Purcell v. State

BELCHER, Commissioner.

The conviction is for murder with malice; the punishment, death.

The testimony of the state shows that the appellant committed a cruel and brutal murder by beating Mrs. W. T. Fortner, the mother of his deceased wife, on the face and head with a vase. Appellant’s voluntary written statement made and signed on the day of the killing was introduced in evidence by the-state without objection and it shows an atrocious killing without justification.

Appellant did not testify but called numerous witnesses including a medical doctor and a psychiatrist whose testimony supports his…