Wills v. State
Supreme Court of Alabama
Appeal from Talladega Circuit Court. Tried before Hon. LeRoy F. Box. Randall Wills, the appellant, and Jane Wills, his wife, were, in this case, jointly indicted for the murder of Lucy Coleman. The appellant was convicted of manslaughter in the first degree, and sentenced to the penitentiary for four years; but his-wife was acquitted.
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Appeal from Talladega Circuit Court. Tried before Hon. LeRoy F. Box. Randall Wills, the appellant, and Jane Wills, his wife, were, in this case, jointly indicted for the murder of Lucy Coleman. The appellant was convicted of manslaughter in the first degree, and sentenced to the penitentiary for four years; but his-wife was acquitted. As recited in the bill of exceptions, “said cause being called for trial, the State announced that it was not ready for trial on account of the absence of Cora Hughes alias Cora Dickerson, who was also a witness for the-defendant, as well as for the Stateand the…
1Opinion of the CourtSomeryille, J.
— It is an imperative provision of our Bill of Rights, that'in all criminal prosecutions the accused has ■a constitutional right:“to he confronted by the witnesses against Mm? — Decl. Rights, Const. 1875, Art. 1, § 7. The same right is secured in the Constitution of the United States, and is a recognized principle in, perhaps, all of the various American States, either in the form of constitutional or statutory provisions. Its purpose is plain. It.was to require the witnesses *365against the accused to be produced in open court, so that he may see them face to face, and have the opportunity…
2Cases cited6 opinions
- Marler v. StateSupreme Court of Alabama · 1880
- Ingram v. StateSupreme Court of Alabama · 1880
- Ex parte BrownSupreme Court of Alabama · 1880
- Eaton v. StateAlabama Court of Appeals · 1913
- Leonard v. StateSupreme Court of Alabama · 1880
1 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.
3Cited by14 opinions
- State v. FrisbeeCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma · 1912
- Starr v. StateCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma · 1911
- Shular v. StateIndiana Supreme Court · 1886
- Tesney v. StateSupreme Court of Alabama · 1884
- McKee v. StateSupreme Court of Alabama · 1886
9 more not listed; retrieve them via the Exa API.