The People of the State of New York v. . Madeline Ferola

Summary

The New York Court of Appeals affirmed the murder conviction of Madeline Ferola, holding that while compulsory attendance of an accused as a witness before a coroner violates constitutional rights, the admission of her confessions was not a reversible error because the error was harmless and the jury’s verdict was supported by other evidence; the court also held that the failure to instruct the jury on corroboration of an accomplice did not require reversal. Justice Collin dissented, arguing the confessions were inadmissible and the error was prejudicial, while Justice Seabury concurred, disagreeing with the majority’s view of error but affirming the conviction.