Thacker v. Commonwealth

On December 11, 1929, James Thacker, in the county of Buchanan, shot and killed Lundy Murphy. For this offense he was tried, convicted of murder in the second degree and sentenced to ten years confinement in the penitentiary.

In that county at that time a railroad was in process of construction. This work was being carried on by two construction companies, the Anderson Construction Company and the Nelson Construction Company. Both of them maintained camps for the accommodation of their employees. Their location was near the Kentucky line and in a community rough if not relatively lawless. The…