People v. Leadley

This is an appeal from the order of the circuit court of Stark County denying petitioner’s pro se petition for post-conviction relief without a hearing on the merits.

On November 18, 1958, petitioner, Merlin Ward Leadley, pleaded guilty to one count of murder and was sentenced to 99 years in the penitentiary. On August 7, 1962, petitioner filed a pro se petition under the Post-Conviction Hearing Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1957, ch. 38, par. 826) and although the record as originally filed did not so indicate, counsel was appointed to represent petitioner in that proceeding. The State moved to…