Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-11-11
SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.
The Virginia Coupon Cases Again Be-
fore the COurt-An Alabama Claim.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-A decision was rem
dered by the Supreme Court of the United
States to day in the Alabama claims case of the
Great Western Insurance Company, appellant,
against the United States, on an appeal from
the Court Of Claims. This was suit brought
by the insurance company to recover the sum
OF $5O9,6S5, with interest, alleged to be due it
from the Geneva award fund, on account of
War risks taken by the appellant upon vessels
destroyed by Confederate cruisers. The
Court OF Claims dismissed the appellants pe-
tltOn on the ground that 1t had no jurisdic-
tion. This court afirms that Judgment, and
holds that the Court of Claims was prohibited
from taking jurisdiction by an express statute,
As to the merits of the controversy between
the appellant and United States arising out of
the Geneva Convention, this court declines to
express any opinion for the reason that a
special tribunal has been created for the de-
termination of such questions.
A decision was also rendered to o-daV in the
ex parte case Of I. Temple Crouch, petitioner,
upon motion for leave to file petition for
writ of habeas corpus. This was an attempt
to bring again before the court in such way
as TO 0Dtaln prompt decision the question OF
the recelvabillty of the coupons of Virginia
state bonds in payment for taxes. Mr..
crouch, the petitioner, insisted upon paying
ms Incense tax in coupons, which the revenue
officers of the State declined to receive Mr.
crouch refused to make payment in any other
way whereupOn he was arrested and held for
trial by order of the Hastings Court of the
city of Richmond upon charge of violating
the license law.
HIS APPLICATION.
He thereupon applied to this court for a
writ of habeas corpus. upon the ground that
he was detained in custody by the State court
in violation of the constitution of the United
States, because the statute which prohibits a
revenue officer from accepting coupons
impairs the obligation of the con-
tract of State to receive them,
atlve and void, by reason of the provision q
the Federal constitution which precludes
the State from passing such laws. This court
holds that where prisoner is in custody of
a State court of competent jurisdiction not
illegally asserted, he cannot be taken
from that jurisdiction and discharged by
court of the United States on a writ Of
habeas corpus merely because he is not guilty
of the offence for which he is held Here the
right OF the prisoner to a discharge depends
alone ON the sutliclency of his defense, and
whether that defense is sufficient or not Is for
the court which tries him to determine. If
IN such determination errors are committed,
they can only be corrected in appropriate
form of proceeding for the purpose. The Office
of writ of habeas corpus is neither to correct
such errors nor to take a prisoner away from
a court which holds him for trial for fear if
he remains there such errors may be COM
mitted.
THE MOTION DENIED.
The motion of the petitioner is therefore
denied The opinion is by Chief Justice
Waite.
A decision was also rendered by the court
IN eX parte petitioner. This was motion for
leave TO file petition for writ of certiOrarl,
and was another attempt to get before this
court the question of the receivability of cou-
pons of Virginia State bonds in payment for
State taxes. This court holds that it has no
jurisdiction under the form of appeal or writ
of error to review the decision Of the Circuit
Court on the writ of habeas corpus in the case
of person alleged to be restrained his liberty
in violation of the constitution, or of any law
or treaty Of the United States. The petition
is therefore denied. The opinion is by Chief
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