State v. Cleveland

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Wachenfeld, J.

The defendant was convicted of murder in the first degree and sentenced to death. He appeals, claiming error in the manner of the rendition of the verdict, refusal by the court to charge as requested, and the admission of an unsigned confession.

Prank Dréwnoski, a bartender at a tavern located in Paterson, New Jersey, on the morning of February 25, 1950, was-assaulted and his skull fractured by being struck a number of violent blows with an iron pipe. He died two hours thereafter..

The defendant lived and worked in the neighborhood and was…