People v. Rowland

The defendant, a convict confined in the state prison at Folsom, was indicted, tried and convicted of murder of the first degree for the killing of Elgar Morrison, a fellow-prisoner. The jury made no recommendation as to the penalty. A motion for a new trial was made and denied, and the defendant has appealed from the judgment impos ing the sentence of death and from the order denying his motion.

The defendant and the deceased worked together in and about the prison grounds. Rowland claimed that Morrison borrowed tobacco from him which he did not return. While the prisoners were at liberty in…