Hurley v. Commonwealth

These are writs of error brought by two persons, each of whom in the Superior Court was found guilty of contempt of court and sentenced to be punished by imprison*444ment in the house of correction, Hurley “for the term of eighteen months at hard labor ” and Gough “ for the term of one year at hard labor.” The first question before us is whether a writ of error lies in such a case. The general rule at common law does not permit a proceeding for contempt to be revised by a higher court upon an appeal or writ of error. In Yates’s case, 4 Johns. 317, 369, Chief Justice Kent, stating the rule and…