Thomas v. Purcell

In October 1957 petitioner was charged in the Winneshiek District Court with larceny of a motor vehicle and with breaking and entering in the nighttime. To these charges he entered pleas of guilty and was sentenced to concurrent terms of not to exceed ten years in the State Penitentiary. Shortly thereafter he was transferred to the insane ward at the Men’s Reformatory, under the provisions of section 246.16, Code of 1954, where he is now confined. By habeas corpus proceedings he seeks to nullify these convictions. The trial court dismissed his petition and he appeals.

The basis of the action…