Case ID: mich_266/html/0369-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Nelson Sharpe, C. J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In re LONG.
    Habeas Corpus — Appeal and Error — Jurisdiction.
    Writ of habeas corpus is issued to release a person from an illegal restraint of his liberty and may not be used to perform the functions of an appeal in the nature of a writ of error if jurisdiction of the person of the defendant and of alleged crime appear in the returns made thereto (3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 15206 et seq.).
    
    
      Habeas corpus proceedings by Henry Long, with accompanying certiorari to John A. Boyne, Judge of the Recorder’s Court of the City of Detroit, to obtain release from branch of the State prison at Marquette.
    Submitted October 19, 1933.
    Resubmitted February 15, 1934.
    (Calendar No. 37,079.)
    Writ dismissed April 3, 1934.
    
      Henry Long, in pro. per.
    
    
      Patrick H. O’Brien, Attorney General, Harry S. Toy, Prosecuting Attorney, and Edmund E. Shepherd, Assistant Prosecuting Attorney, for the people.
   Nelson Sharpe, C. J.

On petition of Henry Long, a writ of hateas corpus was issued by this court to inquire into the cause of his detention in the State prison at Marquette. Ancillary thereto, a writ of certiorari was issued to the recorder’s court of the city of Detroit to bring up the proceedings on his trial. Returns have been made thereto, from which it appears that an information was filed against him in said court charging him with robbery while armed with a dangerous weapon, to which he pleaded not guilty; that on the trial thereof he was convicted and duly sentenced to be imprisoned in said prison for not less than 20 nor more than 30 years, and that a commitment was issued, under which he was taken to, and is now confined in, said prison. A motion for a new trial was made and denied.

The reasons assigned by the petitioner for his discharge and argued in his brief may be thus stated:

1. That he was not given a fair and impartial trial.

2. That he was denied the right of counsel.

3. That the jury was not properly selected.

4. That he was denied compulsory process for obtaining material witnesses.

5. That the trial court erred in denying his motion for a new trial.

Our statute provides for the issuance of such writs (3 Comp. Laws 1929, § 15206 et seq.), and when return is made thereto it is the duty of the court “to examine into the facts contained in such return, and into the cause of the confinement or restraint” of the prisoner, and “whether the same shall have been for any criminal or supposed criminal matter, or not” (section 15225), and “if no legal cause be shown for such imprisonment or restraint, or for the continuation thereof, such court * * * shall discharge such party from the custody or restraint under which he is held” (section 15226), or remand him to prison if it shall appear that he is detained in custody “by virtue of the final judgment * * * of any competent court of * * * criminal jurisdiction” (section. 15227).

These writs may not be used to perform the functions of a writ of error (In re Joseph, 206 Mich. 659) and thus review the proceedings on a trial if jurisdiction of the person of the defendant and of the crime alleged to have been committed appear in the returns made thereto. In re Lewis, 124 Mich. 199; In re Manaca, 146 Mich. 697.

It will thus be seen that we cannot review, and need not discuss, the errors which, it is alleged, occurred on the trial or the trial court’s denial of the petitioner’s motion for a new trial. These are all matters which can be presented only on appeal in the nature of a writ of error.

The writ of habeas corpus is dismissed.

Potter, North, Fead, Wiest, and Butzel, JJ., concurred. McDonald and Weadock, JJ., took no part in this decision.