People v. Mendez

Defendant was convicted of first degree murder on his plea of guilty and sentenced to pay the extreme penalty. This appeal is automatic pursuant to section 1239 (b) of the Penal Code.

The information charged that the defendant, “on or about the 11th day of July, 1944, at and in the County of Los Angeles, State of California, did willfully, unlawfully and feloniously, and with malice aforethought, murder one Maude Pearl Farrington, a human being.” At his arraignment the defendant appeared without counsel and the public defender was appointed to represent him. Thereupon a plea of “not guilty”…