People v. Maughs

Defendant, charged with the murder of one Charles Zander, was found guilty and the death penalty imposed. He appeals from the judgment and from the order denying his motion for a new trial.

Zander and B. E. Cole were working a ranch in partnership. Defendant, a man between fifty-five and sixty years of age, was in their employ as a “handy man,” to cook, take care of the chickens, mend fences, and do other “odd jobs.” The two partners, upon the morning of the homicide, had ridden out from the ranch to look after and repair the fences, leaving defendant alone at the ranch-house. At about eleven…