The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-09-12
A Novel Case.
A MAN PRESENTS HIS OWN PETITION FOR WRIT
OF HABEAs CORPUS AND SERVES THE WRIT.

OF HABEAs CORPUS AND SERVES THE WRIT.
His name is Frank Lee. No one here
knows to the contrary. he has figured III
DAYS past i'm the criminal annals Of this city
and county, and was not q great while age
nnder arrest and carried to Galveston on {
charge OF passing counterfeit money; bu
the case fell through. Deputy Marsha
Thompson knew the man well, and few
DAYS ago, seeing him on the streets, arrested
him as suspicious character and locked
him up in the city prison. He had OH
his person when apprehended about $3.50 in
money, so unusual an amount for him, and
for men OF his class, that the police authori.
ties concluded to hold him four or five days,
until they could hear from the point he
claimed to have been at, and learn whether
or not any money had been lost. Monday,
becoming FESTIVE under his confinement, he
applied to q practitioner OF the law for
relief, and the disciple of Blackstone
concluded he would petition for a
writ OF habeas corpus for him, but
on conyersing with Marshal Butt learned
that he intended to release him the next
day yesterday unless something turned up
to the contrary, so the lawyer concluded to
wait with the habeas corpus. Yesterday
morning early Lee was sent into the back
yard of the calaboose to draw bucket OF
water and-but we will let him tell the story
for himself.
Just as Judge Cook was going into break
fast man roughly clad burst into his yard,
and coming unceremoniously into the house,
asked, pantingly, care yes the ledge Of
the Criminal Coort?"
.sI am" answered the Judge.
care yes ledge Cook?"
"That is my name,' said the Judge.
CIVIL, thin, you're worship, wants a
habeas corpas. -H-
"For whom do you desire the writ"
IT wants it for meself, your worship"
"Want it for yourself? Why, are you
restrained Of your liberty!"
81 am, your worship. / am in the GALA
boose, and the city marshal kapes me from
me liberty"
"Ofwhat otfense are you accused!"
81 don't know, your worship. / know
I'm in the calaboose, where ] have been
four or five days, and I hired q lawyer to
get me habeas corpus, and sure he's gone
back on me, and this morning they STINT me
to get bucket OF wather, and iist dhroped
the bucket and come til yes, sure, for the
habeas corpus, and wants it."
telling me?"
CuAC1 &Auu WIN 6Auo 10y
shouldn't ], whin its nothing but the blissed
thruth, every worrud Of it?"
The Judge then wrote out the gist Of his
statement, putting it in proper shape, swore
him to it, and issued the writ Of habeas cor
pns on the back of it, and instructed him to
serve it on Marshal Butt.
s !" And I'll do it, by the hockey, aud WILL"
said Lee as he triumphantly left.
Going to the calaboose direct, he raised
some commotion as, he walked in and asked
for Marshal But. The Marshal, at his de-
nand, was sent for from up in the Poice
Court room, and came down to see why ne
had come back, hoping he had yamoosed for
good. When the Marshal walked up Lee
stuck in his face the writ, eXclaiming:
'Be dad, and read that now, will yez,
and none O. yer shenanigan neither.
The Marshal dotted his chapeau and pro-
duced the prisoner before Judge Cook at 10
O'Clock yesterday morning, in chambers,
and as there was nothing against the man
he was released from custody-beang the
first man who ever served his own writ OF
hdbeaS corpus. A53at