Case ID: wis_166/html/0277-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Winslow, O. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

State ex rel. Hellige, Respondent, vs. Milwaukee Liedertafel, Appellant, and another, Respondent.
    
      October 26
    
    
      November 13, 1917.
    
    
      Arrest and bail: Affidavit: Sufficiency: Remedies: Habeas corpus.
    
    1. Under sub. (2), sec. 2689, Stats. 1916, an order of arrest may properly be issued in a civil action where it appears by affidavit that the defendant, while treasurer of a corporation, wrongfully converted moneys of the corporation to his own use and fraudulently misapplied its funds.
    [2. Whether habeas corpus is a proper remedy in a case where an order of arrest has been issued without a sufficient affidavit, or whether a motion to vacate the order under sec. 2715, Stats., is the exclusive remedy, is not decided.]
    3. The nature of a habeas corpus proceeding, as being in itself a civil action and not a motion in another action, the proper • parties thereto, and the procedure therein, are indicated.
    
      Appeal from a judgment of the circuit court for Milwaukee county: Lawbence W. Halsey, Circuit Judge.
    
      Reversed.
    
    
      Habeas corpus. The relator was arrested by virtue of a warrant issued by a circuit court commissioner in a civil action, the warrant being founded on a verified complaint and an affidavit made by the financial secretary of the appellant corporation, both stating in substance that the relator, while acting as treasurer of the corporation, received $251.29 of the corporate funds which he refuses to turn over to the plaintiff and has wrongfully converted to his own use, and that the relator, while acting as treasurer of said corporation, fraudulently .misapplied the funds of the corporation. The relator gave bail immediately on his arrest, but subsequently was surrendered by his bail and again taken into custody, whereupon he brought these habeas corpus proceedings against the sheriff. The relator being brought before the court by the sheriff in response to the writ, the appellant also appeared and became a party to the proceedings and demurred to the sufficiency of the petition, the demurrer being treated by the court as in substance a motion to quash the writ, and the trial court, after hearing the matter, discharged the relator from custody on .the ground that the arrest proceedings were not authorized by law. Thereupon the Liedertafel corporation appealed.
    For the appellant there was a brief by Jeger & Klingel-hoefer of Milwaukee, and oral argument by Alfred Klingel-hoefer.
    
    
      Adolph G. Schwefel of Milwaukee, for the relátor.
   Winslow, O. J.

In this case it is held that an order of arrest may properly be issued in a civil action where it appears by affidavit as here that the defendant, while treasurer of a corporation, wrongfully converted moneys of the corporation to his own use and fraudulently misapplied the funds of the corporation. Sub. (2), sec. 2689, Stats. 1915. A mere reading of the statute settles the question.

This holding makes it unnecessary to decide the question whether habeas corpus is a proper remedy in a case where the warrant has been issued without a sufficient affidavit, or whether in such case a motion to vacate the order under sec. 2715, Stats., is the exclusive remedy. It seems best, however, to make some suggestions as to the practice in habeas corpus cases in view of the unsatisfactory state of the record before us. The case has been treated on both sides as though the habeas corpus proceedings were simply proceedings occurring in the course of the original civil action and the order appealed from an order made in that action. Apparently the whole record in the civil action has been returned here in response to the appeal, and the judgment of discharge as well as the other habeas corpus papers, including the notice of appeal and undertaking, are entitled in the civil action. This indicates failure to understand the nature of a habeas corpus proceeding. It is not a motion in another action; on the contrary it is a civil action of itself, in which the state on the relation of the petitioner is plaintiff and the person charged with unlawfully imprisoning the petitioner is at least one of-the defendants. All parties who are interested in the continuance of the imprisonment are potential defendants and doubtless are entitled to appear and become parties in fact as the plaintiff in the civil action did in the present case. Sec. 3432, Stats. The subject of the nature of a habeas corpus proceeding was fully discussed and settled in the case of State ex rel. Durner v. Huegin, 110 Wis. 189, 85 N. W. 1046.

The proper method of challenging the sufficiency of the petition is by motion to quash the writ, not by demurrer. 21 Cyc. 317. If this motion be overruled, or in the event of no such motion being made, a full return should be made as the statute prescribes, which may be traversed, thus raising an issue of fact for trial, or the petitioner may stand upon the' return and move for discharge, thus admitting its truth and in effect challenging its sufficiency. Secs. 3419, 3420, 3425, 3426, Stats.; 12 Ruling Case Law, § 57, p. 1239.

No prejudice to the rights of any party seems to have resulted from the erroneous practice in the present case and the parties are equally at fault, hut it has seemed desirable to point out the errors and indicate the correct procedure in order that such confusion may he avoided in the future.

By the Gourt. — Judgment reversed, and action remanded with directions to quash the writ and remand the relator to custody.