Court Opinion

ID: 9446446
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-03 21:53:59.487211+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T17:30:38.657940
License: Public Domain

WILBUR K MILLER, Circuit Judge,
with whom DANAHER and BASTIAN, Circuit Judges, concur, dissenting.
In a fight which took place August 2, 1949, Roland Belton stabbed one Lewis Crowder and inflicted wounds from which death resulted eight days later. Belton was indicted September 6, 1949, for second degree murder1 but fled the jurisdiction and was not apprehended until March 2, 1954. He was arraigned ten days later and pleaded not guilty. Counsel were appointed to represent him and trial was set for April 26, 1954. On March 15, employed counsel entered an appearance. The two attorneys theretofore appointed were later permitted to withdraw.
After five continuances — three for the Government and two for the appellant, all of which were properly granted for good reason — Belton was brought to trial September 8, 1954, was found guilty as charged, and on October 1, 1954, was sentenced to imprisonment for a term of from seven to 21 years.
Although he was then still represented by competent employed counsel, from his cell in the District jail Belton wrote 2 a letter to the Clerk of the District Court which was received and filed September 14, 1954. He had acted in self-defense, he said, and had been unjustly convicted in an unfair trial. He asked that the matter be brought to the attention of the trial judge (Judge F. Dickinson Letts) “and grant me the privilege of receiving an appeal as I am without funds to pay the cost of court, that I may proceed in forma pauperis * * Treating the letter as a motion for leave to proceed on appeal without prepayment of costs, Judge Letts found and certified that the appeal was not taken in good faith and therefore denied the motion.3 In the meantime appellant’s counsel filed (September 16) a motion for a new trial, which was denied October 1, the day of sentence.
Judicial generosity now treats Belton’s letter of September 14, 1954, as a notice of appeal from the judgment of conviction, although it fell far short of satisfying the requirements of Rule 37(a) (1) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. This tenuous appeal was not perfected, but was completely abandoned by the appellant, as will appear hereafter; but it is now revived by a majority of this court as a basis for substituting their judgment for that of the jury, and granting Belton a new trial. This probably means that he is freed of the murder conviction, for there is little chance that, after a lapse of nine years, the Government will be able to make out a case on a new trial. I am unwilling to agree to this procedure.
It cannot be disputed that the appeal was not perfected in time. Rule 39(c) *818requires that “The record on appeal shall be filed with the appellate court and the proceeding there docketed within 40 days from the date the notice of appeal is filed in the district court * * * Thus it was necessary for Belton to file the record here within 40 days after October 1, 1954. He did not do so and did not during that time ask for an extension. This failure justifies, if it does not require, dismissal of the appeal unless we exercise the discretion committed to us by Rule 45(b) (2) “upon motion [to] permit the act to be done after the expiration of the specified period if the failure to act was the result of excusable neglect * * *
I do not think appellant’s neglect was excusable. Trial counsel informed him that his employment would end October 1, 1954, the day of sentence. His services of course remained available until that time, but Belton wrote the letter of September 14 apparently without consulting him. He had ample opportunity to inquire of counsel what further steps he must take on appeal and when he must take them. He seems to have preferred to rely on himself and his adviser at the District jail. I think that neglecting to file the record within 40 days was not excusable and that therefore we do not have the discretion to enlarge the time which Rule 45(b) (2) gives us “if the failure to act was the result of excusable neglect.” The appeal from the conviction perhaps noted by the letter filed September 14, 1954, was therefore not perfected, and should be dismissed.
In addition to holding that Belton’s neglect was excusable, the majority attempt to justify their action by citing Christoffel v. United States, 1950, 88 U.S.App.D.C. 1, 180 F.2d 555. Their reliance on that case seems to me to be misplaced. In it the delay was only a matter of a few days, while here it was prolonged over a period of more than three years. Nor was Belton “uncounseled,” although the majority so characterize him. He was represented, as I have said, by experienced employed counsel who could have advised him, and no doubt did so, of the time in which the appeal must be perfected. In addition to that, he had available in the penal institutions the services of what Judge Bennett Champ Clark used to call “guardhouse lawyers” who are well aware of the requirements of the Criminal Rules but who chose to concentrate on § 2255.
