State v. Gaunt

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Mason, J.:

George W. Gaunt was prosecuted for killing J. Lee Shaffer, the information charging murder in the first degree. He admitted the homicide, but asserted that he had acted in self-defense. He was convicted of manslaughter in the third degree, and appeals.

1. The defendant introduced no witnesses regarding his reputation. The court gave this instruction:

“The law presumes the defendant to be of good reputation until the contrary is shown. The defendant will therefore be held by you to be of good reputation and character except in so far as his own…