Document: 356 U.S. 390 78 S.Ct. 885 2 L.Ed.2d 863 Arthur THOMAS, Petitioner,v.STATE OF ARIZONA. No. 88. Argued March 4, 5, 1958. Decided May 19, Rehearing Denied June 30, See 357 944, 1379. Mr. W. Edward Morgan, Tucson, Ariz., for the petitioner. Wesley E. Polley, Phoenix, and John G. Pidgeon, Bisbee, respondent. Justice CLARK delivered opinion of Court. 1 Petitioner has been convicted first degree murder sentenced to death by an Arizona court killing one Janie Miscovich. He asks this Court reverse his conviction on ground that a confession received in evidence at trial was coerced fear lynching, violation rights under Due Process Clause Fourteenth Amendment. The victim, proprietor grocery store Kansas Settlement, Arizona, killed while tending her evening 16, 1953. No witnessed crime, but strong circumstantial indicated it occurred between 10 p.m. 11 p.m., petitioner responsible. arrested next day circumstances which lend credence assertion 'putative lynching.' issue, however, not made until following arrest, when he taken before Peace preliminary examination. 3 After initial determination voluntariness, judge Superior Cochise County, submitted issue coercion jury instructions ignore as unless found entirely voluntary. A general verdict guilty returned accepted court. Supreme affirmed, Ariz. 52, 275 P.2d 408, we denied certiorari.1 1956, 350 950, 76 326, 100 L.Ed. 828. then application habeas corpus United States District Arizona. reviewing entire record, writ without hearing. Appeals 235 F.2d 775, granted certiorari because seriousness petitioner's allegations Clause. 352 1024, 77 593. An exhaustive review impels us conclude 'the expression free choice,' Watts v. State Indiana, 1949, 338 49, 53, 69 1347, 1350, 93 1801, product fear, duress, or coercion. 4 prosecution's use led Court's reversal state Brown Mississippi, 1936, 297 278, 56 461, 80 682. Our resolution similar claims subsequent cases makes clear question whether there due process clause Amendment introduction involuntary is must make independent undisputed facts.' Malinski People New York, 1945, 324 401, 404, 65 781, 783, 89 1029. encroachment traditional function results, coercion, unlike basic facts ascertained, involves constitutional standards fundamental fairness Allen, 1953, 344 443, 507, 73 397, 446, 97 469 (concurring opinion). In each instance our inquiry weigh 'circumstances pressure against power resistance person confessing.' Fikes Alabama, 1957, 191, 197, 281, 285, 246, quoting Stein 346 156, 185, 1077, 1093, 1522. 5 We turn portions record ascertain claim be measured. I. 6 itinerant Negro laborer who lived with common-law wife four other Negroes, including Ross Lee Cooper, 17-year-old boy, old barracks provided employer about half mile from victim's store. Navy veteran, 27 years time murder, partial high school education. had criminal three different convictions, most serious being five-year larceny sentence, well two terms brig twice absent leave service post. 7 body Miscovich Tuesday morning, 17. supplier noticed smoke coming summoned help men constructing building nearby, whom did nothing assist putting out fire, left scene discovered, declaring 'never could stand stench burning flesh.' Although severely beaten burned, attributed knife wounds heart, inflicted large later 8 Preliminary investigation local police disclosed Cooper were together Monday afternoon evening. they approximately 8:30 again himself, returning around midnight. trail blood footprints traced within 50 yards barracks, where strip freshly harrowed further tracking impossible. Blood spots kitchen bloody gloves hidden near barracks. Both right hand them slit across middle, ring little fingers. Matching store, nine pairs plus remained 12 stocked Monday. only pair shoes owned, bed exactly matched 13 1/2-inch trailed after discovery fire exchanged work boots got 'out trash pile.' II. 9 posse 15 headed Sheriff County apprehended lying pasture brush pile over 200 road 1/2 miles Settlement. Three fingers cut, matching slits glove outside placed arrest handcuffed highway patrolman posse. When asked 'why woman,' asserted her, take man done so, accusing murder. also stated cut can. At point rancher horseback, no official connection Sheriff's posse, lassoed neck jerked him few steps direction both car nearest trees, some away. quickly intervened, removed rope, admonished, 'Stop that. will have none * *.' There talk lynching among members put drove south directed search Cooper. They working field off road. borrowed horse member posse—which followed car—and rode alone As bringing back car, second horseback roped waist along. reached rope. Petitioner, full view Cooper's apprehension, identified killer. standing beside responsible roping men, catching either their shoulders necks pulling down knees. Sheriff, looking 'kind mad,' reacted 'immediately,' removing rope shouting, 'Hey, stop more that.' Two joined protesting third incident. trees all seen location these last ropings, mention threat heard. By 4:30 prisoners car. directly Willcox, town Court, examination compliance law.2 However, judge, bus driver, already departed run. Before leaving stopped briefly mortuary, victim shown suspects. site county jail courthouse. Arriving closing took nearby Warren questioning Attorney. 