In his separate dissenting opinion Judge Bastían has dealt adequately with the alleged misconduct of the prosecuting attorney relied upon by the majority as a reason for reversal, so I shall not discuss that matter further.
The case is really here on the limited appeal we finally — and I think improvidently — allowed from the sentencing court’s denial of the last of several motions to vacate sentence filed by Belton under 28 U.S.C. § 2255. I detail here the several steps taken by Belton after his conviction to show how completely he abandoned the appeal noted on September 14, 1954, and devoted himself exclusively to attacks upon the sentence; and also for the purpose of determining the only issues actually before the court. Section 2255 reads: 4
“[1] A prisoner in custody under sentence of a court established by Act of Congress claiming the right to be released upon the ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States, or that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or is otherwise subject to collateral attack, may move the court which imposed the sentence to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence.
“[2] A motion for such relief may be made at any time.
“[3] Unless the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is en*819titled to no relief, the court shall cause notice thereof to be served upon the United States attorney, grant a prompt hearing thereon, determine the issues and make findings of fact and conclusions of law with respect thereto. If the court finds that the judgment was rendered without jurisdiction, or that the sentence imposed was not authorized by law or otherwise open to collateral attack, or that there has been such a denial or infringement of the constitutional rights of the prisoner as to render the judgment vulnerable to collateral attack, the court shall vacate and set the judgment aside and shall discharge the prisoner or resentence him or grant a new trial or correct the sentence as may appear appropriate.
“[4] A court may entertain and determine such motion without requiring the production of the prisoner at the hearing.
“[5] The sentencing court shall not be required to entertain a second or successive motion for similar relief on behalf of the same prisoner.
“[6] An appeal may be taken to the court of appeals from the order entered on the motion as from a final judgment on application for a writ of habeas corpus.
“[7] An application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a prisoner who is authorized to apply for relief by motion pursuant to this section, shall not be entertained if it appears that the applicant has failed to apply for relief, by motion, to the court which sentenced him, or that such court has denied him relief, unless it also appears that the remedy by motion is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention.”
After being sentenced October 1, 1954, Belton was silent until August 8, 1955, when he began a barrage of applications by filing his first motion under § 2255. The grounds alleged were these: (1) that Belton “in ‘self defense’, was forced to use a small knife, (pen knife) wherein the deceased came in contact with such knife and was cut twice”; (2) that “in order to have been charged with any degree of murder * * * the deceased had to die within S days or 72 hours, after being injured or cut with a knife. Furthermore there had to be jotted [sic] into use a ‘dangerous weapon’ and, an ordinary pocket knife is NOT A DANGEROUS weapon”; (3) that Belton did not flee to avoid any felony charge; that his arrest in Virginia was null and void “and no warrant of removal could be legally used to bring the defendant into District of Columbia as no felony had been committed; and, no murder had been committed by defendant”; (4) “The law requires in trials that involve Murder, the defendant be given not less than two competent lawyers to defend him. There existed but one lawyer, and, he was incompetent, and assisted the government, instead of his client.”
September 21, 1955, Judge Letts found and certified that the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively showed the movant was entitled to no relief, and so denied the motion without a hearing, as permitted by paragraph [3] of § 2255. Belton did not file a notice of appeal from this order in the District Court, and did nothing there or here-which indicated a desire to appeal from-it.
October 17, 1955, Belton filed another motion under § 2255. This time he abandoned all the grounds stated in the first motion except the alleged incompetence-of trial counsel, to which he added (a) that he did not receive a copy of the indictment, and (b) that the United States Attorney failed to call certain eyewitnesses to testify, although he knew their identity and could have called them. This motion was similarly denied October 21,1955. October 29,1955, Belton moved for a rehearing without stating grounds, which was denied November 8, 1955.
