Commonwealth v. Baker

Opinion by

Linn, J.,

Appellant, convicted of violating section 32 of the Crimes Act of 1860, P. L. 392 and the Act of June 11, 1879, P. L. 148, presents two contentions that we sustain ; the others are overruled.(1) The charge on reasonable doubt was wrong. After stating to the jurors that the Commonwealth must convince them of the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the judge added: “ ‘Beyond a reasonable doubt’ does not mean beyond all doubt, because possibly there is nothing in human affairs that can be established beyond all doubt. A reasonable doubt is an honest, substantial doubt…