State v. Rankins

HAMITER, Justice.

On June 10, 1946, defendant, Anthony Rankins, was indicted by the Grand Jury of Cameron Parish for the murder of one Ivory li. LaSalle, the latter having died from knife wounds inflicted on March 23, 1946. The accused, as well as was the deceased, is a member of the colored race.

Trial under the indictment commenced October 16, 1946, during which defendant took the position that he did not cut or stab the decedent, and at its conclusion two days later there was returned a verdict reading, “We the jury find the defendant guilty as charged without capital punishment.”…