November 17, 1955, Belton filed in the District Court an application for leave to-proceed without prepayment of costs in *820which he asserted he was convicted without proper representation of counsel, that he “was tried and convicted five years after the alleged offense, when the prosecution knew or should have known of the whereabouts of the defendant,” and that “the defendant could and now can prove his innocence, if his witnesses are subpoena [sic] into court.” This application was denied November 22,1955.
December 19, 1955, Belton filed in this court a petition for leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis from the order of the District Court of November 22, 1955. In it he alleged, among other things, that the “trial judge stated a legal conclusion, that the appeal was not taken in good faith, but failed to certify in writing facts upon which such a conclusion at law could be or was, based as required by Section 1915 of Title 28, U. S. Code * * * ” January 26, 1956, this court denied the petition.
February 20, 1956, Belton filed another motion under § 2255 on the ground of newly discovered evidence. He attached an affidavit by one James Le Grand. The affiant said that on August 2, 1949, he was sitting in an automobile in front of the premises where the killing occurred; that Belton was on the front steps asleep and he saw Crowder “snatch” Belton to his feet and kick him.
“In the struggle Belton managed to get a small pocket knife from his pocket and open it. The two men were still locked together. I saw Belton swipe at Crowder’s neck. But in the melee I could not see everything that was taking place, but I did see one Wallace ‘Mutt’ Brown, come out of the crowd which had gathered and separate the two men. Brown took Belton away * * * Crowder followed after them * * but * * * slumped to the sidewalk just before he could reach Que Street.”
February 23, 1956, Judge Letts entered the following order:
“The Court finds and certifies that the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief. The motion is therefore denied.”
March 12, 1956, Belton filed in the District Court a motion for leave to file notice of appeal, time having expired, and for leave to appeal in forma pauperis, apparently with reference to the court’s order of February 23, 1956. March 19, 1956, Judge Letts endorsed the following thereon: “The Court finds and certifies that the motion is without merit. The motion is therefore denied.” April 5, 1956, Belton filed in this court a motion for leave to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis from the orders of the District Court of February 23 and March 19, 1956. He alleged that since the trial he had located an eyewitness, James Le Grand, who would corroborate the testimony of Wallace Brown in tending to show self-defense; that the Government knew where he was at all times during the five-year interval from August 2, 1949, the date of the crime, to September, 1954; and that the District Court denied his § 2255 motion without granting an oral hearing. June 25, 1956, this court denied the petition, and also denied a motion for appointment of counsel, which had been filed by Belton on May 24, 1956.
July 10, 1956, Belton filed in the District Court what he denominated a “Motion for A Rehearing to ser aside conviction and sentence, and Affidavit in support for Leave to Sub Peana all record and material Evidence and eye witnesses that was at the scene of the crime. Title 28, Sec. 2255 in Forma Pauperis.” In it he complained again that the Government had failed to produce three eyewitnesses and repeated his assertion he had acted in self-defense. He also alleged inter alia that police and jail officials “planted” Wallace Brown, a witness for the Government, in his cell “to spy and gain his confidence,” and that Brown was also placed with him in a court house “bull pen,” where he “overheard conversation *821between Petitioner and his counsel.” The motion was denied August 8, 1956.
August 16, 1956, Belton filed in the District Court an affidavit in support of an application for leave to proceed on appeal without prepayment of costs but did not specify the order from which he desired to appeal. September 18, 1956, Judge Letts endorsed thereon the following: “Application for leave to proceed on appeal without prepayment of costs denied.”
October 10, 1956, Belton filed in this court a petition for leave to prosecute an appeal in forma pauperis from the District Court’s order of September 18,1956. He recited among the questions presented the following:
“Did not the U. S. Attorney and the officials of the District Jail conspire together to obstruct justice by taken a inmate out of the Petitioner cell and placing the Government witness in the Petitioner cell to conspire on the Petitioner before trial.”
