Case Summary
Swedish citizen and "alien" Charles W. Nordstrom applied for a writ of habeas corpus against King County Sheriff Edward Cudahee. His application stated that he was being held and would be executed by hanging for the alleged crime of murder, in violation of the Constitution and U.S. law. Nordstrom claimed that a change in the Washington State statutes regulating the death penalty procedure made his execution illegitimate because it would rely on an ex post facto law and would violate his right to due process. Judge Cornelius H. Hanford sent an acerbic letter to Nordstrom's attorney, denying the application and refusing to hold a hearing, claiming that he aimed to end the series of appeals and applications that Nordstrom had previously made. Hanford stated that he had twice refused to grant a writ, and that his refusals had been sustained by the Supreme Court. Nordstrom appealed the denial. Nordstrom remained in custody, and a newspaper source reveals that he was later executed.
For subsequent petition by Charles W. Nordstrom before his execution, see related petitions.
Case Information
Petition type(s)
Petition subtype(s)
Sites of significance
Outcome
Petition denied
Fate of bound party
Remained in custody|deceased
Case Citation
RG21 US District Courts, Western District of Washington, Seattle, Records of the Northern Division, Case Files, 1890-1972, No. 951
Source material(s)
Case File
Length of case file
Between 21 and 30 pages
Related petitions
Repository(s)
State
Point(s) of law cited
"Act of the Legislature of the State of Washington, approved March 8, 1901, as appears on page 100 of the Laws of Washington of 1901" (Death Penalty Procedure Law, otherwise known as the "Rand Law")|"Repealing an Act Relative to the Death Warrant" (Legislature of the State of Washington, June 12, 1901)|Ballinger's Annotated Codes and Statutes of Washington Sections 6993, 6994, and 6995|"An Act relating to the issuance of the death warrant, the contents thereof, the return of same, fixing the place of executions, providing for the safe custody of the condemned, defining the duties of the superintendent of the State Penitentiary, the sheriff and the clerk in relation to said warrant, repealing all acts or parts of acts inconsistent herewith, excepting as to acts done and crimes committed prior to the taking effect of this act" (S. B. No. 4, June 12, 1901)
Tag(s)
