Howard v. Commonwealth

Opinion of the Court by

Commissioner Stanley

Reversing.

On July 16, 1928, Mrs. Docia Combs, met her death from a pistol wound, and on the same day the appellant, Mrs. Nannie Howard, was indicted for her murder and brought to trial ten days later. A judgment sentencing her to imprisonment for life was the result.

This unfortunate tragedy occurred at Lothair, a mining town, and arose from a neighbor boy having fired a BB rifle into the yard of the deceased, the shot striking her sister-in-law. The boy handed the rifle to the 18 year old son of the appellant, who was blamed for the mischief. A…