Commonwealth v. Goodwin

Citations

• 186 Pa. 218
• 40 A. 412
• 1898 Pa. LEXIS 984

Syllabus

<p>Criminal law — Murder— Confession — Evidence.</p> <p>A confession procured by artifice is not for that reason inadmissible unless the artifice was calculated to produce an untrue confession.</p> <p>A man and woman charged with murder were confined in the same prison. The man voluntarily requested an interview with the woman. The sheriff granted the request, and stationed two deputies in such a position that they could hear-what was said. No other'artifice or constraint was used. Held, that the testimony of the woman and the two deputies was properly admissible as to the statements made by the prisoner at the interview!</p> <p>A letter written by a prisoner charged with murder, and voluntarily given by him to the sheriff to be .delivered to another person, is admissible in evidence against the prisoner.</p>