State v. Ford

The appellant, town marshal of Risco, was convicted of murder in the second degree in the Circuit Court of Pemiscot County on change of venue from New Madrid County, for killing his prisoner Braxtol Gray. His punishment was assessed at ten years’ imprisonment in the penitentiary. According to his testi mony lie was executing a warrant for the arrest of Gray based on a misdemeanor charge when the latter made an assault upon him and attempted to seize his pistol. Thereupon the marshal shot Gray inflicting mortal wounds from which he died four months later. The State’s evidence further showed…