The PEOPLE v. Farmer

Rudolphus Farmer was convicted of murder in 1959 and sentenced to the penitentiary for a term of 25 years. We reviewed and affirmed his conviction in People v. Farmer, 28 Ill.2d 521. Six months later he filed a petition under the Post-Conviction Act in the circuit court of Cook County alleging his counsel had not properly represented him during his trial because he failed to question a People’s witness concerning allegedly conflicting statements made by the witness at the trial and at the inquest. The court dismissed this petition on the People’s motion.

It is argued that the court erred in…