Case Name: Respublica versus Steele
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1785
Citations: 2 Dall. 92
Docket Number: 
Parties: Respublica versus Steele.
Judges: 
Reporter: United States Reports
Volume: 2
Pages: 92–93

Head Matter:
Respublica versus Steele.
THE defendant being out-lawed for robbery; and afterward apprehended, was brought up for judgment ; but, denying that he was the same. Robert Steele, who was mentioned in the outlawry, an issue was joined by the Attorney General to try the identity. Lewis, as counsel for the prisoner, took two exceptions on the trial : 1st. That it was not proved, that the defendant was an inhabitant of Wright’s Town, as stated in the process of outlawry; for though it appeared that he worked there, he contended that circumstance alone did not establish a residence. 2d. That the addition is false and defective; for, he is called “Yeoman,” which means (contrary to the fact) that he is a free-holder of the value of 40 shillings per annum; and the addition does not extend to the town or hamlet, the name, degree, or mistery, without which the outlawry is void. 1 Bl. Com. 406. 2 Inst. 668. Johnson’s Dictionary, word "Yeoman.” 2 Hawk. 185. s. 102. ib. 186. s. 106. ib. 187. 8.
Bradford, Attorney General,
insisted, that the proof of residence was sufficiently made; and that, by the statute, the description might either be of the degree or mistery; the latter of which had been chosen in the present case. 2 Hawk. 186. Wood. Inst. 45.
Argued and decided the 14th October, 1785.

Opinion:
By the Court:
—It is necessary to state the township; but if the defendant is proved to have been there, it is enough to satisfy the designation. The first day a man comes into a place, he is a stranger; the second day he is considered as a guest;. and the third day he becomes an inhabitant. But if any oncomes from New-Jersey, and stays only an hour in Pennsylvania, during which he commits an offence, he must be charged as of the township, in which he was at the time ; for, he cannot be called of New-Jersey.
With respect to the objection against the form of the addition, it is to be observed, that the statute requires the description of a state, degree, or mistery; but either of them is sufficient. For instance, it has never been doubted, but that the addition of widow, or spinster, is valid, and yet such addition is certainly not descriptive of any degree or mistery.
The issue being found for the Commonwealth, sentence of death was pronounced, and the defendant was soon afterwards, executed.