Commonwealth v. McNeil

The defendant brings this case here by appeal under G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 278, §§ 33A-33G, as amended, from a conviction of murder in the first degree in the killing of Leo F. Monfet on July 24, 1951, at North Andover by shooting during an armed robbery of said Monfet. Sentence of death was imposed under G. L. (Ter. Ed.) c. 279, § 4, as it appears in St. 1935, c. 437, § 3, and the execution of the sentence was stayed.

A confession made in writing and signed by the defendant on August 17, 1951, was received in evidence. It was substantially as follows. On July 23, 1951, the defendant left his…