Commonwealth v. Vickers

The defendant’s trial on charges of larceny over *25$250,1 assault by means of a dangerous weapon,2 and possession of a burglarious instrument3 was beset with irregularities. First, the judge conditioned the allowance of the defendant’s request for a change of counsel upon an increase in bail, prompting the defendant’s hurried agreement to go forward with trial immediately. Then, after the jury were empanelled, the defendant did not return to the courtroom and eventually was found to have voluntarily disappeared. When the trial continued in the defendant’s absence, defense counsel4 refused to…