Purcell v. State

BELCHER, Judge.

The conviction is for murder with malice; the punishment, death.

The testimony of the state shows that the appellant committed a cruel and brutal murder by beating Mrs. W. T. Fortner, the mother of his deceased wife, on the face and head with a vase. Appellant’s voluntary written statement made and signed on the day of the killing was introduced in evidence by the state without objection and it shows an atrocious killing without justification.

Appellant did not testify but called numerous witnesses including a medical doctor and a psychiatrist whose testimony supports his plea of…