Smith v. Mayo

The petitioner, John S. Smith, filed his letter dated January 17, 1953, addressed to the Chief Justice of this Court, questioning the legality of the life sentence imposed by the Criminal Court of Record for Polk County, Florida, on October 5, 1943. The information charged that petitioner had been convicted of four felonies and was therefore a violator of the Habitual Criminal Statute, Section 775.10, Florida Statutes 1941, F.S.A.

The letter-petition was then referred to the Attorney General of the State of Florida, who, having investigated, reported that two of said four sentences were…