Opinion ID: 1688754
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Keeton v. State, 132 Miss. 732, 96 So. 179 (1923)

Text: The defendant was convicted of rape, for which he was indicted jointly with two others, and was tried separately. The evidence of the appellants' alleged victim, if true [was] of such character as to inflame the mind and make it exceedingly difficult for the average person to try the case calmly and dispassionately. 96 So. at 179. Upon arrest, a crowd assembled at the jail, with the intention of mobbing them, but were dissuaded from doing so by the county attorney and others by promises of a speedy disposition of the case. In conjunction with the change of venue motion, a number of witnesses were examined. The testimony made it clear that the charge against the defendants was known throughout the judicial district and had caused considerable excitement. The consensus of opinion was that appellant was guilty. Each trial was attended by an excited crowd which packed the courtroom to capacity.