People v. Williams

An indictment returned in the circuit court of Madison County charged plaintiff in error with the crime of murder. He was held without bail and ten days later was taken before the court for arraignment and plea. He was furnished with a copy of the indictment and list of "the witnesses and jurors. The same day he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to the penitentiary for life. The record does not disclose that there was compliance with section 4 of division XIII of the Criminal Code, (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1947, chap. 38, par. 732,) which provides that the court hear evidence in aggravation and…