Commonwealth v. Barnacle

This is an indictment for manslaughter, charging the defendant with the killing of one Thomas Barnacle, by stabbing him with a knife. The evidence tended to show that said Thomas attacked the defendant with a knife and fork. The defendant contended that he stabbed Thomas when this attack was made; and that he acted in self-defence, and under a reasonable apprehension that Thomas would do him great bodily harm. To prove this issue, he offered to show by a witness, who knew both Thomas and the defendant, that Thomas was a larger and more powerful man than the defendant. Upon the objection of…