Key v. State

HAWKINS, Presiding Judge.

Appellant was convicted of the murder of Paul Gatewood, and his punishment assessed at 10 years in the penitentiary. Both parties were negroes.

The killing occurred at Gatewood’s house, and was the aftermath of a “crap” (dice) game. The State’s evidence in the main came from Lizzie Akers who was Gatewood’s paramour with whom she had been living for some five years. Her testimony was that Key came to the house between one and two o’clock at night, waked up her and Gatewood and insisted on Gatewood shooting dice. Gatewood won some money from Key and the latter then put…