Thomas Townsend and Roosevelt Terry v. Lynn Bomar, Warden

Defendants, inmates of the State penitentiary at Fort Pillow State Farm, were convicted by a jury in a state court for open rebellion with intent to kill and escape, and were sentenced to life imprisonment by the jury’s conviction.

Counsel for the defendants were appointed on the day of the trial in a state, which by statute, gives two days minimum for preparation of defense. 1

The alleged offense occurred on the first of July, 1958. Following indictment on October 7, 1958, the circuit court of Lauderdale County on October 9, 1958 arraigned the defendants, appointed separate counsel for each…