In Re Matusow

This is a petition in habeas corpus and arises from the following facts: Matusow was a defendant in several eases pending in the municipal court. Each of the complaints in said cases charged the defendant with violating the so-called Mattress Regulation and Inspection Act. Attorneys for the prosecution and for the said defendant stipulated that the cases might be tried together and without a jury. The defendant was convicted and sentenced to jail. He claims here that he is illegally in custody because he did not personally join in the waiving of a jury. The respondent, the chief of police, in his return says in effect that defendant did personally waive a jury. This court appointed a referee, who after taking evidence upon this disputed question of fact, reported that defendant did in fact personally waive a jury in all of said cases. Petitioner objects to . the findings of the referee on the ground that they do not conform to the evidence adduced at the hearing before him. We have examined the transcript of the hearing and while it is true that there is conflict upon the point, there is ample testimony upon which to base the referee’s findings. The referee’s findings are approved…