The PEOPLE v. Scott

Defendant was sentenced by the circuit court of Coles County to fifty years imprisonment on his plea of guilty to murder. Reversal is sought by defendant, appearing pro se, on the basis of an arrest without a warrant, subsequent illegal detention and lack of counsel prior to arraignment, the total effect of which is said to constitute a denial of due process.

On June 5, 1959, Thomas Jesse Shanks was murdered during an attempted burglary, and Earl' William Hanson, Billie Dean Pethtel and defendant were indicted therefor on June 19, 1959. Upon arraignment and in reply to questioning by the…