Traynham v. Warden of Maryland Penitentiary

This is an application by Howard Traynham for leave to appeal from the denial of a writ of habeas corpus. He pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to a charge of arson and was convicted and sentenced by the Criminal Court of Baltimore City to twenty years on each of two counts to run concurrently.

Petitioner contends that he was denied a fair and impartial trial because the attorney appointed for him had him sign a paper without explaining the contents thereof and the attorney later wrote to petitioner at the Maryland Penitentiary and stated that he was not taking an appeal “which would…