Commonwealth v. Chavis

Opinion by

Mr. Chief Justice Maxey,

This is an appeal from the judgment of guilty of murder in the first degree with the death penalty imposed. Some time between 12:08 A. M. and 12:24 A. M. on May 11, 1946, Francis K. Erhard, aged 24 years, was assaulted and robbed on Morris Street, near Chelten Avenue, Philadelphia. He reached his home, about 330 feet away, and said to his aunt, “a terrific force hit me from behind, and they got my wallet”. He was taken to the Germantown Hospital, where he died at 7:30 A. M., May 11th. The police found at the place of the assault a pool of blood and an iron…