People v. Cowan

On September 14, 1938, the defendants and Morris Malter were indicted by the grand jury of Los Angeles County and charged with murder by killing John Stockton on December 15, 1931. They were tried in 1939. The jury found them all, except Morris Malter, guilty of murder ( in the first degree and fixed punishment at imprisonment for' life. The trial judge granted the motion of Patrick Rollins-for a new trial but denied like motions of the others. This1 appeal followed. During the trial the charge against Morris Malter was dismissed to permit him to become a witness against his codefendants. He…