Opinion ID: 1512722
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Pro Se Contentions of Appellant

Text: Appellant  not by his counsel  presents the following additional arguments as to why the judgments should be reversed: (a) Appellant was not represented by counsel at the preliminary hearing or at the arraignment; (b) Contradictory statements were made by two state witnesses while testifying; (c) Evidence was suppressed by the State. (a) Appellant says he did not have counsel at the preliminary hearing. The record is silent on this point, and the question was not raised in the trial court. Maryland Rule 885. Ordinarily under the Maryland practice this is not a crucial stage of the prosecution requiring the advice of counsel when pleas of not guilty are entered and no incriminating statements are made or used at the subequent trial of the case. Thus, on the record before us, this allegation would appear to fall within the pattern of Arrington v. Warden, 232 Md. 672, 195 A.2d 38. Appellant's complaint that he did not have counsel at the time of arraignment is not supported by the record, which plainly shows that his counsel who had previously been appointed was present and answered for the appellant when he first pleaded to the indictment. (b) Appellant next contends that contradictory estimates of the distance between the appellant and two witnesses at the time he was first observed by the police officer were made during the trial by the police officer and Mr. Carrington. Under our procedure the trier of the facts determines which of two contradictory statements of witnesses was to be believed, if it became necessary to accurately determine this apparently trivial detail as to distance. (c) Lastly, appellant says that since there was another witness on the scene when he and Solomon were apprehended by the police officer, this witness should have been called to testify. The State's Attorney is not required to call all possible witnesses having some relevant knowledge about the occurrence, and the existence of this witness was well known to appellant. In any event the question was not raised in the trial court. Maryland Rule 885. Judgments under Indictment No. 1 charging grand larceny of Walter Hall check, and under Indictment No. 2 charging petty larceny of Clara Hall check reversed and new trial ordered. Judgment under Indictment No. 3 charging petty larceny of Blumberg check affirmed.