Case ID: sw_145/html/0601-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "PRENDERGAST, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Ex Parte THOMAS.
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    March 6, 1912.
    Rehearing Denied April 3, 1912.)
    Habeas Corpus (§ 113) — Proceedings — Statements of Fact — Necessity.
    The petition for writ of habeas corpus is. a mere pleading, and not evidence of the aver-ments therein contained; and 'the appellate court cannot, in the absence of the statements of fact, determine whether petitioner was unlawfully committed for an alleged contempt of a lower court.
    [Ed. Note. — For other cases, see Habeas Corpus, Cent. Dig. §§ 102-115; Dec. Dig. § 113.]
    Application by Walter Thomas for writ of habeas corpus, directed to John W. Ryan, as Chief of Police of the City of Dallas.
    Writ refused.
    A. S. Baskett, of Dallas, for applicant. C„ E. Lane, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.
    
      
      For other oases see same topic and section NUMBER in Dec. Dig. & Am. Dig. Key No. Series & Rep’r Indexes
    
   PRENDERGAST, J.

This is an original application to this court for a writ of habeas corpus, which was granted by the Presiding Judge on March 22, 1911. The cause was heard and submitted to this court on March 29, 1911.

No evidence whatever was submitted to or heard by this court. The record contains none. The only record before the court is the application for the writ, the order granting the same, the writ issued and served on John W. Ryan, the chief of police of the city of Dallas, whom the applicant says held him in confinement, the return on the writ showing that it was executed, and an appearance bond by the appellant in the sum of $200 as fixed by the Presiding Judge of this court at the time the writ was granted for his appearance before this court.

Tlie application alleges that he was unjustly and illegally confined and restrained ■of his liberty by John W. Ryan, the chief of police of the city of Dallas, and in the -city jail of Dallas, by virtue of a certain purported writ of commitment issued by the clerk of the corporation court of the city of Dallas, a copy of which is attached and made a part of the application, which purported writ is based upon an order and judgment of the corporation court of said city adjudging him guilty of contempt of that court, and a copy of that judgment is also attached and made a part of his application. 'The application then states the grounds on which he attacks the validity of the proceedings and judgment of contempt against him. We think it is unnecessary to state these, in view of the disposition we will make of the case and state of the record.

This court, through Presiding Judge Davidson, in the case of Ex parte Naill, 59 Tex. Cr. R. 141, 127 S. W. 1031, said: “The record is before us without a statement of facts. All we have is the transcript of the proceedings of the matters above mentioned. When the transcript was completed, the -clerk of the district court put the usual certificate on same to the effect that the foregoing transcript of 20 pages is a true and correct copy of all the papers filed and all proceedings had in the habeas corpus cause, No. 5,183, styled Ex parte W. A. Naill, as 'the same appears now on file and of record in the office of the clerk. The certificate is officially signed with the impress of the seal .of the court. Following this certificate is the following agreement: ‘It is hereby agreed .in the above and foregoing cause that the facts as set forth in the above application :are true and correct.’ Signed: W. S. Howe, District Attorney. M. W. Stanton, Dan M. Jackson, and Moore & Moore, Attorneys for Defendant. There was no approval of this agreement by the judge who tried the case. As this matter is presented, we are unable ito revise the action of the trial court in refusing to reduce the bail. The application for writ of habeas corpus states the matters which have been sufficiently set out above; but the record does not contain any evidence sustaining the inability of the applicant to .give the amount of bond required, or any •.evidence by which this court could intelligently revise the action of the trial court. Every presumption will be indulged of the ■correctness of the ruling of the trial court, .and, in the absence of something to show the ruling was erroneous, this court will not ■disturb such ruling. The allegations in the petition that applicant was unable to give ■the bond, that his property was not sufficient ito secure the sureties in going on his bond, or the refusal of friends to go on the bond, ■do not prove themselves. If there was evidence admitted to prove these matters, it is not contained in the record, and none of the matters agreed to by counsel have been approved by the trial judge. Therefore, as the matter is presented, we are unable to review the ruling of the court, and the judgment will be affirmed.” See, also, Ex parte Robertson, 140 S. W. 98.

We beiieve that the principles announced in these decisions are decisive of this case. Certainly the application for a writ of habeas corpus, in and of itself, is not evidence of any of the allegations therein stated; but it is a mere pleading. These allegations must be proven, the same as any other allegations, in order to entitle the party to the relief sought.

The applicant is ordered remanded to the custody of the chief of police of Dallas, Tex.