State v. Siebenbaum

Citations

• 105 Wash. 157
• 177 P. 669
• 1919 Wash. LEXIS 520

Syllabus

<p>Criminal Law (255)—Instructions'—Comments on Facts—Credibility oe Witnesses. It is unlawful comment upon the evidence in an action for violation of the state-wide prohibition law, for the court to instruct the jury that the act provides for the activity of citizens other than officers and that it is the duty of any citizen to detect crime, where the only evidence to sustain conviction was that of two detectives who had by deceit and subterfuge induced defendant to violate the law, and the court’s purpose clearly was to holster up the state’s witnesses.</p>