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People v. DraperPeople v. Draper

New York Court of Appeals
Nov 20, 1952
Reporters:
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Judgment of conviction affirmed; no opinion.

Concur: Lewis, Conway, Desmond, Dye and Fuld, ‍‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‍JJ. Loitghban, Ch. J., and Fboessel, J., dissent and vote to order a new trial in the following memorandum: The defendant’s constitutional protection ‍‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‍against compulsory self incrimination was invaded when the trial prosecutor commented adversely and at length upon the defendant’s refusal to take a truth serum ‍‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‍test (see People v. Forte, 277 N. Y. 440; 8 Wigmore on Evidence [3d ed.], §§ 2272-2273). The further comment of the District Attorney to the jury that ‍‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‍they should not be misled by any idea that this defendant, who pleaded insanity, may be confined permanently to a hospital, thus suggesting ‍‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‍that he might be released, was also improper. [See 304 N. Y. 881.]

Case Details

Case Name: People v. Draper
Court Name: New York Court of Appeals
Date Published: Nov 20, 1952
Citations: 304 N.Y. 799; 109 N.E.2d 342; 1952 N.Y. LEXIS 992
Court Abbreviation: N.Y.
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