Aftеr finding that inordinate delay in Kansas state procedures was such as to deny to appellant an adequate state remedy, the United States District Court for the District of Kansas granted a full ev-identiary hearing upon appellant’s petition for habeas corрus. Federal relief was denied and this appeal followed. Appellant was convicted of burglary and is presently serving an habitual criminal sentence.
Our appellate consideration probes the correlation between the constitutional dictates of Mapp v. Ohio,
Evidence was admitted at appellant’s state trial, without objection, whiсh had allegedly been seized during an unlawful search of a home in which appellant was living. Appellant asserts that the failure to оbject to the evidence was a “procedural default” which should not preclude consideration of his claim in a federal habeas corpus proceeding. Fay v. Noia,
The district court found that as a matter of trial strategy appellant had joined with his counsel, an able and experienced attorney, in refraining from objecting to the allegedly taintеd evidence. If this finding is supported by substantial evidence then it satisfies the requirements of Fay v. Noia, supra, and also of Henry v. State of Mississippi, supra, in which the Supreme Court said:
“Although trial strategy adopted by counsel without prior consultation with an accused will not, where the circumstances are exceptional, preclude the accused from asserting constitutional claims, (citation оmitted), we think that the deliberate bypassing by counsel of the contemporaneous objection rule as a part of the trial strаtegy would have that effect in this case.” at 451-452,85 S.Ct. at 569 .
During the early morning of June 22, 1961 a safe and dolly were stolen from the Christensen Produce Company in Topeka, Kansas. Neighbors to a house located at 434 Oakland Street testified that at about 6:00 a.m. on that day appеllant and one Harold Beeghley took a Mrs. Pate and her children, who, along with appellant from time to time, lived in the house, in Beеghley’s car to some unknown destination and returned a few minutes later. Upon their return appellant and Beeghley were seen tаking a large heavy object from the car to the house. Immediately thereafter loud hammering and drilling noises were heard by the witnessеs. After the noises ceased the heavy object was returned, with the concealatory aid of a blanket, to the trunk of the car and appellant was seen taking some papers to the trash barrel and setting them on fire. The police were called by an alert neighbor and appellant was seen going out of the back window of the house and over the fence. The apрellant was not apprehended at this time and did not return to the house.
The investigating officers apprehended Beeghley and saw a cash box from a safe on the back seat of his car. Confronted with this evidence Beeghley was asked if a warrant to search the car should be obtained. He replied: “No, you’ve got me, go ahead and look.” The Christensen safe was in the car trunk.
The officers then proceeded, with Beeghley’s consent but not that of appellant or Mrs. Pate, to search the house and premises. A crowbar and some safe-lining material were found within the house. Some partially burned contents of the safe were found in the yard. The admission of this evidence founds appellant’s present complaint.
Appellant’s trial defense was that of alibi strengthened by affirmative evidence of non-commission. Mrs. Pate testified that he was with her at all times material to the commission of the crime. Beeghley testified that he had committed the crime with an accomplice known to him only as “Moose”; that he and “Moose” were the persons seen at the Pate house; that appellant in no way participated in the offense. Beegh-ley was called as a witness on appellant’s insistence, indicating that appellant participated in the trial strategy which resulted in the fаilure to object to the “tainted” evidence. We are therefore not required to consider the situation where trial strategy is сompletely the unilateral decision of counsel.
Compare
Nelson v. People of State of California, 9 Cir.,
In its judgment in the case at bar the trial court states:
“It is apparent from a reading of the transcript of the criminal trial the strategy of petitioner’s defense was not to refute the fact that such evidence was present at the residеnce at 434 Oakland but rather that petitioner had no hand in bringing abouts [sic] its presence there.”
*596
We agree. Although, as appellant’s state trial counsel testified at the hearing below, there is nothing legally inconsistent with an objection to the subject evidence to the defense of alibi, still such an objection might be undesirable in view of Beeghley’s testimony, which if the jury had deemed it credible, would have resulted in appellant’s acquittal. The strategy failed but success is not the test of competent representation, Johnson v. United Stаtes, 10 Cir.,
Other contentions raised by appellant are without merit.
Affirmed.
Notes
. “A verdict or finding shall not be set aside, nor shall the judgment or decision based thereon be reversed, by reason of the erroneous admission of evidence unless there аppears of record objection to the evidence timely interposed and so stated as , to make clear the sрecific ground of objection.” This rule is applicable to criminal procedures. K.S.A. 60-402.
. “No error in either the admission or the exсlusion of evidence and no error or defect in any ruling or order or in anything done or omitted by the court or by any of the parties is grоund for granting a new trial or for setting aside a verdict or for vacating, modifying or otherwise disturbing a judgment or order, unless refusal to take such action appears to the court inconsistent with substantial justice. * * * ” This rule apparently has no specific application to criminal procedure.