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89 Miss. 671

Taylor v. State

Mississippi Supreme Court

Decided November 15, 1906

Mississippi Supreme Court · decided 1906-11-15

Rrom tbe circuit court of Greene county. How. William IT. Hardy, Judge. Taylor, tbe appellant, was indicted for tbe murder of one Mclnnis, tried and convicted of manslaughter, sentenced to tbe penitentiary for a term of twenty years, and appealed to the supreme court. The killing occurred at a picnic.

Decided 1906-11-15

Calhoon, J.,

¶1delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2We would not reverse for the refusal to give the eleventh instruction asked by the defendant. It does not conform to that in Ammons v. State, 89 Miss., 369 (s.c., 42 South. Rep., 165). That contains the words “after free consultation with his fellows.” This does not, and, besides containing an improper reference to the court, might imply to a juror that his own view must be held to, regardless of argument from those on the panel who might differ from him. Little v. People, 157 Ill., 153 (42 N. E., 389). Instructions of this nature should be carefully guarded, so as not to foster prejudice or encourage obstinacy.

¶3The assistant attorney-general, however, very commendably and properly admits error in the giving of the third and fourth instructions for the state, and we think for this the ease should be, and it is,

¶4Reversed and remanded.

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