Parker v. State

HARWOOD, Justice.

Thomas Skinner, age 85, his wife Minerva, and his two grandchildren, Curtis Ray Skinner and Emmett James Skinner, lived in the home of Thomas Skinner in the rural section of Blount County. On 17 July 1963, this modest frame house caught on fire somewhere around 2:30 in the afternoon. It was apparently completely consumed by fire in 30 to 40 minutes. Four bodies, or the remnants thereof, identified as the above named people, were found in the ashes of the burned house. .

This appellant, Curtis Ray Parker, was charged by separate indictments of murder in the first degree of…