Without acting directly on this petition, this court entered an order November 16, 1956, allowing Belton to proceed on appeal in forma pauperis, not from the order of September 18, 1956, but from the order entered August 8, 1956, which denied the § 2255 motion filed July 10, 1956. Thus, this court treated Belton’s affidavit filed August 16, 1956, as equivalent to a notice of appeal from the order of August 8. Our panel limited the appeal to the issues: “(1) should the District Court have granted a hearing on petitioner’s allegation that there was an intrusion by a government agent into the confidential conversations between petitioner and his counsel ? and (2) was petitioner deprived of the right to a speedy trial?” and on November 20 we appointed counsel to represent petitioner on the limited appeal so granted.
In considering this phase of the case, it is necessary first to examine the propriety of our order of November 16, 1956; for, if it was improvidently entered, the two issues concerning which an appeal in forma pauperis was purportedly allowed are not properly before us and we cannot deal with them.
The statute provides in paragraph [5] that “The sentencing court shall not be required to entertain a second or successive motion for similar relief on behalf of the same prisoner.” We have already noted that Belton’s first motion under § 2255 was denied by Judge Letts September 21, 1955, and that the order of denial was not appealed. Other motions under the same section were filed and denied before July 10, 1956. Consequently, Belton’s § 2255 motion filed that day was a “successive motion.”
If the sentencing judge “entertains” a second or successive motion, the statutory provision just quoted will not support its denial and an appeal from the order of denial authorizes review of the merits. Taylor v. United States, 9 Cir., 1956, 238 F.2d 409. On the other hand, if the court does not “entertain” the motion, but disposes of it under the provisions of the statute quoted above, the only inquiry on appeal from the order of disposition is whether the motion was in fact “a second or successive motion for similar relief.” If so, the order will be affirmed by the appellate court; if not, the motion will be remanded for a hearing unless the court finds that “the motion and the files and records of the case conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief.” Section 2255, par. [3].
The first question then is whether the sentencing court “entertained” the motion of July 10, 1956, which it disposed of by the order entered the following August 8. The Ninth Circuit’s Taylor opinion does not define the word “entertain,” but the Supreme Court, in Brown v. Allen, 1953, 344 U.S. 443, 461, 73 S.Ct. 397, 409, 97 L.Ed. 469, defined the word as used in 28 U.S.C. § 2244, where its significance is the same as in § 2255:
“The word ‘entertain’ presents difficulties. Its meaning may vary according to its surroundings. In * * * § 2244 we think it means a federal district court’s conclusion, *822after examination of the application with such accompanying papers as the court deems necessary, that a hearing on the merits legal or factual is proper. * * * Even after deciding to entertain the application, the District Court may determine later from the return or otherwise that the hearing is unnecessary.”
I construe this as a holding that a decision to “entertain” means a conclusion that a hearing on the merits is proper; from which it follows that to “entertain” means to conduct a hearing on the merits.
Judge Letts did not conclude that a hearing on the merits of the motion of July 10, 1956, was proper; hence, he did not decide to entertain it. And, as he did not hold a hearing on the merits, he did not entertain the motion. Whether he erred in not doing so is the immediate question.
It is well established that the statute leaves the matter of entertaining a second or successive motion to the sound discretion of the trial judge. United States v. Brown, 7 Cir., 1953, 207 F.2d 310; Johnson v. United States, 5 Cir., 1954, 213 F.2d 492; Jackson v. United States, 4 Cir., 1955, 224 F.2d 556; Cor-coran v. United States, 7 Cir., 1956, 231 F.2d 449. That is to say, although the judge may entertain a second or successive motion, he shall not be required to do so if it is for similar relief.
The motion of July 10, 1956, which Judge Letts refused to entertain, was of course a successive motion, as I have shown. Whether it was for “similar relief” within the meaning of paragraph [5] of § 2255 is therefore the decisive question; it presents some difficulty because the meaning of the words “similar relief” is not spelled out in the statute. The term implies that a second or successive motion may be for relief dissimilar to that sought in an earlier motion; that different kinds of relief are available under § 2255. And yet the only motion authorized by the section is one “to vacate, set aside or correct the sentence;” that is the only relief available to the prisoner.
