Shaffner v. Commonwealth
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Error to the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Dauphin county: Of May Term 1872. No. 73. At the November Sessions 1871, of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Dauphin county; Emanuel Shaffner was indicted for the murder of his wife, Nancy Shaffner, by poison.
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Error to the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Dauphin county: Of May Term 1872. No. 73. At the November Sessions 1871, of the Court of Oyer and Terminer of Dauphin county; Emanuel Shaffner was indicted for the murder of his wife, Nancy Shaffner, by poison. The indictment was tried March 4th 1872, before Pearson, P. J., and his associates. /The deceased died on Sunday, June 11th 1871. The evidence 'tended to show that she died by poison, and the principal question was whether the poison had been administered by her husband Emanuel Shaffner, the defendant. There was evidence of improper intimacy…
1Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered, by
Agnew, J.
— It is a general rule that a distinct crime, unconnected with that laid in the indictment, cannot be given in evidence against a prisoner. It is not proper to raise a presumption of guilt, on the ground, that having committed one crime, the depravity it exhibits makes it likely he would commit another. Logically, the commission of an independent offence is not proof, in itself, of the commission of another crime. Yet it cannot be said to be without influence on the mind, for certainly, if one be shown to be guilty of another crime equally…
2Cited by104 opinions
- State v. McClainSupreme Court of North Carolina · 1954
- Commonwealth v. WilliamsSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1931
- Commonwealth v. JonesSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1974
- Commonwealth v. BurdellSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1955
- Commonwealth v. TrowerySuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1967
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