Smith v. State

Hawkins, Justice.

Joe Smith was indicted in Chatham County for murder. He entered a plea of guilty in open court before the juiy had been sworn or impaneled, and asked the court to impose sentence upon said plea as provided by law, whereupon the Judge of the Superior Court entered the following order: “The court permits the plea to be offered and filed, but refuses to sentence said defendant upon said plea and directs that he file his plea before a jury and stand trial before a jury.” The bill of exceptions recites that the defendant refused to change his plea, and excepted to the action of…