Mo. Rev. Stat. § 547.290: Supreme court shall direct execution of sentence, when.

When the appeal is taken, or the writ of error is sued out by the party indicted, if the supreme court affirm the judgment of the court below it shall direct the sentence pronounced to be executed, and the same shall be executed accordingly; if the judgment be reversed, the supreme court shall direct a new trial, or that defendant be absolutely discharged, according to the circumstances of the case.