Gaines v. Commonwealth

Opinion op the Court by

Stanley, Commissioner—

Affirming.

The appellant, Richard Gaines, colored, has been condemned to death for the murder of Bud Wilson, also colored, which occurred in Princeton in August, 1930. According to the appellant, on the evening before, he and the deceased had had a quarrel over $5 he had lent Wilson, to secure which he had promised to pawn his watch. In the morning or early afternoon of the day of the killing, Gaines came into a poolroom where Wilson was and asked to let him see his pistol. He says that Wilson was flourishing it, but all other witnesses say he had…