Queor v. State, 1 Div. 283

Decision Date22 April 1965
Docket Number1 Div. 283
Citation174 So.2d 687,278 Ala. 10
PartiesHenry Andrew QUEOR, Jr. v. STATE of Alabama.
CourtAlabama Supreme Court

Henry Andrew Queor, Jr., pro se.

Richmond M. Flowers, Atty. Gen., and John C. Tyson, III, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

GOODWYN, Justice.

Appellant petitioned the circuit court of Baldwin County for a writ of error coram nobis to set aside a judgment of that court rendered on September 24, 1958, adjudging him guilty of murder in the first degree and sentencing him to life imprisonment. After an oral hearing on the petition, the circuit court rendered a judgment denying the petition. This appeal is from that judgment. See: Blauvelt v. State, 276 Ala. 671, 166 So.2d 399; Ex parte Wilson, 275 Ala. 439, 440(2), 155 So.2d 611; Ex parte Keene, 275 Ala. 197, 153 So.2d 631.

An indictment charging appellant with first degree murder was returned by a Baldwin County Grand Jury on September 10, 1958. He was arraigned on September 11, 1958, and tried on September 24, 1958. On both occasions, he was represented by two court-appointed attorneys. Upon arraignment, appellant entered a plea of 'not guilty.' At his trial, he changed his plea to 'guilty' under an agreement he would receive a life sentence.

The coram nobis petition was filed in the circuit court on January 5, 1965, and heard on January 22, 1965. At appellant's request, the trial court appointed an attorney to represent him at the hearing.

As we understand the petition, it is based on appellant's charge that he was coerced into changing his plea from 'not guilty' to 'guilty' and was denied the effective assistance of counsel at his trial.

The evidence taken at the coram nobis hearing fully supports the trial court's conclusion that appellant's change of plea was voluntary and not the result of threats and coercion. In fact, the evidence shows the change was made at appellant's insistence after an agreement had been worked out (also at appellant's insistence) whereby appellant would receive a sentence of life imprisonment. There is no indication from the evidence that appellant did not completely understand the effect of changing his plea.

The evidence shows that appellant was adequately represented by competent counsel throughout the several proceedings, that is, at his arraignment, at his trial, and at the coram nobis hearing.

Point is made that appellant had no preliminary hearing. As to this, the record is silent. But even if there was no preliminary...

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17 cases
  • Copeland v. State
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • April 24, 1984
    ...(Ala.1983). Furthermore, it is not necessary to have a preliminary hearing to satisfy the requirements for due process. Queor v. State, 278 Ala. 10, 174 So.2d 687 (1965); Scaife v. State, 337 So.2d 146 (Ala.Cr.App.1976); Duncan v. State, supra. Moreover, "[o]nce an accused has been indicted......
  • Matthews v. State, 8 Div. 61
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • August 29, 1978
    ...no cause for a reversal as they have no bearing on the validity of proceedings that are based upon a valid indictment. Queor v. State, 278 Ala. 10, 174 So.2d 687 (1965); Bowman v. State, 44 Ala.App. 331, 208 So.2d 241 (1968); Core v. State, 50 Ala.App. 533, 280 So.2d 794, cert. denied 291 A......
  • Daniels v. State
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals
    • May 18, 1976
    ...bail is not given, or if the offense is not bailable, he must be committed to jail by an order in writing.' In Queor v. State, 278 Ala. 10, 174 So.2d 687 (1965), it was stated: 'Point is made that appellant had no preliminary hearing. As to this, the record is silent. But even if there was ......
  • Bowman v. State
    • United States
    • Alabama Court of Appeals
    • February 20, 1968
    ...a preliminary hearing would have no bearing on the validity of the indictment and subsequent proceedings incident thereto. Queor v. State, 278 Ala. 10, 174 So.2d 687; Manning v. State, 43 Ala.App. 182, 185 So.2d Code of Alabama, 1940, Tit. 30, Sec. 63, states as follows: 'Whenever any perso......
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