Commonwealth v. Cronin

In December, 1922, the defendant was brought to trial in the Superior Court upon three indictments: (1) charging assault and battery with intent to commit rape; (2) charging assault and battery with a pistol in one count, and assault and battery in a second count; and (3) charging larceny; by agreement all the indictments were tried together at this and at the second trial, hereinafter referred to.

The report recites that during the trial “over twenty colloquies took place between counsel for the defence and the court, and counsel for the defence and the assistant district attorney, and the…