Lanier v. State

The defendant and his wife were jointly indicted for the murder of their new-born babe. The defendant was separately tried and convicted, with a recommendation to mercy. The baby lived for an hour or two. The defendant contended that the baby died from natural causes, and the prosecuthm contended that death was produced by external violence. The manner of producing death, as charged in the indictment, was “by choking, strangling, and by beating and striking said baby boy with a certain instrument to the grand jurors unknown.” At the time of the infant’s death no one was present except one or…