Charles N. Johnstone v. Harold R. Swenson, Warden Missouri State Penitentiary

After a full evidentiary hearing, the District Court found against appellant (a Missouri prisoner) on his habeas corpus contentions and denied his petition for a federal writ.

The Court made appointment of counsel to represent appellant; required the Warden of the Missouri State Penitentiary to have appellant present, both at a pretrial conference and throughout the final hearing; gave appellant liberal range in his testimony; and beyond the advocacy of his counsel permitted appellant to engage in personal statement.

Appellant’s conviction was one occurring in 1956 for the offense under §§…