the next thing he knew he was in the hospital.

The jury rendered verdict of guilty in both cases, and from judgments imposing sentence in each case, defendant appealed.

Attorney-General McMullan and Assistant Attorneys-General Bruton, Rhodes, and Moody for the State.

Trivette, Holshouser & Mitchell for defendant, appellant.

No. 226: Operating Motor Vehicle While UNDER Influence OE INTOXICATING LlQTTOR.

Devin, J.

A careful examination of the testimony offered by the State in support of the charge of driving an automobile while under the influence of intoxicating liquor, in violation of G. S., 20-138, leads us to the conclusion that it lacks sufficient probative value to warrant submission to the jury, and that defendant’s motion for judgment of nonsuit as to this charge should have been allowed.

The testimony of two witnesses to the effect that from the detection of some “foreign” odor of an intoxicant from the mouth of a man whom they had not seen before, and who had been knocked unconscious by a blow on the head, they were of opinion he was under the influence of intoxicating liquor, standing alone, was insufficient to constitute substantial evidence that the man, previously, while driving an automobile on the highway, had been under the influence of intoxicants to the extent held necessary in S. v. Carroll, 226 N. C., 237, 37 S. E. (2d), 688, to constitute violation of tbe statute. We note also that another State’s witness, with apparently equal opportunity, detected no odor of intoxicant from the unconscious defendant.

No. 227: Reckless DeiviNG-.

Upon the evidence offered pertaining to the charge of reckless driving of an automobile, in violation of Gf. S., 20-140, we think defendant’s motion for judgment of nonsuit was properly overruled. However, we think defendant’s exception to the court’s instructions to the jury in this case must be sustained, entitling the defendant to another trial.

The court in charging the jury as to this case only read the statute and then instructed the jury, “If you are satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that defendant is guilty of reckless driving you would convict him of that; if not, you would acquit him of that.” This charge fails to comply with the requirement of the statute, G-. S., 1-180, that the trial judge “shall state in a plain and correct manner the evidence given in the case and declare and explain the law arising thereon.” No explanation of the law was attempted nor was any guide given the jury in the application of the law to the facts as they should find them to be. S. v. Fulford, 124 N. C., 798, 32 S. E., 377; Williams v. Coach Co., 197 N. C., 12, 147 S. E., 435; McNeill v. McNeill, 223 N. C., 178, 25 S. E. (2d), 615.

In No. 226: Reversed.

In No. 227 : New trial.