United States Ex Rel. Jennings v. Ragen, 358 U.S. 276 (1959)

United States ex rel. Jennings v. Ragen


No. 185, Misc


Decided January 12, 1959
358 U.S. 276

ON PETITION FOR WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES
COURT OF APPEALS OR THE SEVENTH CIRCUIT

Syllabus

While confined under sentence of an Illinois court following his conviction of armed robbery, petitioner sought a writ of habeas corpus from a Federal District Court, claiming that a confession coerced by physical mistreatment by police officers had been introduced into evidence at his trial. Relying on facts and conclusions stated in an opinion of the State Supreme Court, and without making an examination of the record of the proceedings in the state courts, the District Court dismissed the application without a hearing.

Held: it erred in doing so. Pp. 276-277.

Judgment vacated and cause remanded to District Court for further proceedings.