People v. Thomson

The appellant was convicted of murder in the first degree, and now appeals from the judgment and order denying his motion for a new trial.

At the trial he admitted the killing, and insisted that the homicide was committed in self-defense.

The prosecution, against the objection of defendant, offered in evidence a United States patent to the tract of land upon which the deceased was killed, for the purpose, ms the district attorney stated, of showing that “he was killed upon his own land.” There was no question of defense of property or habitation involved in the trial. *509The plea was a plea of…