The People v. Nelson

After a bench trial in the criminal court of Cook County, Odell Nelson was found guilty of armed robbery. The court imposed a sentence of twenty years to life. Defendant has sued out this writ of error, arguing that his waiver of a jury trial was not understandingly made; and that a fatal variance exists between the victim’s name as alleged in the indictment and the name as shown by the proof.

Evidence on behalf of the State discloses that on April 12, 1957, at about 5 A.M. one Salvador Verdusco arrived at his place of employment, the Miller Foundry Company in Chicago. When he went to the…