James C. Kesel v. Curtis Reid, Superintendent, District of Columbia Jail

James C. Kesel entered a plea of guilty in August, 1949, to two charges of robbery, and was sentenced to consecutive terms of three to nine years under one indictment and five to fifteen years under the other. On January 20, 1950, he filed a motion to grant a new trial or to vacate and set aside the judgment. In support, he alleged he was wrongfully sentenced without counsel and without being advised of his right to counsel. He also alleged he had “signed a paper asking for an attorney at the District Jail.” After a hearing in which it developed that at the time of the plea the court’s offer…