I observe that under paragraph [1] of § 2255 the motion may be made by a prisoner “claiming the right to be released upon the ground [a] that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States,- or [b] that the court was without jurisdiction to impose such sentence, or [e] that the sentence was in excess of the maximum authorized by law, or [d] is otherwise subject to collateral attack * * # »
In order to attribute some meaning to the words “similar relief” in paragraph [5] of § 2255, I suggest the possibility that Congress intended that the sentencing court shall not be required to entertain a second or successive motion based on one of these four statutory grounds which had been invoked in a previous motion. Using that standard, I turn to examine the situation here. The two grounds of the motion of July 10, 1956, with respect to which the panel allowed this limited appeal, arise under the Constitution: denial of the effective assistance of counsel, and denial of a speedy trial. In his first motion, filed August 8, 1955, and again on October 17 of that year, Belton alleged he had not had the effective assistance of counsel and in the motion of November 17, 1955, he alleged he had been denied a speedy trial. These were attacks on the sentence as having been imposed in violation of the Constitution, and are exactly the same as the two grounds for the last motion with respect to which we allowed this appeal. Thus the last motion — July 10, 1956— was a successive motion for relief based on the alleged violation of the same constitutional rights which had been relied on in three previous motions. It was therefore for “similar relief” within the above postulated meaning of those words, and the sentencing court was not required to entertain it.
It is true, however, that the last motion alleged the witness, Wallace Brown, was “planted” in his places of confinement *823“to spy and gain his confidence” and there “overheard conversation between Petitioner and his counsel.” If this was inferentially an allegation that he was deprived of the effective assistance of counsel, the claim was based on a different ground than that alleged in the earlier motion, which was that his employed counsel was incompetent and “assisted the government, instead of his client.”
It is also true that the earlier motion had claimed denial of a speedy trial during the years of fugitivity, while the question posed later included the period from March 2, 1954, when he was arrested, until September 8, 1954, when the trial began.
From these considerations it might be said that, although Belton’s last motion rested on the same statutory ground which he had invoked in previous motions,5 it was based on slightly different factual grounds. The next and only remaining question, then, is whether this undoubtedly successive motion was not one for “similar relief” because of the fact that it presented some factual grounds which had not been urged in previous motions. This question has not heretofore been considered by this court. Other courts which have considered it are divided.
There is some confusion in the cases which seems to have arisen from what I think is the mistaken notion that the remedy provided by § 2255 should be equated with habeas corpus and that the rule with respect to successive applications for that writ should be applied to successive applications under § 2255. That rule is that res judicata does not apply to applications for habeas corpus although, in considering a petition for the writ, the court may require a showing of the record and action on prior applications and may decline to examine further into the merits because they have already been decided against the petitioner. Darr v. Burford, 1950, 339 U.S. 200, 215, 70 S.Ct. 587, 94 L.Ed. 761. This avoidance of abuse of the writ is expressly authorized by 28 U.S.C. § 2244, which reads as follows:
“No circuit or district judge shall be required to entertain an application for a writ of habeas corpus * * * if it appears that the legality of such detention has been determined by a judge or court of the United States on a prior application for a writ of habeas corpus and the petition presents no new ground not theretofore presented and determined, and the judge or court is satisfied that the ends of justice will not be served by such inquiry.” (Emphasis added.)
The italicized words show a deliberate legislative intent to preserve the long-established principle that res judicata does not apply to applications for habeas corpus. But the motion to vacate sentence provided for in § 2255 is not a mere substitute for habeas corpus. This section of the statute, as the Reviser’s note says, “restates, clarifies and simplifies the procedure in the nature of the ancient writ of error coram nobis. It provides an expeditious remedy for correcting erroneous sentences without resort to habeas corpus.”
