Whitely v Chappel (1868) LR 4 QB 147
A statute made it an offence ‘to impersonate any person entitled to vote.’ The defendant used the vote of a dead man. The statute relating to voting rights required a person to be living in order to be entitled to vote.
A statute made it an offence ‘to impersonate any person entitled to vote.’ The defendant used the vote of a dead man. The statute relating to voting rights required a person to be living in order to be entitled to vote.
Held:
The literal rule was applied and the defendant was thus acquitted.
lawprojects 