United States v. Spencer

Opinion of the Court

George W. Latimer, Judge:

We accepted the accused’s petition in this action to ascertain whether his pretrial confession was admitted into evidence without the Government having established the corpus delicti of the *342offense of assault with intent to commit robbery.

During the evening of July 7, 1957, Private Logan, a duty fireman, was making his usual round of water heaters and tanks at Fort Lee, Virginia. He entered the unlit boiler room of a certain building, banked the fire, turned to leave, and while on the way out was struck upon the head by a poker-like object. Stunned…