Tompkins v. Commonwealth

John Leon Tompkins, the defendant, was charged upon an indictment with breaking and entering in the nighttime the dwelling of Nettie Wright with intent to murder Helen Vessels. The jury found him guilty as charged and fixed his punishment at five years in the penitentiary. The sentence was imposed by the trial court, and the defendant was granted a writ of error.

The evidence shows that the defendant and Helen Vessels were acquainted with one another. In the early morning hours of August 8, 1970, he raised a window of the dwelling where she lived, entered, and went to her bedroom. She was…