James E. Plough v. H. v. Fields, Superintendent

In spite of its title, this case does not involve the age old struggle of mankind to wrest a living from the soil; it does involve a problem that is coming before the courts more and more frequently, an attack by a prisoner upon the validity of his guilty plea.

Plough is a California state prisoner; Fields is his keeper. Plough was charged with three felonies, robbery (Cal.Pen.C. § 211), grand theft, (id. § 487, subdivisión 3), and burglary from an automobile (id. § 459). He was also charged with a prior felony conviction. His case was called for arraignment at about 9 o’clock in the morning, at which time the public defender was appointed to defend him. The matter was then passed until 11:45 A.M., when Plough pled guilty to the robbery charge. Disposition of the other counts and of the charge of prior felony was postponed until sentencing. At sentencing the other two counts were dismissed, the court found the charge of prior felony not sufficiently proved, and Plough was sentenced on the robbery charge to the indeterminate term prescribed by law, one year to life.

In his petition for a writ of habeas corpus, Plough does not assert innocence, but does assert two other principal…