State v. Goins

PIAMITER, Justice.

In cause No. 149-978 on the docket of the Criminal District Court for the Parish of Orleans the defendant herein, Thomas Goins, and one Bejamin Mackey, both colored and approximately 18 years of age, were charged jointly in an indictment with the murder of Anthony Meyers on April 1, 1955. That indictment, however, was nolle prosequied when a new Grand Jury, containing Negro members, reindicted them on the same charge.

On the day of the trial on the second indictment, in cause No. 151-611, the state severed as to Benjamin Mackey and proceeded to prosecute Goins alone. The…