United States of America Ex Rel. William Hayward v. Robert L. Johnson, Superintendent State Correctional Institution, Graterford, Pennsylvania

OPINION OF THE COURT

JAMES HUNTER, III, Circuit Judge:

This case, an appeal from an order denying habeas corpus relief, presents us with one of the most difficult tasks in the law: that of determining whether a confession obtained after custodial police interrogation was voluntary.

Appellant William Hayward, a seventeen-year old drug addict with a tenth grade level of education, was indicted for murder, aggravated robbery and conspiracy for his alleged role in the death of a Mr. William Smith. Prior to the start of his trial, Judge Joseph L. McGlynn, Jr., of the Pennsylvania Court of Common…