New York Court of Appeals
The People, Plaintiffs in Error v. Rogers, Defendant in Error
September 5, 185818 N.Y. 9
Summary
The Court of Appeals held that a confession made while a prisoner is in custody is admissible absent any inducement, and that voluntary intoxication does not excuse a murder conviction, though evidence of intoxication may be admitted. Accordingly, the trial judge's instruction that intoxication never excuses crime was proper and the General Sessions' murder judgment was affirmed. Justice 030concurrence concurred fully with this result. The opinion also discusses the historical basis for these rules.