Coffey v. State

This is the appeal in error of Jack Coffey from a conviction of (1) assault and battery upon Russell Mathes and (2) official oppression of Russell Mathes. Coffey was a Constable of Washington Connty at the time of the alleged offenses. The two cases were tried at the same time. Each conviction is based upon the same evidence. Coffey’s first insistence on this appeal is that the evidence preponderates against the verdict in each case.

This difficulty was the aftermath of a party at the home of Russell Mathes and wife to celebrate Father’s Day. About thirty people, mostly wives and husbands,…