Opinion
[H.C. No. 6, October Term, 1953.]
Decided July 2, 1953.
HABEAS CORPUS — Counsel — Deprivation of. A petitioner for a writ of habeas corpus has the burden of showing that for want of counsel an ingredient of unfairness operated actively in the process that resulted in his confinement and where a petitioner did not allege that he requested counsel to be appointed, he was not released. p. 650
EVIDENCE — Code (1951), Art 35, sec. 5 (Bouse Act), Inapplicable To Prosecutions for Violations of Narcotic Laws. Code (1951), Art. 27, § 368, makes Art. 35, § 5 (Bouse Act) inapplicable to prosecutions for narcotic law violations. p. 650
HABEAS CORPUS — Evidence Secured By Illegal Search and Seizure. The fact that evidence used against petitioner was secured by illegal search and seizure cannot be raised on habeas corpus. p. 650
HABEAS CORPUS — Evidence — Sufficiency of. The sufficiency of the evidence to convict cannot be considered on habeas corpus. p. 650
NARCOTIC DRUGS — Violation of Narcotic Laws — Sentence. The maximum sentence for first violations of the narcotic laws is 5 years under Acts of 1951, ch. 466. pp. 650-651
Decided July 2, 1953.
Habeas corpus proceeding by State of Maryland, ex relatione James De Lisle, against Warden of the Maryland Penitentiary. From a refusal of the writ, petitioner applied for leave to appeal.
Application denied.
Before SOBELOFF, C.J., DELAPLAINE, COLLINS, HENDERSON and HAMMOND, JJ.
The petitioner, James De Lisle, was convicted on a charge of violating the narcotic laws and sentenced to serve five years in the Maryland Penitentiary. He is applying for leave to appeal from a denial of the writ of habeas corpus by Judge Manley of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City.
The following complaints are set out by the petitioner: (1) that he was tried and convicted without benefit of counsel; (2) that the evidence used against him was secured by an illegal search and seizure; (3) that the narcotic which he was charged with using had been prescribed by a medical doctor; and (4) that the penalty was in excess of the maximum provided by law.
As to the petitioner not having the "benefit of counsel", it has been held that a petitioner for a writ of habeas corpus has the burden of establishing that for want of counsel "an ingredient of unfairness operated actively in the process that resulted in his confinement". Martucci v. Warden, 202 Md. 648, 96 A.2d 490; Anglin v. Warden, 201 Md. 665, 95 A.2d 89; Knott v. Warden, 200 Md. 658, 90 A.2d 177. Petitioner here does not allege that he requested counsel to be appointed. Anglin v. Warden, supra.
Concerning the use of evidence illegally obtained, Art. 27, Sec. 368 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1951) provides that Art. 35, § 5 of the Code, known as the "Bouse Act", is inapplicable in prosecutions for narcotic laws violations. The point cannot in any event be raised on habeas corpus.
Petitioner's claim that a doctor prescribed the narcotic goes to the question of the sufficiency of the evidence — a matter which cannot be considered on habeas corpus. Carroll v. Warden, 202 Md. 644, 92 A.2d 449; Sykes v. Warden, 201 Md. 662, 93 A.2d 549.
The section cited by petitioner to show that the maximum penalty is three years has been amended. Inasmuch as Chapter 466 of the Acts of 1951 now makes possible a maximum sentence of five years in cases of first violations of the narcotics law, the petitioner's last contention has no merit.
Application denied, with costs.