Peeples v. Page

1966 OK CR 19, 410 P.2d 888, 1966 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 200
CourtCourt of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma
DecidedFebruary 9, 1966
DocketA-13724
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 1966 OK CR 19 (Peeples v. Page) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Peeples v. Page, 1966 OK CR 19, 410 P.2d 888, 1966 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 200 (Okla. Ct. App. 1966).

Opinion

BRETT, Judge.

This is the result of an original proceeding, wherein the petitioner, Cleo Peeples, #48673, filed his petition, pro se, for a writ of habeas corpus, seeking his release from custody in the State Penitentiary at McAlester.

This court rendered an opinion on November 3, 1965, 407 P.2d 605, which denied the writ prayed for, but exercised the authority provided the court by Senate Bill No. 152, 30th Oklahoma Legislature, and as promulgated by Rule 25 of this Court, in the proper administration of justice. That is authority to inquire into the facts of any criminal matter, after the statutory period for appeal has passed, in an effort to determine whether or not petitioner has received due process of law, as provided for in the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma, and might be entitled to a “post conviction appeal.”

In the opinion found in Peeples v. Page, Okl.Cr., 407 P.2d 605, this court directed the district court of McIntosh County, Oklahoma, to conduct an evidentiary hearing into the facts and circumstances surrounding the trial and conviction of petitioner, Cleo Peeples, when he was convicted for the crime of first degree rape, on December 29, 1947, in McIntosh County; *890 and when he was sentenced to life imprisonment in the State Penitentiary. The purpose for that hearing was to determine whether or not defendant received due process of law in that trial. The district court was directed to transmit a transcript of the proceedings to the clerk of this court, at the conclusion of such hearing.

On December 7, 1965 the Honorable Robert J. Bell, district Judge in and for McIntosh County, conducted the evidentia-ry hearing, and has transmitted the record of proceedings to this court.

It is observed that included with that record is the transcript of the arraignment and trial of this petitioner, properly certified by the court reporter, as it was conducted on December 29, 1947.

At the evidentiary hearing the State was represented by the County Attorney for McIntosh County, Mr. A. O. Webb. The defendant was present in person and was represented by his court appointed counsel, Mr. Marshall Warren of Eufaula, Oklahoma.

Prior to the date of the scheduled hearing, the petitioner wrote a letter to the district judge, bearing date of November 29, 1965, in which he made reference to the scheduled hearing, and which includes the following statement:

“Please be advised that I have filed in the United States District Court For the Eastern District of Oklahoma, a petition for writ of habeas corpus, and praying that court to grant an evi-dentiary hearing upon the facts of this matter. Since the State Court of Criminal Appeals denied my request for habeas corpus in the above referred case, the above mentioned Federal Court now has jurisdiction to decide the issues of this cause. Therefore, any determination had by your court on this matter is without jurisdiction to exercise its power therein, as is the State Court of Criminal Appeals. I am asking that you take judicial notice of this fact before proceeding further in this case.”

When the district judge opened the-hearing, he made certain remarks referring to the order of this court, and at the conclusion thereof he asked petitioner’s counsel, " * * * Mr. Warren, do you have a statement to make before testimony is taken?”

Mr. Warren indicated that he did have a statement to make which is hereinafter repeated, including certain questions and answers between the Judge and the petitioner, as follows:

“Mr. Warren: Your Honor, on the 8th day of November, 1965, I was appointed by this Honorable Court to assist Mr. Peeples in this evidentiary hearing. That day I went to the State Penitentiary at McAlester, Oklahoma and had a conversation with the defendant, Cleo Peeples. I further, on that day, checked jail records at the McAlester county jail, and since that time I have checked the records in. the justice of the peace court of Eu-faula, Oklahoma, the district court records pertaining to this case, the sheriff’s office records of this county, I have interviewed several people with reference to this case, one being by telephone to Mr. Andy Bidwell who was one of the arresting officers — another telephone conversation with a former highway patrolman, Lt. Railey, who lives at Lawton, the people who were officers of this county at that time, and talked to Mr. A. N. Boatman by telephone with reference to this, case, and made what I thought was. a thorough investigation of the facts.
“On talking with Mr. Peeples, it is his. desire at this time not to put on any evidence in his behalf, for fear, and' as the court stated, Mr. Peeples has. filed in the United States Disrict Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma a writ, and he informs me that this court, or the Federal Court, has taken jurisdiction of this. And he feels that any evidence that might be put on here would jeopardize his action *891 there. I would like to request a transcript of this hearing at State or County expense for the defendant Cleo Peeples. We don’t desire to put on any evidence.
"The Court: Is that your view, Mr. Peeples? Do you concur with your attorney on that statement, that you don’t desire to put on any testimony? A. I refuse to answer any questions— I filed a writ.
“The Court: You have heard what Mr. Warren said, though, didn’t you? A. Yes, sir.”

At this point the judge informed the petitioner’s counsel that he might still call any witnesses, if he desired, and proceed to conduct the hearing.

At the outset, it should be said that petitioner has been misinformed concerning the jurisdiction of the district court to conduct the evidentiary hearing; and this court to subsequently consider the findings, and conclusions reached by the district court of McIntosh County, as reflected in the record of such hearing. By the very nature of the directive concerning the evi-dentiary hearing, this court retained jurisdiction over the matter until its duty is fully performed.

As the United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, said, while discussing the “Rule of Comity”, in Strand v. Schmittroth, 251 F.2d 590, 597:

“Where a state court and a court of the United States may each take jurisdiction, the tribunal which first gets it holds it to the exclusion of the other, until its duty is fully performed and the jurisdiction invoked is exhausted; and this rule applied alike to both civil and criminal cases.”

See also Taylor v. Taintor, 16 Wall. 366, 83 U.S. 366, 21 L.Ed. 287.

Quoting further from the dictum found in the Strand case, supra, the court said:

“The consent of the accused is of no consequence. His acquiescence, approval or resistance cannot affect the choice of the forum. Plis consent while in physical custody of another sovereign cannot confer jurisdiction upon any tribunal.

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Related

Padie v. State
594 P.2d 50 (Alaska Supreme Court, 1979)
Jenkins v. State
1972 OK CR 225 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1972)
Clanton v. State
1968 OK CR 197 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1968)
Goodwin v. Page
1968 OK CR 148 (Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma, 1968)

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Bluebook (online)
1966 OK CR 19, 410 P.2d 888, 1966 Okla. Crim. App. LEXIS 200, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/peeples-v-page-oklacrimapp-1966.