The omission from § 2255 of the words I have italicized in § 2244, which is a part of the same statute, has pointed significance. If Congress intended that language with respect to habeas corpus, which it consciously and carefully inserted in § 2244, to apply as well to motions to vacate sentence under § 2255, it doubtless would have worded paragraph [5] thereof somewhat as follows: “The sentencing court shall not be required to entertain a second or successive motion for similar relief on the same factual grounds.” To hold, then, that this language: “if it appears that the * * * [successive] petition [for habeas corpus] presents no new ground not theretofore presented and determined,” which was *824carefully inserted in § 2244, applies equally to motions under § 2255, is to read into the latter section a provision which is not there and which Congress apparently intentionally omitted. There was no necessity for its inclusion. After the denial of a successive motion under § 2255, habeas corpus remains available to the prisoner, subject only to the limitation set forth in paragraph [7] of § 2255.
Turning to the authorities, I find three circuits have held that the sentencing court is not required to entertain a successive motion for similar relief even though it is based upon factual grounds not relied upon in the antecedent motion. In Lipscomb v. United States, 1955, 226 F.2d 812, 816, the Eighth Circuit, after referring to a previous unsuccessful motion by Lipscomb, said:
“ * * * The same relief was sought in that motion as in the motion here under consideration and the contentions now presented could have been urged in that proceeding as there is no claim that they arose subsequent thereto and the decision in that proceeding is binding on the defendant not only as to the contentions there made but as to all other contentions which could have been made.”
The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit has expressed the same view. In Dunn v. United States, 1956, 234 F.2d 219, 221, that court said:
“Appellant’s contention that his present motion is based on new grounds not included in his previous motion is without merit. In our opinion, the successive proceedings seek ‘similar relief on behalf of the same prisoner,’ and under the provisions of Section 2255, Title 28, U. S. Code, it is within the sound discretion of the District Judge whether a second motion seeking similar relief should be entertained. Moss v. United States, 10 Cir., 177 F.2d 438; Shobe v. United States, 8 Cir., 220 F.2d 928, 929; United States v. Brown, 7 Cir., 207 F.2d 310; Bick-ford v. United States, 9 Cir., 206 F.2d 395.”
In Johnson v. United States, 5 Cir., 1954, 213 F.2d 492, the appellant filed in the sentencing court a second motion based on grounds not relied upon in the first. The appellate court said, at page 494: “Whether or not the second motion to vacate the sentence should have-been considered is a matter resting in. the sound discretion of the district judge. * * * We find no abuse of discretion-, here.” Thus in this case the Fifth Circuit agreed with the Sixth and Eighth Circuits that reliance upon different grounds does not require the sentencing court to entertain a second or successive motion under § 2255.
The authorities to the contrary rely principally upon Barrett v. Hunter and Rutledge v. Hunter, 180 F.2d 510 (1950). In those cases the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit was considering appeals from orders denying applications for writs of habeas corpus- and was not immediately concerned with successive motions to vacate sentences made under § 2255. The question was-whether the trial judge had correctly relied upon paragraph [7] of § 2255 in refusing to issue writs of habeas corpus.6 The Court of Appeals affirmed his action but, in the course of its opinion, discussed the provision of § 2255 that the sentencing court shall not be required to entertain a second or successive motion for similar relief on behalf of the same prisoner. I quote from the opinion, at page 515:
“ * * * If the second or successive motion sets up new or dissimilar *825grounds for relief which are within the purview of the grounds enumerated in the third paragraph of § 2255, and the motion and the records and files in the case do not conclusively show that the prisoner is entitled to no relief, the court should ordinarily entertain such second or successive motion. So construed, the provision conforms with the rule in habeas corpus with respect to successive applications for the writ, laid down by the Supreme Court in Salinger v. Loisel, 265 U.S. 224, 230, 232, 44 S.Ct. 519, 521, 68 L.Ed. 989 * * * ”
This passage seems to have been obiter dictum. According it respect, nevertheless, as a deliberate expression of the court’s view, I do not consider it authority for the proposition that the language of § 2244 concerning a “new ground not theretofore presented and determined” should be read into § 2255. The opinion does not say the trial judge must entertain a second or successive motion which sets up new or dissimilar {factual] grounds, but only that he “ordinarily should” exercise his discretion to entertain it. This is not in conflict with the provision of § 2255 that the trial judge “shall not be required” to entertain such a motion.
