Case ID: sw_283/html/0795-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "HAWKINS, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Ex parte ARMSTRONG.
    (No. 10142.)
    (Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.
    May 5, 1926.)
    Habeas corpus <&wkey;113(3) — Where validity of ordinance which may be violated in several ways is" sought to be tested by habeas corpus proceeding, hut no complaint charging specific violation is shown to have been filed against relator, and it aippears that relator was never in custody, appeal from remanding order will be dismissed.
    Where validity of ordinance regulating movement of pedestrian traffic which might be violated in several different ways is sought to be tested on habeas corpus proceeding, but it does not appear that any complaint was ever filed against relator charging him with violation of ordinance, and application for writ does not indicate manner in which it was claimed ordinance was violated,, and it appears that relator was never in custody, appeal from remanding prder will be dismissed.
    Appeal from Tarrant County Court at Daw No. 2; H. O. Gossett, Judge.
    Application on the part of George W. Armstrong for writ of habeas corpus. From the remanding order, relator appeals.
    Appeal dismissed.
    Julien C. Hyer, A. W. Christian, and H. M. Harrington, all of Fort Worth, for appellant.
    E. E. Eouer, George Kemble, and Gillis A. Johnson, all of Fort Worth, Sam D. Stinson, State’s Atty., of Austin, and Eobt. M. Dyles, Asst. State’s Atty., of Groesbeck, for the State.
   HAWKINS, J.

Relator presented to the county court at law No. 2 of Tarrant county an application for writ of habeas corpus alleging that he was restrained of his liberty by virtue of an arrest under an ordinance of the city of Fort Worth designed to regulate the movement of pedestrian traffic on the streets of said city. From an order of the county judge remanding relator this appeal is brought.

Apparently the proceeding was designed to test the constitutionality of the traffic ordinance of the city of Fort Worth in so far as the same attempts to regulate the movement of pedestrians. The ordinance discloses nine ways in which pedestrians may violate it. It does not appear from the record that any complaint was ever filed against relator charging him with the violation of any provision of the ordinance in question. The effort seems to be to have this court determine the validity of the entire traffic ordinance of the city as it applies to pedestrians. There is nothing in the application for the writ of habeas corpus nor Da the agreement signed by the attorneys indicating in what manner it was claimed the ordinance in question had been violated. The court would be called upon to pass upon an abstract question as to whether any or all of the subdivisions of said ordinance which related to pedestrians was valid or invalid. Until it appears that a complaint is filed charging a specific violation of some provision of the ordinance, this court does not feel called upon to pass upon the question. See Ex parte Drane, 80 Tex. Cr. R. 543, 191 S. W. 1156.

Furthermore, it is made to appear by admissions in open court upon the submission of this matter that appellant is not now, and hjas never been, in custody.

For the reasons stated, the appeal is dismissed. 
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