Kilpatrick v. State

To dissuade or prevent or to attempt to dissuade or prevent a witness from attending or testifying upon a trial is an indictable offense at common law. People v. Boyd, 174 Mich. 321 (140 N. W. 475); State v. Keyes, 8 Vt. 57 (30 Am. D. 450); Commonwealth v. Reynolds, 14 Gray 87 (74 Am. D. 665); Commonwealth v. Berry, 141 Ky. 477 (133 S. W. 212, 33 L. R. A. (N. S.) 976). “Since 1833 we have had only statutory offenses.” Thrower v. State, 117 Ga. 753, 757 (45 S. E. 126). While there is no provision in our Code which in terms makes it an indictable offense to dissuade or prevent, or to attempt to…