Roper v. State

A principal in the first degree, the second degree, and accessories before the fact, are defined in the present Code as follows: “A person may be principal in an offense in two degrees. A principal in the first degree is the actor or absolute perpetrator of the crime. A principal, in the second degree is he who is present, aiding and abetting the act to be done; which presence need not alwhys be an actual, immediate standing by, within sight or hearing of the act; but there may be also a constructive presence, as when one commits a robbery, or murder, or other crime, and another keeps watch…