People v. Doggett

Ross, J.:

The Court below refused to give the following instruction requested by the defendant:

“ The law at the outset clothes the defendant, in a criminal *28case involving the charge of murder, with the presumption of innocence; and when the proof tends to overthrow this presumption, and to fix upon such defendant the presumption of such a crime, the latter is permitted to support the original presumption of innocence by proof of good character for peace and quietness; and the good character of the defendant for peace and quietness is itself a fact in the case. It is a circumstance tending iri…