People v. Deloney

Defendant Willie Deloney was charged by information with the murder of Ollie Stillwell. He pleaded not guilty. The jury returned a verdict of murder in the first degree without recommendation. Defendant’s motion for a new trial was denied, and he was sentenced to death. The appeal to this court is automatic. (Pen. Code, § 1239b.)

The killing occurred at about 8 :20 p. m. on February 15, 1953, at Bob’s Barbecue, a café and bar located in the Monte Vista Tract on Crow’s Landing Road, Stanislaus County. Defendant had been in the bar most of the day drinking beer. Stillwell and his wife, Willie…