Wilson v. Warden of Maryland House of Correction

⁶⁶⁰ Collins, J., delivered the opinion of the Court. This is an application for leave to appeal from the denial of a writ of habeas corpus by Judge Charles C. Marbury of Prince George’s County, Maryland, on January 17, 1956. The petitioner here pleaded guilty in the Circuit Court for Harford County on December 1, 1954, of forgery and was given a sentence of two years in the Maryland House of Correction. This sentence was suspended on condition that he remain out of Harford County for two years.

He left Harford County on December 2, 1954, but returned there that same evening. On December 8, 1954, he was shot with a shotgun and was confined in the hospital at Bel Air until January 3, 1955. On that date he was arrested for violation of his parole and was confined in jail from January 3rd to January 13th. On that day the suspension of sentence was revoked by Judge Day and he was committed to the Maryland House of Correction on January 14, 1955, on the sentence imposed December 1, 1954.

He escaped on August 7, 1955, was returned to the House of Correction on November 3, 1955, and was given an additional sentence of six months. The petitioner contends that he was not represented by counsel of his own choice nor did the court appoint counsel to represent him; that he was too ignorant and too inexperienced to properly present his own defense. He admits, however, that prior to 1940 he was twice charged with other criminal offenses and in both instances he was not represented by counsel and pleaded guilty. He also admits that at his trial on December 1, 1954, in Harford County, he did not request that counsel be provided for him because he intended to plead guilty to the charge of forgery.

He claims that failure to have counsel resulted in the lack