State v. Harris

The defendant was charged with first degree murder, the state claiming he killed his wife by burning. The defendant appeals from a conviction of manslaughter.

One of defendant’s principal contentions of error was that the evidence was insufficient to warrant submitting any degree of homicide to the jury. As the evidence of guilt was circumstantial, a rather extensive and detailed examination of the evidence is required.

The defendant was employed as a salesman at a salary of $385 per month. He resided in the city of Salem with his wife and eight of their ten children— one child being married…