Swain v. State

This appeal comes from the Criminal Court of Davidson County, Tennessee. The parties will be referred to herein as they appeared in the trial court; that is, Bernard W. Swain, alias Bishop St. Psalm, plaintiff in error, as defendant, and defendant in error as the State.

At the January, 1964 Term of Criminal Court of Davidson County, Tennessee, the defendant was charged by presentment with the violation of T.C.A. seo. 39-4301, which reads in pertinent part, as follows:

“Threats for purpose of extortion or obtaining action —Penalty.—If any person, either verbally or by written or printed…