People v. Lilly

The defendant, James Lilly was found guilty of rape and indecent liberties after a jury trial in the Circuit Court of Peoria County. He was sentenced to the Illinois State Penitentiary for not less than 15 years nor more than 25 years on the rape charge only and this appeal is taken from that judgment.

The first issue raised by defendant is that the prosecution failed to prove him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

The victim, Cynthia Smiles testified that on the night of Dec. 16, 1970, between 8:30 and 9:00 she was 15 years old, that she had gone to Jane Brown’s house earlier, that she left…