Document: 368 U.S. 487 82 S.Ct. 510 7 L.Ed.2d 473 John MACHIBRODA, Petitioner,v.UNITED STATES. No. 69. Argued Dec. 5, 1961. Decided Feb. 19, 1962. Curtis R. Reitz, Philadelphia, Pa., for the petitioner. Mrs. Julia P. Cooper, Washington, D.C., respondent. Mr. Justice STEWART delivered opinion of Court. 1 In 1956 two informations were filed in United States District Court Northern Ohio charging petitioner with having robbed banks Waterville, Ohio, and Forest, Ohio. Represented by counsel his own choice, waived indictment pleaded guilty to both charges. Sentence was deferred pending a presentence investigation, interim appeared as defense witness at jury trial Marvin Breaton, charged participation Waterville bank robbery. At that testified he had bank, but denied Breaton been him. convicted jury. Three weeks later before Judge sentencing. During course proceedings judge inquired if any statement make, did not direct similar inquiry personally. The court imposed sentence twenty-five years imprisonment on first information fifteen second, sentences run consecutively. 2 1959 instituted present litigation filing sentencing motion under 28 U.S.C. § 2255, U.S.C.A. vacate set aside serving. alleged three grounds upon which it claimed relief should be granted: petitioner's pleas voluntary, induced promises made Assistant Attorney charge prosecution; violation Rule 11 Federal Rules Criminal Procedure, 18 accepted without determining they voluntarily; 32(a) Procedure defendant wished speak behalf imposed. hearing, 184 F.Supp. 881. Appeals affirmed, per curiam, 6 Cir., 280 F.2d 379. We granted certiorari consider seemingly significant questions scope 365 842, 81 806, 5 808. I. 3 For reasons stated Hill v. States, 424, 468, 417, we hold failure specifically inquire time whether personally make is itself an error can raised 2255 or 35 Procedure. II. 4 support claim involuntarily made, supporting affidavit out detailed factual allegations. Specifically, separate occasions, identified place, promised would receive total prison more than twenty informations. These said have authority agreeable Judge. It cautioned tell lawyer about conversations. further when threatened advise what transpired, told him 'insisted making scene,' certain unsettled matters concerning other robberies added difficulties. Finally, written letters General 'relative misrepresentations' Attorney, received no reply.1 Government memorandum opposition motion, attaching Attorney. emphatically coercion respect guilty, admit conversation county jail day Breaton's trial, given last opportunity truth court, sentencing, might well take into consideration refusal talk. Without hearing determined allegations agreement false. noted never either referred petitioner, letter purportedly from six months after mention agreement, simply requested concurrent, rather consecutive. complained request reduction within sixty days instead, waited almost half file motion. There doubt that, contained are true, entitled vacated. A plea, threats deprive character voluntary act, void. conviction based such plea open collateral attack. See Walker Johnston, 312 275, 61 574, 85 L.Ed. 830; Waley 316 101, 62 964, 86 1302; Shelton 356 26, 78 563, 579, reversing, 246 571.2 'A differs purpose effect mere admission extrajudicial confession; conviction. Like verdict conclusive. More required; has nothing do give judgment sentence. Out just persons accused crime, courts careful shall unless voluntarily proper advice full understanding consequences.' Kercheval 274 220, 223, 47 582, 583, 71 1009. 8 recognized 'charges between former serious,' 'this their falsity require hearing.' determined, however, combination inferences already mentioned 'conclusively indicates defendant's allegations.' 883. 9 think proceed conformity provisions findings controverted issues fact notice hearing. Hayman, 342 205, 72 263, 96 232. statute requires 'grant prompt hearing' filed, 'determine conclusions law thereto' 'the files records case conclusively show prisoner relief.'3 This where 'files records' court. affidavit, put issue Government's response, related primarily purported occurrences outside courtroom record could, therefore, cast real light. Nor circumstances kind could completely resolve drawing personal knowledge recollection. 10 cannot agree this futile because apparent lack eyewitnesses alleged, himself contain charges specific. unreasonable suppose many material corroborated disproved visitors' confined, mail penitentiary sent, sources. 'Not pleadings affidavits, whole testimony, must carried burden proof shown right discharge. contention improbable unbelievable serve deny them evidence. On heard.' 287, 579. What imply movant always allowed appear district does expressly belie claim, matter how vague, conclusory, palpably incredible may be. language strip all discretion exercise common sense. Indeed, recognizes there times facts fully investigated requiring presence prisoner.4 Whether petition appropriately disposed question resolved 12 will marginal cases, far line. But specific assertions while improbable, juncture incredible. If clearly relief. Accordingly, function served only affording its require. 13 Vacated remanded. 14 Chief Justice, BLACK, DOUGLAS BRENNAN concur Court's except Part I, dissent 430, 472. 15 CLARK, whom FRANKFURTER HARLAN join, dissenting. 