The People v. Chapman

Mr. Justice; Murphy

delivered the opinion of the court:

An indictment returned in the criminal court of Cook county in March, 1918, charged plaintiff in error with the crime of murder. He selected his own counsel, was duly arraigned and entered a plea of not guilty. After.a part of the jurors had been qualified for jury service, plaintiff in error made the necessary motions to permit him to withdraw his plea of not guilty and plead guilty. Evidence was heard and a judgment entered committing him to the penitentiary for life. At the March term, 1945, he sued a writ of error out of this court…