Commonwealth v. Wills
Superior Court of Pennsylvania
Appeal, No. 60, April T., 1919, by defendant, from judgment of Q. S. Allegheny Co., Nov. T., 1917, No. 44, from verdict of guilty in case of Commonwealth v. Wallace L. Wills. Indictment for involuntary manslaughter. Before Carpenter, J. At the trial the court charged in part as follows: [The question of the reputation of the defendant in any criminal case, of course, is to be considered.
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Appeal, No. 60, April T., 1919, by defendant, from judgment of Q. S. Allegheny Co., Nov. T., 1917, No. 44, from verdict of guilty in case of Commonwealth v. Wallace L. Wills. Indictment for involuntary manslaughter. Before Carpenter, J. At the trial the court charged in part as follows: [The question of the reputation of the defendant in any criminal case, of course, is to be considered. Where there is testimony of good reputation, it is a fact, a substantive fact which you are to take into consideration; but the only bearing that could have in this case would be as to the probabilities of…
1Opinion of the Court
Per Curiam,
The only suggestion of error on this appeal is that the charge of the court was inadequate in discussing the bearing and weight of the evidence relating to good reputation and when discussing the presumption of innocence and burden of proof in such a case. The court held the Commonwealth strictly to the rule that it must satisfy the jury, beyond any reasonable doubt, as to the guilt of *75the defendant, and following Commonwealth v. Berney, 66 Pa. Superior Ct. 434-440, and the same case on appeal to the Supreme Court, 262 Pa. 174, the instruction was adequate. And so too as to…
2Cases cited4 opinions
- Commonwealth v. WebbSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1916
- Commonwealth v. HarmonSupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1901
- Commonwealth v. BerneySuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1917
- Commonwealth v. BerneySupreme Court of Pennsylvania · 1918
3Cited by3 opinions
- Commonwealth v. GrillSuperior Court of Pennsylvania · 1928
- Commonwealth v. Harris, Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County1970
- Commonwealth v. MamulaBeaver County Court of Oyer and Terminer · 1923