Wood v. State

Roy Arnold Wood was tried before a three-judge court without a jury in the Criminal Court of Baltimore City, on a charge of murdering Joseph D. Benedict, a police officer. He was found guilty of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. To understand the issues raised on this appeal, it is necessary to state the facts in some detail.

On February 13, 1948 at about 3:15 A. M. Wood entered a black and white “Sun” taxi-cab, driven by Howard P. Prough, at the corner of St. Paul and Center Streets, in Baltimore City, in which another passenger was riding. This other passenger was discharged at 708…