State v. Smith

SADLER, Justice.

The defendant, L. O. Smith, was convicted of murder in the jirst degree and his punishment fixed at life imprisonment in the penitentiary in lieu o'f death by direction of the jury trying him. He prosecutes this appeal from the judgment of conviction so pronounced upon him.

The killing occurred at Artesia in Eddy County, New Mexico, on August 3, 1945. The deceased, Dr. Craig Cornett, was an osteopathic physician and surgeon residing and practicing his profession at Artesia at the time of his death and for some years, prior thereto. The two families, that is to say, the deceased…