Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

84 Miss. 475

Tidwell v. State

Mississippi Supreme Court

Decided March 15, 1904

Mississippi Supreme Court · decided 1904-03-15

From the circuit court of Holmes county. How. William F. Stevens, Judge. Tidwell, the appellant, was indicted, tried, and convicted of murder, and appealed to the supreme court. The evidence showed that Tidwell went with an officer and some other men to a house to arrest a man one night. Graves came up toward the house, and was mistaken by Tidwell for the man they were looking for, and Tidwell shot Graves, slightly wounding him.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently March 1939

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1904-03-15

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Truly, J.,

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2The action of the court in refusing the two instructions denied the appellant was correct. The instructions are erro*479ueously drawn, and do not state accurately the proposition of law which it was sought to announce, and they fall within the condemnation of the statute which prohibits the jury being charged as to the weight of evidence. In addition to this, the record contains no testimony upon which to base the theory of partial or temporary insanity sought to be availed, of on behalf of the appellant. The fact that he was excitable and emotional, and the further fact that he would spend his substance in purchasing articles for which he had no special use, and neglect to provide for the future support of his family, are simply racial characteristics, and cannot properly be considered any proof of insanity. The crime which appellant committed was atrocious and unprovoked, and he should be thankful for the leniency displayed by the jury in not affixing the death penalty.

¶3Affirmed.

/84/miss/475 · .json · Public domain