Commonwealth v. Kneeland
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
This was an indictment, alleging that the defendant, on December 20, 1833, unlawfully and wickedly composed, printed and published in a newspaper called the Boston Investigator, of which he was the editor and publisher, a certain scandalous, impious, obscene, blasphemous and profane libel, in which he “ did wilfully blaspheme the holy name of God, by denying and contumeliously reproaching God, his creation, govern ment, and final judging of the world, and by reproaching…
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This was an indictment, alleging that the defendant, on December 20, 1833, unlawfully and wickedly composed, printed and published in a newspaper called the Boston Investigator, of which he was the editor and publisher, a certain scandalous, impious, obscene, blasphemous and profane libel, in which he “ did wilfully blaspheme the holy name of God, by denying and contumeliously reproaching God, his creation, govern ment, and final judging of the world, and by reproaching Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, and contumeliously reproaching the holy word of God.” The indictment then sets forth an…
1Opinion of the Court
Shaw C. J.
delivered the opinion of a majority of the Court. This cause was argued some time since, and partly on account of the intrinsic difficulty attending some of the questions raised in the case, and a difference of opinion among the judges on some of those questions, it has stood over for consideration and advisement, to the present time.
The indictment may be considered both as a charge ot composing, printing and publishing an impious, obscene and blasphemous libel, and also as a direct charge of the crime of blasphemy. It is perhaps immaterial, whether the present indictment be…
2Cited by11 opinions
- Roth v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1957
- Wick v. GunnSupreme Court of Oklahoma · 1917
- Minersville School Dist. v. GobitisCourt of Appeals for the Third Circuit · 1940
- State v. . CliftonSupreme Court of North Carolina · 1910
- Canney v. StateDistrict Court of Appeal of Florida · 1973
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