Jones v. Commonwealth
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Error to the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Luzerne county: To July Term 1873. At the September Term 3872 of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Luzerne county, William S. Jones was indicted for the murder of Frances Hughes. He pleaded “Not guilty,” and was tried at the same term. On the 27th of September 1872 the jury found a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree.
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Error to the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Luzerne county: To July Term 1873. At the September Term 3872 of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Luzerne county, William S. Jones was indicted for the murder of Frances Hughes. He pleaded “Not guilty,” and was tried at the same term. On the 27th of September 1872 the jury found a verdict of guilty of murder in the first degree. The court having awarded a rule to show cause why a new trial should not be granted, afterwards made the rule absolute and granted a new trial. On the 23d of January 1873 the prisoner withdrew the plea of “Not guilty” and…
1Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered, March 23d 1874, by
Asnbw, C. J.
In this case, if we confine our attention to the weapon, its previous preparation, the threat proved by Mr. Crooks, the time for deliberation, and the circumstances of the killing-of Mrs. Hughes by the prisoner, we might conclude that his crime was murder in the first degree. In this aspect the learned judge of the Oyer and Terminer had sufficient evidence to justify his finding of the degree. But ample time for reflection may exist, and a prisoner may seem to act in his right mind, and from a conscious purpose; and yet…
2Cited by27 opinions
- Fisher v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1946
- Commonwealth v. GravesSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1975
- Commonwealth v. StewartSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1975
- Commonwealth v. IngramSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1970
- Smith v. StateCourt of Special Appeals of Maryland · 1979
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