Legal Document

338 U.S. 49 69 Supreme Court Reporter 1357 93 L.Ed. 1801 Robert Atlantic WATTS, Petitioner,v.STATE OF INDIANA. L. D. HARRIS, Petitioner, versus STATE SOUTH CAROLINA. Aaron TURNER, COMMONWEALTH PENNSYLVANIA. Nos. 610, 76 and 107. of the United States June 27, 1949 On Writ Certiorari to State Indiana. South Carolina. Commonwealth Pennsylvania. Messrs. Thurgood Marshall, Franklin or Haw. Hawai‘i Reports KFH45 A2 Williams, New York City, for petitioner. Mr. Frank E. Coughlin, Indianapolis, Ind., respondent. Justice FRANKFURTER announced judgment an opinion in which MURPHY RUTLEDGE join. 1 Although Constitution puts protection against crime predominantly keeping States, Fourteenth Amendment severely restricted their administration criminal justice. Thus, while courts have responsibility securing rudimentary requirements a civilized order, discharging that there hangs over them reviewing power this Court.1 Power such delicacy import must, course, be exercised with greatest forbearance. When, however, appeal is made it, no escape. And so once again must meet uncongenial duty testing validity conviction by court what found Due Process Clause Amendment. This case here because Indiana rejected petitioner's claim confessions elicited from him were procured under circumstances rendering admission as evidence denial due process law.2 Ind.Sup., 82 North Eastern Reporter, 2nd Series 846. The grounds on our review was sought seemed sufficiently weightly grant petition certiorari. 336 917, 636. 2 convictions, all those matters are usually termed issues fact conclusive determination not open reconsideration Court. Observance restriction calls utmost scruple. But 'issue fact' coat many colors. It does cover conclusion drawn uncontroverted happenings, when incorporates standards conduct criteria themselves decisive constitutional rights. Such criteria, measured provisions, proper applications, Court's adjudication. Hooven & Allison company Evatt, 324 652, 659, 65 870, 874, 89 1252, cases cited. Especially arising it important distinguish between foreclosed which, though cast form determinations fact, very sits. See Norris Alabama, 294 587, 589, 590, 55 579, 580, 79 1074; Marsh 326 501, 510, 66 276, 280, 281, 90 265. 3 In application embracing concept 'due process,' would idle expect at times unanimity views. Nevertheless, come during last decade various claimed coerced vitiated convictions murder,3 has been complete agreement any conflict testimony actually led contested confession concern. comes authoritatively resolved State's Therefore only elements events involved unquestioned version happened relevant issue here. if force applied, leave local whether voluntary. There torture mind well body; will much affected fear force. point where should ignorant judges we know men. Taft, C.J., Child Labor Tax Case (Bailey Drexel Furniture Co.), 259 20, 37, 42 499, 450, 451, 817, 21 American Law 1432. 4 brings us undisputed determine case. Thanks forthrightness counsel Indiana, these may briefly stated. 5 November 12, 1947, Wednesday, petitioner arrested held suspected perpetrator alleged assault earlier day. Later same day, vicinity occurrence, woman dead conditions suggesting murder course attempted assault. Suspicion quickly turned towards police began question him. They took county jail Police Headquarters, he questioned officers relays about eleven thirty night until sometime 2:30 o'clock following morning. procedure persistent interrogation 5:30 afternoon morning, relay six eight officers, pursued Thurday 13th, Friday 14th, Saturday 15th, Monday 17th. Sunday day rest interrogation. About Tuesday 18, incriminating statement after continuous questioning since 6 preceding evening. did satisfy prosecutor who had called then hand. interrogator twenty years' experience lawyer, judge prosecutor, yielded more document. Until his inculpatory statements secured, prisoner exclusive control prosecuting authorities. He kept first two days solitary confinement cell aptly enough 'the hole' view its physical described witnesses. Apart five sessions, intermittently interrogated Watts three drove around town, hours time, eliciting identifications other disclosures. law required given prompt preliminary hearing before magistrate, intended give him, entire period but without friendly professional aid advice Disregard needs life—opportunities sleep decent allowance food—are also relevant, aggravating treatment, part total situation out came stamped character. 7 A life becomes forfeit expression free choice. voluntary need volunteered. product sustained pressure When suspect speaks overborne, immaterial subjected mental ordeal. Eventual yielding plainly suction therefore th reverse We shut minds plain significance transpired deny calculated endeavor secure through unrelenting relentlessness implies better answer than persist refusal disclosure right. To turn detention accused into wrenching could extorted safeguards, grave abuse arrest offend procedural process. 8 violates underlying principle enforcement law. Ours accusatorial opposed inquisitorial system. een characteristic Anglo-American justice freed itself practices borrowed Star Chamber Continent whereby secret end. Ploscowe, Development Present-Day Criminal Procedures Europe America, 48 Harv. Rev., 433, 457—58, 467—473 (1935). Under system society carries burden proving charge own mouth. establish case, even judicial independently secured skillful investigation. 'The suffer deluded instrument conviction.' Hawkins, Pleas Crown chapter 46, § 34 (8th ed., 1824). requirement specific charges, proof beyond reasonable doubt, whatever pressures, right assistance counsel, supplied government make necessary, advise rights—these characteristics manifestations demands. Protracted, systematic uncontrolled subjection purpose disclosures subversive safeguards. For interrogation, protected disinterestedness presence counsel. Keedy, Preliminary Investigation Crime France, 88 U. Pa. 692, 708-712 (1940). 