Illustrative of the confusion in the cases to which we have referred are Hallowell v. United States, 5 Cir., 1952, 197 F.2d 926, and Bistram v. United States, 8 Cir., Oct. 1956, 237 F.2d 243. In the Hallowell case the Fifth Circuit relied to some extent on Barrett v. Hunter, but its Johnson case referred to above (213 F.2d 492), decided two years later, shows it does not endorse the dictum of Barrett v. Hunter insofar as it holds that the presentation of a new ground requires the court to entertain a successive motion under § 2255. In the Bistram case the Eighth Circuit followed Barrett v. Hunter and quoted therefrom with apparent approval. But the opinion, written by the same judge who had written the Lipscomb opinion less than a year before, does not overrule the Lipscomb case and makes no reference to it.
I conclude on reason and on what I consider the better authority that § 2255 should be literally construed to mean what it unqualifiedly says: that the sentencing court shall not be required to entertain a second or successive motion for similar relief. It follows that this court cannot reverse and direct Judge Letts to do what the statute expressly says he shall not be required to do. It follows further that we improvidently allowed even a limited appeal from the order of August 8, 1956, and that the appeal should therefore be dismissed.
Were it otherwise, I should have no difficulty in disposing of the two issues presented by the limited appeal. The witness Wallace Brown, who is alleged to have been “planted” in Belton’s cell, was not a Government agent, but merely a recalcitrant Government witness who testified substantially as did Belton himself. Moreover, it was not alleged that this fellow-prisoner informed the Government of any conversation between Belton and his counsel, and so deprived appellant of the latter’s effective assistance. The suggestion that the appellant was not afforded a speedy trial is obviously without substance. His naive notion that he was deprived of a speedy trial because he was not apprehended and tried during his years of fugitivity must of course be rejected. And I have already noted that the five continuances which were granted after his apprehension, two of which were at his instance, were justified.
In sum, I think the majority err in considering the appeal from the conviction, and also err in their decision thereon. Long ago, a jury found Belton guilty of second degree murder, a verdict which was finally acquiesced in by him and should not now be disturbed. The majority should reach the question of the limited appeal from a § 2255 order which was actually allowed by a panel of this court, and should then dismiss the limited appeal as improvidently granted. The appellant has trifled with this court far too long.

. This is seized upon by tlie majority as showing the grand jury concluded Belton did not have malice aforethought. They say in their opinion, “The grand jury indicted appellant for second degree murder, indicating their conclusion that the homicide was not accompanied by premeditation and malice aforethought, essential elements of first degree murder.” The majority err, for § 22-2403, D.G.Code (1951), defines second degree murder as follows:
“Whoever with malice aforethought, except as provided in sections 22-2401, 22-2402, kills another, is guilty of murder in the second degree.”
Contrary to the majority opinion, the grand jury concluded that the killing was done with malice aforethought.

. Belton cannot write except to sign his name. He found a draftsman in the jail who prepared the letter for him.

. 28 U.S.C. § 1915 includes the following: “An appeal may not be taken in forma pauperis if the trial court certifies in writing that it is not taken in good faith.” There was no further effort to obtain leave to appeal from the conviction in forma pauperis until appointed counsel moved to enlarge the issues in the limited appeal we finally allowed. This motion was not filed until May 2, 1957.

. In reproducing the section I have numbered its provisions for convenient reference. The numbers do not appear in the Code.

. “ * * * [T] he ground that the sentence was imposed in violation of the Constitution or laws of the United States * * Par. [1] of § 2255.

. Paragraph [7] of § 2255 is .as follows:
“An application for a writ of habeas corpus in behalf of a prisoner who is authorized to apply for relief by motions pursuant to this section, shall not be entertained if it appears that the applicant has failed to apply for relief, by motion, to the court which sentenced him, or that such court has denied him relief, unless it also appears that the remedy by motion is inadequate or ineffective to test the legality of his detention.”