Melton v. State

Plaintiff in error, hereinafter called defendant, was convicted in the district court, Pottawatomie county, of manslaughter in the first degree and his punishment fixed at twenty years in the state penitentiary.

On the date charged defendant shot one Yirgil Coffey, inflicting a wound from which he died two days later. On the day after the shooting defendant surrendered to the sheriff. Following the death of Coffey, charges of murder were filed, a preliminary held, and final trial, with the result stated. Defendant admitted firing the fatal shot and pleaded self-defense.

Defendant first contends…