Commonwealth v. Melinkoff

Citations

• 61 Pa. Super. 238
• 1915 Pa. Super. LEXIS 307

Syllabus

<p>Criminal law — Cross-examination of prisoner as to his name— Evidence.</p> <p>On the trial of an indictment for crime, where the defendant has gone upon the stand and distinctly testified as to his name, the district attorney may be permitted to ask him on cross-examination whether he had ever been known by any other name. Such a question is not forbidden by the Act of March 15, 1911, P. E. 20, which provides that a person charged with crime shall not be required to answer any question tending to show that'he had committed, “or been charged with, or - been convicted of any offense, other than the one wherewith he shall then be charged, or tending to show that he had been of bad character or reputation.”</p> <p>Criminal law — Assault and battery — Scar on face of prosecutor —Evidence.</p> <p>On the trial of an indictment for assault and battery where the prosecutor, a professional pugilist, testified that the defendant had struck him in the face, and that a scar upon his face shown to the jury had resulted from that cut, it is not error for the trial court to refuse to withdraw a juror and continue the case because the district attorney in his closing argument showed to the jury the scar on the prosecutor’s face, alleged to have been caused by the assault.</p>