People v. Payton

Defendant appeals from a conviction of rape in the Circuit Court of St. Clair County, Illinois.

He contends that the evidence does not support a finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, that the court erred in allowing rebuttal evidence alleged to be hearsay, and that the People’s rebuttal argument was prejudicial.

The complaining witness, Mrs. Jessie Beard, testified that on April 15, 1963, she attended a dance with her husband. At the conclusion of the dance, she and some of her girl companions visited two of the neighborhood taverns in the area, the last of which was one block from her…