Commonwealth v. Priest

Citations

• 272 Pa. 549
• 116 A. 403
• 1922 Pa. LEXIS 866

Syllabus

<p>Criminal law — Murder—Evidence—Duty of appellate court to review the evidence — Act of Feb. 15, 1810, P. L. 15.</p> <p>1. Under the Act of February 15, 1870, P. L. 15, it is the duty of the Supreme Court, on an appeal from a conviction of murder, to review both the law and the evidence, and determine whether the ingredients necessary to constitute first degree murder have been proved to exist.</p> <p>2. If there is competent evidence to support the verdict, the appellate court cannot usurp the functions of the jury and reverse merely because it might be contended they should not have believed the witnesses produced on behalf of the Commonwealth.</p> <p>3. The evidence in this case examined and held to be sufficient to sustain a conviction of murder of the first degree.</p>