Merchant v. Commonwealth

Opinion of the Court by

Chief Justice Barker

Affirming.

The grand jury of Franklin county, by an indictment, accused the appellant, Pearl Merchant, of the crime of unlawfully and forcibly taking and detaining -a woman, Usetta Williamson, who was an infant female 8 years of age, against her will, with" intent to have carnal knowledge of her person. To this indictment the accused entered a plea of not guilty. A trial before a jury resulted in a verdict of guilty, the punishment of the accused being fixed at confinement in the penitentiary for a term of two years. Of" the judgment based upon this…