Commonwealth v. Coccodralli
Commonwealth v. Coccodralli
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The defendant was driving his autotruck along a street in the City of Scranton and ran into another automobile and seriously injured the young daughter of Alexander Oellgaard, who instituted this prosecution. An indictment was found containing two counts, the first charging that the defendant did assault and then and there unlawfully and maliciously did inflict grievous bodily harm upon Mary Oellgaard; and the second count charged simple assault and battery. The defendant was convicted in the court below upon both counts and appeals from that judgment.
The appellant has in his paper-book stated three questions alleged to be involved in this case. The first and second questions, as stated, really present but one question and may be fully summarized thus: Was the evidence in the case such as to warrant a conviction of the defendant of the offense charged in the first count of the indictment, which is commonly designated as aggravated assault and battery? The learned counsel for the appellant does not assert that the injury to the young girl was not of a grievous nature. His contention is that the evidence did not warrant a finding that the injury was wilfully and maliciously inflicted by the defendant, and that the court should have withdrawn the first count of the indictment from the consideration of the jury or given a binding instruction, as to that count, in favor of the defendant. The evidence was such as to warrant a finding that the defendant had driven his autotruck along a street of the city at a rate of speed and in a manner which manifestly and necessarily imperiled the lives and limbs of other persons lawfully using the street. It is true that there was nothing to indicate that the defendant was actuated by express malice towards the young girl or that he had a con-
The attempt to state a third question involved does not properly raise any question. It is simply stated thus: “III — Charge of the Court.” The purpose of the rule requiring the statement of the questions involved, as raised by the specifications of error, is to require that the questions to be considered shall be distinctly stated. To say that there is some question about the charge of the court, without stating what the question is, is not a proper compliance with the rule. It is, therefore, only necessary to say that considering the charge as a whole we are not convinced that the appellant has any substantial ground for complaint. We have re
Tbe judgment is affirmed and it is ordered that tbe defendant appear in tbe court below at such time as be may be there called and that be be by that court committed until be bas complied with tbe sentence or any part of it wbicb bad not been performed at tbe time tbe appeal in this case was made a supersedeas.
Reference
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- Criminal law — Aggravated assault and battery — Reckless driving of motor truck — Injuries to travelers. One who wilfully drives an automobile on the public streets, at a rate of speed or in a manner which involves a reckless disregard for the safety of other persons lawfully using the streets, and by so doing causes injuries to another, is guilty of aggravated assault and battery. On the trial of an indictment for aggravated assault and battery, a conviction will be sustained, where the evidence was sufficient to warrant a finding that the defendant had driven his motor truck along the street of a city, at a high rate of speed and in a manner which manifestly and necessarily imperiled the lives and limbs' of other persons lawfully using the street. The excessive rate of speed at which an automobile is driven is a product of the will of its driver and not the result of mere inattention or negligence. It is his voluntary act, and, as such, he is responsible for the result of his conduct and there is no legal reason why the crime of assault and battery may not be committed by driving an automobile on a public highway at a rate of speed which endangers the safety of others and actually results in sudh. injury. Assignments of error — Statement of questions involved. The purpose of the rule requiring the statement of the questions involved, as raised by the specifications of error, is to require that the questions to he considered shall he distinctly stated. To say that there is some question about the charge of the court, without stating what the question is, is not a proper compliance with the rule.