Near v. Commonwealth

On December 12, 1958, Clyde Raymond Near, sometimes hereinafter referred to as defendant, was indicted for the murder of Barry Steele Chapman. On January 6, 1959, the trial court, before accepting any plea of the accused, appointed Robert Randolph Jones, a competent attorney at law, to defend him.

Upon the recommendation of a physician, the trial court committed Near to the Southwestern State Hospital for observation and report as to his mental condition. On receipt of the report from the hospital that Near was mentally competent and capable of standing trial on the charges pending against…