Commonwealth v. Robinson
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
Indictment for the murder of Prince Arthur Freeman by poisoning. At the trial, before Field and JSkowlton, JJ., there was evidence tending to prove the following facts. In February, 1885, Freeman occupied a tenement in South Boston with his wife, Annie Freeman, who was a sister of the defendant, and their two children.
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Indictment for the murder of Prince Arthur Freeman by poisoning. At the trial, before Field and JSkowlton, JJ., there was evidence tending to prove the following facts. In February, 1885, Freeman occupied a tenement in South Boston with his wife, Annie Freeman, who was a sister of the defendant, and their two children. On February 20, 1885, the defendant called upon her sister, staying but a short time, and on February 28, 1885, again went to her sister’s house to take care of her, and there stayed until Mrs. Freeman died, on February 26,1885, after an illness of about three weeks. The…
1Opinion of the CourtC. Allen, J.
We have given to this case a degree of attention commensurate with its importance, and have come to the conclusion that there was no error in the conduct of the trial.
While it is well settled in this Commonwealth, that, on the trial of an indictment, the government cannot be allowed to prove other independent crimes for the purpose of showing that the defendant is wicked enough to commit the crime on trial, this rule does not extend so far as to exclude evidence of acts or crimes which are shown to have been committed as part of the same common purpose, or in pursuance of it. Commonwealth v.…
2Cases cited16 opinions
- People v. . SharpNew York Court of Appeals · 1887
- Commonwealth v. JacksonMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1882
- Jordan v. OsgoodMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1872
- Mayer v. . the PeopleNew York Court of Appeals · 1880
- Commonwealth v. PiperMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1876
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3Cited by86 opinions
- Commonwealth v. TavaresMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1982
- Commonwealth v. HofferMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1978
- Commonwealth v. BonomiMassachusetts Supreme Judicial Court · 1957
- Hawes v. StateSupreme Court of Alabama · 1889
- State v. HydeSupreme Court of Missouri · 1911
81 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.