Bradfield v. State

Citations

• 28 Del. 262
• 5 Boyce 262
• 92 A. 988
• 1914 Del. LEXIS 42

Syllabus

<p>1. Criminal Law—Evidence—Presumption of Innocence.</p> <p>Every person charged with a criminal offense is presumed to be innocent until the presumption is overcome by satisfactory evidence.</p> <p>2. Criminal Law—Weight and Sufficiency of Evidence—Reasonable Doubt.</p> <p>Before a conviction, the jury must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty.</p> <p>3. Bastards—Duty to Support—Statutes.</p> <p>27 Del. Laws, c. 262, § 1, making it the duty of the parent of any child under the age of sixteen to provide for its support, and making willful neglect to support any such child in destitute circumstances a misdemeanor, was applicable to a prosecution for neglect to support an illegitimate child born before it was enacted, and thereunder the parentage of the child might be determined, as well as under the bastardy act, which was not repealed thereby.</p> <p>4. Criminal Law—Province of Jury—Credibility of Witnesses.</p> <p>The jury are the exclusive judges of the credibility of witnesses, and when the evidence is conflicting should accept that testimony which it deems worthy of credit, and reject that deemed unworthy of credit, and may believe the testimony which under all the circumstances appeals to it, and disbelieve that which does not appeal to it.</p>