Ratzky v. . the People

The provisions and effect of the act of April 14, 1860, have been much discussed in this court, and it may be regarded as settled: 1. That offences committed prior to the passage of that act, the offender cannot be punished in conformity with it, as it substitutes a different punishment for the crime of murder from that prescribed by the laws of the State at the time the offense was committed. It followed from this that no person could be punished for the crime of murder in the first degree where the offence had been committed prior to the act of April, 1860, so long as the provisions of that…