Fields v. State

The appellant was indicted for murder in the first degree, and was tried and convicted of murder in the second degree. The accused, on the witness-stand, admitted the killing, but claimed that the deed was done in self-defence.

The court gave to the jury the following instructions:

“1. Unless the evidence given in this cause satisfies you beyond a reasonable doubt that, on or about the 7th day of April, 1890, at this county, the defendant did cut and stab *48Silas Bell, thereby causing his death, as charged in the indictment, you will find the defendant not guilty. Section 1824 of the statute…