Ambrose Yesterday v. United States

In 1936 petitioner was indicted for first-degree murder under 18 U.S.C. § 548 (1934 ed.), pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of second-degree murder, and was sentenced to forty years’ imprisonment. In 1969 he filed a motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 alleging that his plea was not made with a full understanding of the nature of the charge and the possible consequences of the plea. The district court held an evidentiary hearing. The records of petitioner’s arraignment, plea, and sentencing were introduced, and testimony was received from the only two surviving participants in the proceedings —…