Raymond Wilson v. State Wisconsin

Plaintiff in error, Raymond Wilson, pleaded guilty to a charge of murder in the first degree. Upon his plea the trial court
adJudged him guilty and sentenced him to imprisonment for life in the State Prison. Thereafter Wilson applied to the trial
court for a writ of error coram nobis and a new trial. Upon hearing of an order to show cause why that writ should not be
granted and a new trial ordered, the court denied both the writ and the motion for a new trial. Wilson has now obtained a
writ of error from the Supreme Court to review the orders denying such relief and to review the judgment. It is conceded that on November 29, 1954, Wilson dismembered the body of his wife and burned those parts of it which would
not go down the bathtub drain. On December 3, 1954, an information charging first degree murder was lodged against him. He
was arraigned in the municipal court on December 30, was represented by counsel, Mr. Charles Hammersley, and pleaded not guilty
and not guilty by reason of insanity at the time of the act. The court, pursuant to sec. 357.27 (now 957.27) Stats., appointed
three disinterested, qualified experts in mental diseases to examine Wilson and report. Mr. Hammersley then remarked that
he believed his client was presently insane and the court appointed the same three alienists to examine Wilson and on January
5, 1955 report their findings concerning his present mental condition, all as directed by sec. 357.13 (now 957.13), Stats.
On January 5, with the defendant and his counsel in court, the three doctors reported that they had examined Wilson and found
him to be presently sane, not to be feebleminded, and that he was able to counsel with his attorney in his own behalf. The
trial court then expressly found for the record that 'this defendant at this time is sane; that he is not insane; that he
is not feebleminded; and that he is not incapacitated to act for himself.' It then appointed February 23, 1955 as the date
when the issues raised by the defendant's two pleas should be tried.