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3 Sadler 474

Davis v. Commonwealth

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania

Decided October 18, 1886

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania · decided 1886-10-18

On the 20th day of May, 1885, one John B. Haugh made an information before J. W. Walker, Esq., a justice of the peace, in which John F. Davis was charged with adultery with a certain Celesta Hawk, “not his lawful wife.” In pursuance therewith a warrant was issued and the defendant arrested. On September 17, 1885, a true bill was found.

Affirmed · Decided 1886-10-18

Per Curiam:

¶1The indictment before us charges that the defendant “then and there being a married man, and having a lawful wife living, did have carnal connection with a woman, Celesta Hawk, not his lawful wife.” As the charge here recited strictly follows the definition of the crime of adultery as found in the 36th section of the act of March 31, 1860, we think it was sufficient without-setting out the name of the defendant’s wife. In fact the 11th section of the same act so prescribes;

¶2And without this, if it be admitted that the omission was a defect, it was but formal, and might, therefore, have been amended in the court below, or might be so amended even here now in this court.

¶3The judgment is affirmed, and it is ordered that the record be returned to the Quarter Sessions, for the purpose of execution.

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