Hamilton v. Commonwealth

CAMMACK, Judge.

Ira Hamilton was sentenced to life imprisonment for the willful -murder of Bert Hamilton. Ira, who was Bert’s neighbor, had been helping Bert make moonshine liquor, at a still located on Ira’s property. According to Ira, Bért had accused him of pouring out a barrel of his beer and had threatened to kill Ira unless he paid $25 for the beer. The fatal shooting occurred in December, 1954, near the home of Tramble Tackett, Ira’s brother-in-law.. Ira’s evidence showed that he acted in self-defense after Bert renewed-his threat to kill him unless, he paid the $25. The evidence for…