Crenshaw v. State

Per Curiam. To indictments for disturbing the peace and attempted bribery, James Matthews Crenshaw (the defendant), who was represented at the trial by court-appointed counsel, plead not guilty. He was convicted of both offenses and was fined $25 and costs on the disorderly charge and sentenced to five years in the Penitentiary on the attempt charge. The trial court, however, suspended the fine and sentences upon condition that the defendant leave the State and not return within five years.

The defendant left the State as required and went to Virginia, but when he could not find employment there or in Philadelphia, he returned to Maryland. Within less than six ⁵³⁵ months he was convicted of petty larceny and was sentenced to thirty days in the Baltimore City Jail. While he was incarcerated in jail he was arrested on a bench warrant for violating the conditional suspension of sentence imposed for attempted bribery. At the hearing on the bench warrant the defendant plead guilty when he was informed of the charge but was heard fully.

The trial court revoked the “probation” and directed that the five-year sentence for attempted bribery should begin to run concurrently with the thirty-day jail sentence he was then serving. The defendant made no request for appointment of counsel to represent him and none was appointed; nor was his trial counsel given notice of