Gunther v. United States

BAZELON, Circuit Judge.

Appellant was indicted for rape and entered a plea of not guilty. Before trial was begun, proceedings were instituted upon motion of the United States Attorney for a “judicial determination of [the] mental competency” of appellant pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 4244. 1 Following the psychiatric examination required by this section, two psychiatrists reported that appellant was of unsound mind, suffering from dementia praecox. Hearings were held and the court, on April 22, 1952, found appellant unable to understand “the nature of the charges against him or properly to assist in…