State v. Bissette

Art. I, sec. 12 of our Constitution requires a bill of indictment, unless waived, for all criminal actions originating in the Superior Court, and a valid bill is necessary to vest./the court with authority to determine the question of guilt or innocence. S. v. Helms, 247 N.C. 740, 102 S.E. 2d 243; S. v. Morgan, 226 N.C. 414, 38 S.E. 2d 166.

What are the essentials for a valid bill of indictment? Parker, J., *516gave a clear and concise answer to this question in S. v. Greer, 238 N.C. 325, 77 S.E. 2d 917. He said: “The authorities are in unison that an indictment, whether at common law or under a…