Application for a Writ of Habeas Corpus of Johnnie v. Rhay

Earl Johnnie was charged with the crime of carnal knowledge of a four-year-old female child. When arraigned before the superior court of Whatcom county, Johnnie waived counsel and entered a plea of guilty; was adjudged guilty; and sentenced to the state penitentiary for life.

Johnnie’s petition for a writ of habeas corpus and the return and answer thereto raised issues of fact which could not be determined by this court from the face of the record; hence, we referred the matter to the trial court. See Rule on Appeal 56 (5), RCW, Vol. 0.

The superior court of Whatcom county found, among other…