Pate v. State

The plaintiff in error, Whit Pate, who shall hereinafter be referred to as defendant, was subpoenaed before a Grand Jury in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma; called for the purpose of investigating purported bribery and “pay-offs” in connection with a horse racing bill presented to the Oklahoma Legislature.

Defendant refused to answer questions propounded to him before the Grand Jury on the grounds that the answers would tend to incriminate him. In other words, he claimed his privilege under the Fifth Amendment as it pertains to self-incrimination. The Grand Jury reported this to the District Judge…