Parker v. Warden of Maryland Penitentiary

Prescott, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. Everett E. Parker ápplies for leave to appeal from his denial of a writ of habeas corpus by Judge Digges in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County. He pleaded guilty to the crime of manslaughter before Judge Michaelson in the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County and was sentenced to ten years’ confinement in the Maryland House of Correction. ⁶³⁴ The grounds that he asserts for the issuance of the writ are many, but may be summarized as follows: (a) that applicant was denied the right to see his family or consult with his attorney; (b) that he was denied the right to see an attorney while being held without charge; (c) that applicant was questioned two days and two nights without sleep, and was forced by the police to sign a confession; (d) that the police told applicant’s witnesses not to testify on his behalf, and told them not to appear in court; (e) that the police, did not advise applicant of his constitutional rights while questioning him for two days; (f) that the trial court denied applicant the right to testify in his own behalf; (g) that the “State Lawyer” entered a plea of guilty to manslaughter without applicant’s consent, although applicant had informed the attorney that he acted in self-defense; (h) that the “State Lawyer” and the trial court denied applicant a jury trial as requested by applicant; (i) that the trial court failed to inform applicant of his rights under the Maryland Declaration of Rights, Articles 21, 22, and 23, and the 5th, 6th and 14th Amendments, to the Federal Constitution. (a) and (b).

These complaints are obviously unsound here. The record discloses that the petitioner pleaded guilty and was before the trial judge at the time of his arraignment and when he was sentenced. He failed, however, to bring any such