9 holding bars basic notions mode vitiates based fruits procedure, apply historic function assuring appropriate liberty curtailed taken. deeply mindful anguishing problems incidence presents States. history proves overwhelmingly brutal methods essentially self-defeating, effect particular See, e.g., Radzinowicz, History English Administration 1750, passim (1948). triumphs natural impulses aroused shocking yield safeguards civilization evolved rational effective. 10 examined contentions do sustain them. Reversed 11 BLACK concurs authority Chambers Florida, 309 227, 60 472, 84 716; Ashcraft Tennessee, 322 143, 64 921, 1192. 12 records consideration state reached, THE CHIEF JUSTICE, REED BURTON believe judgments affirmed cases. 13 DOUGLAS, concurring. facts: 14 Petitioner taken custody early 1947. detained suspicion having committed assault, later tried convicted. being arraigned, gave satisfied police. At time advised remain silent, nor family, friends confinement. promptly arraigned requires. 15 During confinement, jail. placed known among prisoners hole.' place sit except floor. Throughout six-day each Sunday, long periods moved Headquarters questionings. begin evening, thirty. Each extend These interrogations conducted small groups officers. several occasions lie-detector tests. Following evening's returned Even always respite next ordeal commenced. intermittent afternoons driven town attempt elicit further information reconstruct activities crime. 16 morning seven hours' used objection trial. 17 naive think protective less inquisition. man broke. Then provides accused. Detention arraignment time-honored method can operate leisure. wholly mercy. friends; denied magistrate. unequivocally condemn stand ready outlaw, Malinski People York, 401, 781, 1029, Haley Ohio, 332 596, 68 302, 92 224, obtained unlawful detention. breeds confessions. root evil. inquisition flourish country. 18 concurring JACKSON, see 49, 1357. 19 JACKSON result Number 610 dissenting 20 cases, widely separated states, present problem. Its recurrence suggests roots some condition fundamental general confronted one murders authorities highest solve. unwitnessed, positive knowledge solution possessed killer. ground individual legal guilt. taking interrogating extended varying periods. each, received Checked external evidence, they inherently believable, shaken truth anything occurred confessor convicted jury affirmed. sets aside. 22 seriousness promise take questioning. alternative close books forget large. choice two-thirds already closed insoluble. 23 opinion, goes limit seems declare outlawing confession, however freely given, arraignment—which, practice, means 24 Others strike down say 'involuntary.' this, printed record, pit trial jury. Both, great advantage seeing whose bearing toward question, addition, majority overrule appellate courts, limited opportunity do. 25 Amid muc irrelevant trivial serious me neither get real dilemma society. subject convict peril freedom. bring lawyer because, adversary system, deems sole protect client guilty innocent—and capacity owes help solve conception worth salt tell uncertain terms circumstances. 26 If interrogate denying largely negates benefits guaranty Any ever 'told all' Government, knows how helpless facts thus disclosed. 27 N Dec. Immigration Nationality Decisions suppose takes thinks person State. Is facts? Or cannot conceal authorities, compel testify before? Our latter interpretation, defendant shielded concedes 28 Of violence reliable hence upon manner. treatment breaks lie, break truth. Nor sometimes achieved threats, promises, inducements, put scar body. Frankfurter solely admissions Watts, disagree. ultimate quest indicate threats deprived suspect's solving merely confined uncounseled? 29 overlook these, previous supplies ways verifying trustworthiness. verification sufficient doubt guilt genuine truthful. corroboration consists finding weapon said hid others implicated correspond story. possible, rare, repudiated trial, standing alone unless verity. 30 along criticized, continuity duration invoked 'inquiry', 'inquest' 'inquisition,' depending mainly emotional writer. here, permissible all, sound reasons prolonging it—which opinions ignore. perhaps makes effort exculpate himself alibis statements. verified, false, falsehood. Sometimes (though reach us) true credible released. Sometimes, involved. depend t e temperament, shrewdness cunning competence examiner. assuming examine include reasonably necessary 31 admitted, juries decide show want decision. find nothing below correct understanding Amendment, absolute prohibition arraignment. 32 Bill Rights, grounded revolt arbitrary measures George III philosophy French Revolution, represent maximum restrictions organized compatible maintenance itself. interpreted. that, construed provisions traditionally been, contain aggregate seriously crimes confront Those reason aside, good indulging unnecessary expansion 33 require hold unwitnessed murder. does, people country discipline helplessly prowl unmolested. price pay fairness law'? one, demanded Court? questions; but, present, increase handicap corrective lower federal courts. McNabb 318 332, 63 608, 87 819. main, rests nature Clause, potentially gives wide range State-court convictions. acknowledgment possession gun, existence established. inadmissible i established true. Lisenba California, 314 219, 236—237, 62 289, 290, 86 166. allegedly cases: (A) Confession violative 224; 1029; 1192; Ward Texas, 316 547, 1139, 1663; Lomax 313 544, 61 956, 85 1511; Vernon 1092, 1513; White 310 530, 1032, 1342; Canty 629, 612, 988; 631, 706, 989; Brown Mississippi, 297 278, 56 461, 80 682; 327 274, 667. (B) Lyons Oklahoma, 1208, 1481,

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