Burns v. State

Joe Burns, the appellant, was convicted of murder in the killing of Betty May Griffin. The jury having dis agreed as to the punishment, the court sentenced the appellant to be confined for life in the state penitentiary.

From the state’s standpoint, the gist of the evidence of eyewitnesses was to the effect that the appellant was guilty of an unprovoked murder. The evidence shows that he had been estranged from his wife; that the deceased, Betty May Griffin, had undertaken, at his instance, some days before the tragedy, a reconciliation between the husband and wife. On the Sunday afternoon the…