Johnny Crawford v. Dr. George J. Beto, Director, Texas Department of Corrections

Appellant, a state prisoner, bases his petition for habeas corpus on the fact that he sought to appeal and did appeal his state court conviction but without the aid of counsel. He was represented by retained counsel at his trial and through a motion for new trial. He requested the trial court to appoint counsel to represent him on the appeal but his request was denied. It appears that he appealed his own case, preparing the appellate brief with the help of a fellow prison inmate. His conviction was affirmed on appeal. Crawford v. State of Texas, 162 Tex.Cr.R. 95, 282 S.W.2d 222 (1955).

Appellan…