Commonwealth v. Thompson

Opinion by

Mr. Justice Ladner,

This is an appeal by the defendant from a conviction of murder in the first degree with death penalty and sentence imposed thereon.

Sometime between 7 and 8 p.m. on September 13, 1949, the defendant entered a drinking place at number 20 Townsend Street, Pittsburgh, known as the Barbary Coast Club. With a 45 calibre Colt revolver he shot Aaron Daniels through the left arm. Daniels had been talking to the bartender, Russell Wallace, and was turning from the bar to leave when he was shot. There was testimony that before the shot was fired the defendant said, “This is…