Commonwealth v. Williams
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Indictment, for the murder of John Gallo, on July 28,1897, at Lynnfield. At the trial in the Superior Court, before Dunbar and Braley, JJ., the jury returned a verdict of guilty; and the defendant alleged exceptions, which appear in the opinion.
1Opinion of the CourtHolmes, J.
Evidence which is colorless' taken by itself, which establishes neither a constituent nor a fact pointing by inference to a constituent of a crime, may be made significant by other evidence, and so may be made admissible. It need not be self-justifying without regard to the other circumstances proved. Commonwealth v. O’Neil, 169 Mass. 394. What is true of any part of the evidence is true with regard to the whole of it. And it also is true, in this Commonwealth at least, that there is no one dominant part of the case which must be proved as directly as possible in the nature of things before…
2Cases cited7 opinions
- Bram v. United StatesSupreme Court of the United States · 1897
- Commonwealth v. PreeceMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1885
- Campbell v. PeopleIllinois Supreme Court · 1895
- Commonwealth v. CuffeeMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1871
- United States v. WilliamsU.S. Circuit Court for the District of Maine · 1858
2 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by18 opinions
- Commonwealth v. BonomiMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1957
- Commonwealth v. FordeMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1984
- Commonwealth v. RichmondMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1911
- Commonwealth v. WilburMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1967
- Commonwealth v. DevaneyMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1902
13 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.