Hovis v. State

The defendant Robert Lawson Hovis was charged in the district court of Oklahoma county by information with the crime of manslaughter in the first degree, was tried, convicted of manslaughter in the second degree, with the punishment left to the court. After motion for new trial was overruled, the defendant was ordered to serve a term of two years in the penitentiary and has appealed.

The defendant was the owner of the Jack Pot beer tavern in Oklahoma City. On the night of June 2,1944, he shot and killed one Olan Cowan at his place of business. The killing was admitted, but defendant entered a…