Guy Auguste Duval v. United States

Guy Duval was convicted of holding up the Humboldt Branch of the Bank of America on Market Street in San Francisco on December 19, 1961. Appellant specifies thirty-seven errors on this appeal. Only a few of these alleged errors dignify comment; most are frivolous.

Duval claims that he was forced to trial without opportunity to retain counsel. In fact, the trial court granted him more than twenty-five continuances for the purpose of obtaining counsel. The court also repeatedly offered to appoint any attorney that appellant might desire, including some of the very people that he claimed to be trying to retain. It was only after appellant failed repeatedly to retain counsel himself and spurned the efforts of the trial court to appoint counsel that the court went ahead with the trial. When trial finally did commence, the court had two attorneys present in the eventuality that appellant should change his mind and seek advice.

Appellant also argues that he was not afforded a speedy trial because of the more than twenty-five continuances that the trial court granted. As Du-val himself requested the continuances, this contention is ludicrous.

Appellant further argues that the hearing…