Case Name: Ex Parte WILLIAM McKAY DENY
Court: Supreme Court of Nevada
Jurisdiction: Nevada
Decision Date: 1875-07
Citations: 10 Nev. 212
Docket Number: No. 741
Parties: Ex Parte WILLIAM McKAY DENY.
Judges: Earll, J"., did not participate in the foregoing decision.
Reporter: Nevada Reports
Volume: 10
Pages: 212–214

Head Matter:
[No. 741.]
Ex Parte WILLIAM McKAY DENY.
Habeas Coupes — What Petition bob must State. — The provisions of the statute that if tlie imprisonment be alleged to be illegal, the petition must also state in -what the alleged illegality consists (1 Comp. L. 350), contemplates that the facts showing wherein the alleged illegality consists should ho stated.
Statement, when Conclusion op Law. — A general statement that the warrant is illegal, null and void, and that it was issued without authority of law, is a mere conclusion of law, not a statement of any fact.
Petition must make out Peima Facie Case. — Before a writ of habeas corpus is granted, sufficient probable cause must be shown to enable the court to form some judgment in the case, and if it appears from the petitioner’s statement that there is no sufficient ground for his discharge the court should not issue the writ.
Habeas Coepus — When not made Retubnable bepobe Sopbeme Coubt.— Where it is sought to bring petitioner from a distant county, a writ of habeas corpus will not be made returnable before this court in the first instance, without a showing of the absence, disability or refusal of the district judge of the county to act, or other good cause why it should be heard by the Supreme Court, or a justice thereof.
This Cocrt will not anticipate Arrest oe Petitioner. — Petitioner cannot be in the custody of two different officers at the same time; and whero petitioner alleges that he is in the custody of the sheriff but suggests to the court that the sheriff will deliver him to another officer upon receipt of the governor’s requisition, this court will not anticipate such arrest in order to determine the validity of the governor’s warrant.
Application for a writ of habeas corpus before tbe Supreme Court.
Tbe facts are stated in tbe opinion.
W. 8. Bonnifield, for Petitioner.

Opinion:
By tbe Court,
Hawley, C. J. :
Petitioner represents tbat be is illegally restrained of bis liberty by tbe sheriff of Humboldt County; tbat tbe imprisonment is illegal in this, tbat said sheriff pretends to bold petitioner upon a pretended warrant of arrest issued by a justice of tbe peace of said Humboldt County; tbat said warrant is illegal, null and void, and that tbe said justice issued tbe same without authority of law.
Tbe provision of our statute tbat 11 if the imprisonment be alleged to be illegal, tbe petition must also state in what tbe alleged illegality consist" (1 Comp. L. 350), contemplates tbat tbe facts, showing wherein tbe alleged illegality consists, should be stated. Petitioner does not state tbe offense for which be was arrested. No copy of tbe warrant is contained in tbe petition, and no facts are presented tbat enable us to determine whether tbe warrant is illegal or not. Tbe general statement tbat tbe warrant of tbe justice is illegal, null and void, and tbat it was issued without authority of law, is a mere conclusion of law, not a statement of any fact.
Tbe petition should state facts sufficient to make out a prima facie case. Tbe authorities are numerous and uniform tbat before a writ of habeas corpus is granted, sufficient probable cause must be shown to enable tbe court to form some judgment in tbe case, and if it appears from tbe petitioner's statement tbat there is no sufficient ground for his discharge tbe court should not issue the writ. (Jordan v. State, 14 Tex. 442; In the Matter of Keeler, Hemp. 311; In re Grinar, 16 Wisc. 430; Ex parte Milligan, 4 Wall. 110; Sim's Gase, 7 Cush. 291; Williamson's Case, 26 Penu. St. 15; Hurd on Habeas Corpus, 223-4.) This rule should, in our judgment, be strictly enforced in all cases where, as in the application * under consideration, it is sought to bring petitioner from a distant county. (Ex parte Nye, 8 Kansas, 99.) It is questionable whether, in such cases, even if a proper showing was otherwise made, we should make the writ returnable before'us in the first instance; certainly not without a showing of the absence, disability or refusal of the district judge of the county to act, or other good cause why it should be heard by the Supreme Court, or a justice thereof. (Ex parte Ellis, 11 Cal. 223.)
Petitioner also represents that o¡ne Carrigan claims to hold him on a pretended warrant issued by the governor of this State upon a requisition from the governor of the State of Nebraska, and avers, in general terms, "that he is not guilty of any offense in any State or Territory in this Union; that he has not been charged of any offense in any State or Territory, and especially in the State óf Nebraska."
This part of the petition is as defective, in its failure to state the facts, as the former. It is also insufficient upon another ground. It is apparent that petitioner could not be in the custody of both parties at the same time. Upon this suggestion, counsel for petitioner stated that petitioner was in the custody of the sheriff; but he expected the sheriff would deliver him to said Carrigan upon the presentation of the governor's warrant. The writ should be refused upon this statement, because petitioner was not, at the time of presenting his application, in the custody of, or restrained of his liberty by said Carrigan. We cannot anticipate his arrest.
The writ is denied.
Earll, J"., did not participate in the foregoing decision.