State v. . Manning

The defendant’s first exception is to tbe ruling of bis Honor that tbe confessions of tbe defendant were voluntary. The court, in tbe absence of the jury, beard tbe testimony of tbe witnesses and tbe defendant on tbe question as to whether or not tbe various confessions of tbe defendant were voluntary. Tbe court then found as a fact and held that tbe confessions of tbe defendant were free and voluntary.

In the case of S. v. Fain, 216 N. C., 157, 4 S. E. (2d), 319, Stacy, C. J., said: “It is tbe established procedure with us that tbe competency of a confession is a preliminary question for tbe…