Courson v. State

George Courson and Soloman Higginbotham were jointly indicted in Duval County for murder in the first degree. A joint trial resulted in a verdict of guilty of manslaughter against Courson who was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment in State prison. Higginbotham, tried at the same time on -the same evidence, was acquitted.

Courson was captain of a State convict camp. The State’s contention, under its evidence, was that a convict in Courson’s camp by the name of Arthur Maillefert, was killed through culpable negligence of Courson, the captain, and of Higginbotham, a convict guard, while…