Opinion
[H.C. No. 1, September Term, 1958.]
Decided October 23, 1958.
HABEAS CORPUS — Witnesses — Denial of Right to Produce. The contention that there was a denial of the right to produce a witness, even if true, is no basis for granting a writ of habeas corpus. p. 632
CRIMINAL LAW — Trial by Court — Customary and Approved in Maryland When Accused Elects. Trial by the court in criminal cases, including capital cases, at the election of the accused, is a customary and approved procedure in Maryland. In the instant habeas corpus proceeding petitioner's attorney had asked for trial by the court. p. 632
HABEAS CORPUS — Evidence — Weight and Sufficiency of. Questions as to the weight and sufficiency of the evidence are not reviewable on habeas corpus. p. 632
J.E.B.
Decided October 23, 1958.
Habeas corpus proceeding by James O. Ellis against the Warden of the Maryland Penitentiary. From a refusal of the writ, petitioner applied for leave to appeal.
Application denied, with costs.
Before BRUNE, C.J., and HENDERSON, HAMMOND, PRESCOTT and HORNEY, JJ.
This is an application by James O. Ellis for leave to appeal from the denial of a writ of habeas corpus. Petitioner was convicted by the Criminal Court of Baltimore on November 6, 1951, of robbery with a deadly weapon and larceny of an automobile. He was sentenced to fifteen years in the penitentiary on the former charge, and five years on the latter, to be served concurrently. This is his seventh application for a writ.
In essence the principal allegations of the petitioner are threefold: (a) he was not permitted to summon witnesses; (b) a jury trial is mandatory in felony cases; and (c) there was no proof that a weapon was used in the crime.
Although the petitioner states he "was not allowed the opportunity to contact" witnesses, he does not allege that he requested the issuance of summons and that this request was denied, or that he protested their absence to the trial judge. The contention that there was a denial of the right to produce a witness, even if true, does not constitute a basis for granting a writ of habeas corpus. Snyder v. Warden, 214 Md. 606; Legrand v. Warden, 205 Md. 662.
The petitioner does not allege that he requested a jury trial. Indeed the record shows a trial by the court was asked by his attorney. Trial by the court in criminal cases, including capital cases, at the election of the accused, is a customary and approved procedure in Maryland. Byrd v. Warden, 210 Md. 662, certiorari denied 352 U.S. 932; Grammer v. State, 203 Md. 200, certiorari denied 347 U.S. 938.
The contention that there was no proof of the use of a weapon is an attempt by the petitioner to gain a new trial and relitigate the issues under the guise of a petition for a writ of habeas corpus. Questions as to the weight and sufficiency of evidence are not reviewable on habeas corpus. Smith v. Warden, 214 Md. 666, 667; Ford v. Warden, 214 Md. 649, 652.
The other contentions the petitioner has raised are unsubstantiated, abstract allegations and, consequently, will not be considered.
Application denied, with costs.