James Williams v. Vernon L. Peppersack, Warden, Maryland Penitentiary

This is an appeal in a habeas corpus proceeding by a prisoner serving a sentence of imprisonment under the judgment of a Maryland state court. Appellant was charged in the state court with a capital felony and was represented by counsel. In the course of his trial counsel withdrew his plea of not guilty and entered a plea of guilty, upon which a sentence of life imprisonment was entered. This plea appellant now says was entered without his consent, although it was entered in his presence and for the evident purpose of saving him from the death penalty. Before proceedings were instituted in…