Case Name: Brainard v. Patterson et al., Appellants
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1941-06-30
Citations: 342 Pa. 465
Docket Number: Appeal, No. 104
Parties: Brainard v. Patterson et al., Appellants.
Judges: Before Schaefer, C. J., Maxey, Drew, Linn, Stern, Patterson and Parker, JJ.
Reporter: Pennsylvania State Reports
Volume: 342
Pages: 465–466

Head Matter:
Brainard v. Patterson et al., Appellants.
Argued May 13, 1941.
Before Schaefer, C. J., Maxey, Drew, Linn, Stern, Patterson and Parker, JJ.
W. D. Gallup, with him F. D. Gallup and E. G. Potter, of Gallup, Potter & Gallup, for appellants.
R. T. Mutzabaugh and F. M. Nash, of Nash & Mutzabaugh, for appellee, were not heard.
June 30, 1941:

Opinion:
Per Curiam,
This appeal is from a new-trial order made in consequence of the conduct of the court officer in charge of the jury. Toward midnight, after the jury had been deliberating some hours, they inquired of the officer about sleeping accommodations and were informed by him, or understood him to say, they could not separate until after they had agreed on a verdict. Sometime about 2:30 a. m. they found for the defendant. The learned judge held that, in the circumstances, the verdict had been coerced within the rule applied in Welshire v. Bruaw, 331 Pa. 392, 200 A. 67. There was no abuse of discretion. The other questions need not be referred to.
Judgment affirmed.