State v. Hunter

The defendant, Merritt Hunter, Jr., was by information charged with the crime of murder in the first degree, in that he, on the twenty-fifth day of November, 1934, shot and killed one Lillian Kanda. On his arraignment, defendant entered a general plea of not guilty and in addition a special plea in the following form:

“That said defendant was insane or mentally irresponsible at the time of the commission of the crime charged; and that said defendant has become sane or mentally responsible between the time of the commission of the crime and the time of trial.”

The trial opened February 13, 1935,…