Commonwealth v. Kirkland

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Bell,

Defendant-appellant (Catherine Kirkland) was tried upon an indictment containing two counts: (1) murder and (2) voluntary manslaughter. Following her general plea of guilty, the case was heard by Judge McKenna without a jury. He found her guilty of murder in the second degree and sentenced her to im, prisonment for not less than four and not more than eight years. This appeal followed. Only two ques tions are raised, but both of them are very important.

Before the trial, the assistant district attorney informed counsel for defendant that in his opinion the…