Murdock v. State

William Murdock and his wife Jean were charged in three counts with: the taking (under a theft of animals statute) of 67 ewes and 63 lambs belonging to Ben Itur-rian, grand larceny of the said ewes and lambs, and altering and defacing the brands of 24 of the ewes and 22 of the lambs. The wife moved for a separate trial, and when the motion was granted, the case proceeded against Murdock. Prior to the submission of the case to the jury, the State voluntarily dismissed the theft of animals count. The jury found the defendant guilty of larceny of the sheep but not guilty of altering and defacing…