16 awards robber serving Alcatraz, admits 'not line' marking those applications ordinarily deny. decision below, destruction it. experienced judge, who very beginning, found false leniency. application dismissed exact compliance section. affirmed dismissal. now rejects drawn below substitutes finding these materials story necessary go discover matter. With conclusion I agree.1 represents due deference lower unwarranted restriction summary disposition provision 2255. invitation prisoners, seeking sojourn keepers, swear 'Munchausen' tales self-interest readily leads self-deception applications. Once goes rounds our prisons, likely plagued rash spurious applications.2 17 shows previously armed robbery, participated four point sawed-off shotgun netted over $169,000. After robberies, State Savings Bank, escaped Canada. He arrested waiver extradition returned An one robbery Bank. Both signed waivers week another against alone First National Bank Forest. Petitioner, accompanied throughout, again indictment, called report, jail. pleading pursuant subpoena codefendant Breaton. admitted committed anywise connected person, presently unknown him, picked up bar Canada accomplice. driven together insisted know accomplice's name describe witnesses disbelieved guilty. Shortly thereafter same presided 40 years, 25 Forest 19 claiming superior implied consent 20 received, return second each case. contacted local twice once immediately afterwards. latter occasion reassure reduced 60 days. contested denying examination reveals outspoke himself. deal borders sit quietly onehalf prosecutor reneged promise.3 To my mind preposterous trade allegedly serious charges, attorney 'possibility being filed' indicated clear intention waive 'both informations' plead least one. Moreover, criminals judges, prosecutors, control sentences. Petitioner says 'implied' judge. Certainly sufficient so pledge alleges exacted silence reference include Despite even though occasions subsequent 'deal,' nor asked conference camera. inconceivable credence leniency hardened criminal performed favorable codefendant. Prosecutors deals, all, testimony prosecutions, destroy them. 21 addition light records, inconsistent therewith. explain tardiness formal relief, several previous informal attempts prod fulfilling obligations. Yet protest supposedly sent departmental routine deposited received. barren contains failed perform bargain. letter, remotely suggest merely sought repentance. Then, course, entered action taken. 22 say dispatched leaves dismissal exception meaningless.4 As pointed Government, means 'that number hearings held motions Section limited imagination ingenuity prisoners involved.' ingenious deliberately bait claims beyond independent disproof then demand brought known records. 'supposes' 'many sources.' available, doubt,5 avenues explored permitting trip town.6 Why ask response regard, often do, ordering attendant expense hazards. implies required sufficiently 'vague, incredible.' Although case, submit remand develops mailed visit claimed, rationale summoned court.7 23 Alcatraz maximum security institution housing dangerous incorrigibles, wants change scenery. left door ajar California along accompanying follows: 'John Machibroda, duly sworn according deposes 'Motion Vacate sentence' thereof: '1. That affiant interviewed County Jail February 21, 1956, Clarence M. Condon represented prosecution Banks. (Later designated Cases 10345 10348). interview took place situated Toledo, '2. Affiant amount Nos. 10348. '3. no. 10348 cases impose excess (20) Case ten (10) ordered concurrently term 10345. '4. assurance heretofore paragraph 3, above, agreed cases.* (This 1956.) * 'At '5. instructed Schuchmann, cases. '6. refrain advising Schuchmann interviews reached government Condon, waiver, '7. 24, acting representations '8. '9. May 22, informed Affiant's unfavorable co-defendant vexed some difficulty regards year '10. admonished tried warn during shortly sentence.** ** 'The words used transcript Ferris '11. ever represent anyone else testify way co-defendant. promise predicated solely '12. became agitated hotly going agreement. '13. assured event himself, move (60) portion years; worry kept mouth shut; hand, scene making, Trotwood Canal Fulton Banks '14. 23, sentenced Honorable Frank L. Kloeb (25) (15) '15. reason soon 'cooled off' promised. '16. few hours sentence, Penitentiary, Leavenworth, Kansas. '17. date. '18. wrote (2) relative misrepresentations Condon. posted official prisoner's box reply '19. experience officials authorities representing Canadian honor commitments. believe Courts otherwise. His naivete cost extra prison.' also Daniel 107 U.S.App.D.C. 110, 768; Teller 263 871; Watson 104 321, 262 33; Euziere 249 293; Motley 230 110; Paglia, 190 445. Title Code, provides part: 'Unless cause thereof attorney, grant thereon, determine thereto. finds rendered jurisdiction, authorized otherwise attack, denial infringement constitutional rights render vulnerable discharge resentence new correct appropriate.' provides, entertain production opinion. steadily increase. fiscal 1961 saw high 560 section, increase 15% year. frivolous nature less 3% Courts. factor considered summarily application, see Lowe, 173 346 (C.A.2d Cir. 1949). evaluating weight accorded recollection E.g., Dario Sanchez 256 73 (C.A.1st 1958). observed guilt sentenced. listened blatant lies prisons keep actually out, every dropped mailbox. Jails likewise visitors necessarily police investigators regularly. argued visitor mailing part case' meaning therefore examined necessary. that:

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