State v. Robinson

The accused was convicted of murder, without capital punishment, and has appealed.

[1, 2] His first complaint is of the definition of murder contained in the judge’s charge to the jury, which is the one found in the common law books. He contends that this definition is not sufficient under our law because it does not contain the word “willful” or “willfully.” His learned counsel argue that, this word, being essential, or sacramental, in the description of the crime in the indictment, is logically so in the judge’s charge to the jury. If this crime cannot possibly, they argue, he described…