State v. Propst

Ordinarily, it is for the court, in its discretion, to determine whether the circumstances brought to its attention are sufficient to call for a formal inquiry to determine whether defendant has sufficient mental capacity to plead to the indictment and conduct a rational defense. State v. Sullivan, 229 N.C. 251, 258, 49 S.E. 2d 458, 462; State v. Khoury, 149 N.C. 454, 62 S.E. 638; 21 Am. Jur. 2d, Criminal Law § 65. See Annotation, “Investigation of present sanity to determine whether accused should be put, or continue, on trial,” 142 A.L.R. 961, at 972-992.

At November 1966 Session, the…