Commonwealth v. Cooley
Commonwealth v. Cooley
Opinion of the Court
The indictment having alleged that the burying ground belonged to the first congregational parish in G eenfield, it is objected that no evidence was offered on the part of the government in support of the allegation. The Coi rt are of opinion, that the allegation was unnecessary, and that it did not become material by having been introduced into the indictment. It forms no part of the description of the offence charged. It does not qualify or aggravate the offence. There is therefore no reason for granting a new trial.
The question then is, whether the common law has been superseded here by the statute of 1814. And the Court are of opinion that it has been. The whole subject has been revised by the legislature. The time for prosecuting the offence, and the punishment are limited by the statute, and provision likewise is made for the removal of dead bodies. A statute is impliedly repealed by a subsequent one revising the whole subject matter of the first; Bartlett v. King, 12 Mass. R. 545 ; Nichols v. Squire, 5 Pick. 168 ; and in the case of .a statute revising the common law, the implication is at least equally strong.
Judgment arrested.
See United States v. Howard, 3 Sumner, 14, 15; 1 Chitty’s Crim. Law, (4th Am. ed.) 205 et seq. State v. Noble, 15 Maine R. (3 Shepley,) 476.
See Jennings v. Commonwealth, 17 Pick. 80, 82, 83.
See Revised Stat. c. 131, § 19. As to the conclusion of the indictment, see Revised Stat. c. 137, § 14; 1 Chitty’s Crim. Law, (4th Am. ed.) 290 and notes ; State v. Negro Evans, 7 Gill & Johns. 290
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Commonwealth versus Dennis Cooley
- Status
- Published