14 It home Attorney, prior injury confined cast stretcher. bedroom guard armed deputy, separately quizzed hour front room. questioned solely though six armed, present.3 barefoot; seized case, enough fit him. wore same coveralls arrested. Attorney room, assured threats promises would made, 'explained rights,' told tell truth. force used threatened prisoner. While statement never tendered trial, filed proceeding proof composure very arrest. included stout denial any responsibility detailed story designed incriminate young backward boy called 'Baby John.'4 claimed night before, waited entered buy beer. Upon hearing screams, said rushed inside, holding woman, trying seize ran woman. illustrated detail tracing movements crayons diagram Under-Sheriff hospital treated, jail. Later cell, aside 'how feeling.' 16 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, 18, brought Lowell barefoot, so bought shoes. Prior court, gave pack cigarettes. how feeling, complained injury, see dressed again. 17 arrived conducting business Peace, delaying five minutes finished departed. Then, presence Deputy female secretary, Frazier read complaint petitioner, advised counsel,5 waived, instructed plead chose, plea automatically waive preliminary. immediately replied oral here: 'I am guilty. I don's need lawyer. woman.' Judge if committed axe. said, 'No. knife.' 18 Immediately thereafter, Sheriff. Just those present made. warned secretary everything concluded, 'You don't me you want to, can, will, your own words, just what place Settlement.' afternoon, return jail, downstairs Attorney's courthouse office, people6 through signed typed transcript home. 19 Either day, Thursday, else Friday, 20 (the inconclusive), newspaper reporter visited testified seemed nervous afraid. he'd 'roughed up' saved life. reporter's request, posed picture Thursday moved part try arrange it. On doctor additional treatment hand. 20, office seven Marshal.7 precautions preceded statements obtained confession. Several days later, April 1, Marshal met confession, telling bottom page if, material thereon true. hour's reading, initialed pages. 21 written confessions, 18th 1st, 'procured lynch' declared inquiry. ropings justified seeming incongruity basis namely, judicial surroundings protected (petitioner).' III. 22 Deplorable are spirit civilized administration justice, do show engendered them. Arizona's confessions cannot control separate character And since ours range limited factors differentiate confessions. here, primary logic, voluntariness admitted into evidence. Consequently consider 23 Coercion here posited upon incidents. physical beating, 682; continuous relay questioning, 1801; incommunicado detention, 246; psychiatric inducement, Leyra Denno, 1954, 347 556, 74 716, 98 948. neither tender age, accused Haley Ohio, 1948, 332 596, 68 302, 92 224, nor subnormal intelligence, defendant supra. Nor, extensive cirminal can thought impressionable stranger processes law. 24 20-hour interval devoid coercive influences than sight body.8 offered, used, intimation mob action existent. Petitioner's activity during crucial hours eloquent rebuttal contention dominated fear. logical height oppression, themselves, stoutly offense attempted That reiterated position guilt innocence, notwithstanding house. Even appeared apprehensive worried newspaperman statement, demeanor morning bespoke complete witnesses, Frazier. Nothing seriously substantiates overbore His appears spontaneous exclamation conscience. 25 relies heavily testimony roping. roped, 'Will truth, let go ahead this.' argues completely negates role 'protector,' eliminating distinguished expressly making such witnesses agreed ever uttered. Whatever merits dispute, clearly study record. '(T)here agreement conflict actually contested concern. Such comes authoritatively resolved (against petitioner) State's adjudication.' 51—52, 1348, 1801.9 Time refused disputed determining Gallegos Nebraska, 1951, 342 55, 60—61, 72 141, 144—145, 96 86; 597—598, 303, 224; Ward Texas, 1942, 316 547, 62 1139, 86 1663. rationale behind exclusion, course, lies superior opportunity observe fleeting intangibles may indicate truth falsehood. abide wisdom reasoning. IV. 26 alternative prayer case remanded plenary merit, erred denying granting discretion 463—465, 410—411, 469, abuse here. urges considering interrogation above, case. State, affidavit asserts error absence hearing, rebut affidavit. does appear, objection file counter-affidavit. Moreover, substance transcript—petitioner's attempt implicate places fail prejudice resulted. 28 Affirmed. 29 CHIEF JUSTICE, BLACK, DOUGLAS, BRENNAN dissent. contends preliminarily failed exhaust remedy seeking federal courts, timely. normal rule applied sought Darr Burford, 1950, 339 200, 70 587, 94 761, inflexible, special complied with. supra, 210, 'Whether exist calls factual appraisal (District Court) situation. Determination like others, largely courts subject appropriate appeals.' Frisbie Collins, 1952, 519, 521, 509, 511, 541. failure timely apply noted its habeas. Since considered merits, inclined late date procedural defect fatal error. 'An officer warrant shall unnecessary delay accessible magistrate occurs, complaint, set forth showing arrested.' Ariz.Rev.Stat.1956, § 13—1418. Under-Sheriff, reporter, photographer, deputies. mother living sat up sick child discredited unshaken Out jury's appoint attorney him, appointing himself Subsequently, testifying jury, 'right counsel Court.' Sheriffs, secretary. Others deputies, reporter. Unlike many apparently comply statute requiring prisoner Contrast, e.g., 1029; statute, note 2, construed Johnson, 203, 211 '(state) adjudication' turns instructive submitting jury. finding patrolman's testimony, motion mistrial defense arose went Therefore, decide mere fact conviction, specific adjudication suffice invoke foreclosing assessment facts.

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