United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Watts v. Indiana, 338 U.S. 49 (1949)

Watts v. Indiana

No. 610

Argued April 25, 1949

Decided June 27, 1949

338 U.S. 49

Syllabus

Petitioner was arrested on suspicion on a Wednesday and held without arraignment, without the aid of counsel or friends, and without advice as to his constitutional rights until the following Tuesday, when he confessed to murder. Meanwhile, he was held much of the time in solitary confinement in a cell with no place to sit or sleep except on the floor, and was interrogated by relays of police officers, usually until long past midnight. At his trial in a state court, the confession was admitted in evidence over his objection, and he was convicted.

Held: the use at the trial of a confession obtained in this manner violated the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and the conviction is reversed. Pp. 388 U. S. 49-55.

226 Ind. 655, 82 N.E.2d 846, reversed.