United States ex rel. Wilson v. Ryan
United States ex rel. Wilson v. Ryan
Opinion of the Court
This is a petition for a writ of 'habeas corpus. The petitioner is now in the custody of the Warden of the City Prison, Bronx, New York, by virtue of a rendition warrant issued by the Acting Governor of New York. This was issued on demand of the Governor of South 'Carolina, from which state the petitioner had escaped while serving a life sentence for murder. He asserts that he was denied due process at the time of his conviction, thus rendering illegal all subsequent proceedings, including the rendition warrant of New York’s Executive under which he is now held in custody. He further asserts that while in custody in South Carolina he was, and if returned there will again be, subjected to cruel and inhuman punishment.
After his arrest in New York he sought release by 'habeas corpus in the New York Supreme Court on the identical grounds urged here. The writ was dismissed after a hearing. The Appellate Division, First Department, 276 App.Div. 891, 94 N.Y.S.2d 195, unanimously affirmed without opinion. Judge Fuld of the 'Court of Appeals denied a stay pending application for leave to appeal to that court. Justice Jackson denied a stay pending application for leave to appeal to the New York Court of Appeals and application for certiorari to the United States Supreme Court. The petition to this court followed. Full argument was heard, but no hearing was held because petitioner’s counsel, who had represented him in the state court, advised this court at the end of his argument that the petitioner would rest on the record on appeal from the state court’s decision. This record was made part of the return to the writ. It consists of 153 printed pages.
From the record and petition the following appears. Wilson admits that on September 4, 1941, in South Carolina, he shot one Paul Rivers, who died as a result three days later. He was arrested on September 5. On September 8, the day after Rivers died, Wilson was arraigned. Of the arraignment he says “I couldn’t say nothing at the hearing and I didn’t have no lawyer to say nothing.”
It is not possible to tell from the South Carolina transcript whether in fact Wilson had counsel or not. It appears to be a printed form with no place to insert names of counsel if any did appear. Wilson now claims he had none. He has not claimed, however, that he was refused counsel or that he was not adequately advised of his right to have counsel if he desired. Judge McGeehan in the New York Supreme Court did not make a specific finding on this point, but it is undoubtedly included in his general finding that Wilson “failed to establish an adequate and sufficient basis to grant the relief sought from this court in New York State.”
Justice McGeehan has had a long and distinguished career on the New York Supreme Court. He accorded this petitioner a full and fair hearing. Indeed, no contrary claim is made. There is no basis whatever to justify different findings by this court on the record made before Justice McGeehan.
The writ is dismissed.
. This is hereafter referred to as “Record.”
. R. p. 34 fol. 101.
. R. pp. 151-154.
. R. p. 35 fol. 103-4. He said that during an altercation with Rivers, Willie Smith had put “his gun in my hand.” R. p. 33 fol. 98 and p. 36 fol. 107.
. R. p. 155 fol. 464-5.
. South Carolina Criminal Code 1942, § 1102.
. R. p. 156 fol. 466.
. R. p. 157 fol. 470.
. R. p. 21 fol. 61.
. R. p. 157 fol. 470.
. United States ex rel. Jackson v. Ruthazer, 2 Cir., 181 F.2d 588.
. 2 Cir., 183 F.2d 742.
. 201 S.C. 403, 23 S.E.2d 387.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- UNITED STATES ex rel. WILSON v. RYAN
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- Published