Commonwealth v. Ruffner
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Error to the Quarter Sessions of Bucks county. This was an indictment against William Ruffner, the defendant in error, for fornication and bastardy. The information was laid before a justice of the peace by the prosecutrix, Elizabeth Trauger, on the 4th day of April, 1855. The defendant entered into recognisance for his appearance at the next court to answer the charge.
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Error to the Quarter Sessions of Bucks county. This was an indictment against William Ruffner, the defendant in error, for fornication and bastardy. The information was laid before a justice of the peace by the prosecutrix, Elizabeth Trauger, on the 4th day of April, 1855. The defendant entered into recognisance for his appearance at the next court to answer the charge. On the 24th of April of the same year, he was arraigned on an indictment found by the grand jury at the same court, and in which the fornication was charged to have been committed on tho 1st day of May, 3.854, and to which he…
1Opinion of the Court
*260The opinion of the court was delivered by
Lewis, 0. J.
It is unnecessary to cite authority to show that in an indictment for fornication and bastardy, fornication is regarded as the offence charged. The bastardy is only one of its usual consequences. This principle is fully recognised by Chief Justice Tilghman in Duncan v. The Commonwealth, 4 S. & R. 451. Where the offence of fornication was committed two years before the commencement of the prosecution, it is barred by the Act of Limitations of 10th March, 1852, although the birth of the illegitimate offspring took place within two years from…
2Cited by7 opinions
- Dauphin County Grand Jury Investigation ProceedingsSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1938
- Com. of Pa. v. StreetsSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1934
- Commonwealth Ex Rel. Patterson v. AsheSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1944
- Commonwealth v. BatesSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1896
- Commonwealth v. EvansSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1911
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