Commonwealth v. Steadman

Opinion by

Reno, J.,

Appellant was convicted on two indictments charging statutory rape and bastardy. He admitted the rape but denied the paternity of the two children. On appeal, his only complaint is that he was not permitted to prove the contents of a letter allegedly written by the girl on or about May 21, 1943, after the birth of the children, exonerating him from the charge of bastardy.

The girl, Geneva Kiley, is the niece of appellant’s wife, and lived in appellant’s home for approximately a year before the birth of her first child. This child was born when she was fourteen and a half…