Opinion ID: 1688754
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 12

Heading: Saffold v. State, 76 Miss. 258, 24 So. 314 (1898)

Text: Defendant was indicted for murder. Change of venue was denied. He was convicted of manslaughter. Twenty-five (25) witnesses testified that by reason of prejudgment in the case or ill will toward the defendant, he could not obtain a fair trial. The State offered twenty (20) witnesses, some of whom had formed opinions as to the guilt of the accused. The defendant was a stranger in the county. The victim was the local postmaster. His family connections were numerous, prominent and influential. One of the jurors was related to the victim, but did not know it. Another juror's wife was related to the deceased. There was threatened mob violence at the jail, caused by intense public feeling adverse to the appellant.