Updegraph v. Commonwealth
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
IN ERROR. In the Mayor’s Court of the city of Pittsburg, to which this was a writ of error, the following bill of indictment, was returned by the grand jury, “a true bill.” February Sessions, 1822,. “City oe Pittsburg, ss.
Read the full summary
IN ERROR. In the Mayor’s Court of the city of Pittsburg, to which this was a writ of error, the following bill of indictment, was returned by the grand jury, “a true bill.” February Sessions, 1822,. “City oe Pittsburg, ss. “ The grand inquest of the commonwealth of Pennsylvania, inquiring for the city of Pittsburg, do present, that Jibner Updegraph, late of the city aforesaid, on the 12th day of December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one, and at divers other times, as well before as after, at the city aforesaid, and within the jurisdiction of this court, not…
1Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Duncan, J.
This was an indictment fo,r blasphemy, founded on an act of assembly, passed in 1700, which enacts, that whosoever shall wilfully, premeditatedly,and'despitefully blaspheme, and speak loosely and profanely of Almighty God, Christ Jesus; the Holy Spirit, or the Scriptures of Truth, and is legally convicted thereof, shall forfeit and pay the sum of ten pounds.
It charges the defendant with contriving and intending to scandalize and bring into disrepute, and vilify the Christian Religion, and the Scriptures of Truth; and that he, in the presence…
2Cases cited1 opinion
- Commonwealth v. SweneySupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1823
3Cited by4 opinions
- Brown v. M'CormickSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1837
- Raines v. WatsonWest Virginia Supreme Court · 1868
- Kalman v. CortesDistrict Court, E.D. Pennsylvania · 2010
- Hale v. EverettSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1868