Stansifer v. Commonwealth
Stansifer v. Commonwealth
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
There is some conflict in the testimony whether the deceased assaulted the accused before he was shot or not. Two of five persons who were at the saloon at the time Neal was killed by appellant testify substantially that appellant was first assaulted, but only one of them stated that he was struck by deceased. The other witnesses present testify that there was no quarreling, no noise or fighting before the pistol was fired, which was at the time so near deceased as to set his clothes on fire.
But whatever may be the uncertainty about how the difficulty commenced and who commenced it, on account of the darkness of the night and inability of the witness to see distinctly, all who were present testify 'that appellant shot and killed Neal and said immediately after 'the shot, in substance, “I won't let any man strike me twice and not resent it.” Appellant’s explanation completely negatives the idea that he shot the deceased accidentally, and there is no fact proved showing or tending to show that he did not, firing with a pistol so near to his victim as to ignite his clothes, intend to kill.
The facts of this case did not authorize nor justify an instruction as to the law of involuntary manslaughter, and the court did not err in refusing to give it. It is also objected that the court refused to amend an instruction given by adding the words “even to taking of
The judgment must be affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.