Court Opinion

ID: 6542301
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:16:43.504339+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:52.116383
License: Public Domain

Cockrill, C. J. This is a petition to review by certiorari the refusal of the judge of the Pope circuit court to discharge the petitioner upon habeas corpus. It appears from the record which has been certified to us in the usual way in such cases, [see Arkansas Industrial Co., v. Neel, 48 Ark., 283 ; Jackson, ex parte, 45 Ib., 158,] that an indictment was returned by the grand jury against the petitioner “for criminal abortion,” and that he entered a plea of guilty to the indictment, whereupon the court assessed his punishment at one year’s imprisonment in the penitentiary and a fine of $50, and remanded him to custody to await sentence. On the next day the court concluding that the indictment charged only a misdemeanor, caused the defendant’s plea of guilty to be withdrawn; the indictment was quashed and the cause was held for the action of the grand jury, the amount of bail required of the prisoner being fixed by the court. He remained in jail and after the court had adjourned for the term, presented his petition to the judge at chambers to be discharged. It is the action of the judge in this behalf we are called upon to review. The argument is that the indictment charges a misdemeanor and that the petitioner, having been convicted of that offence, cannot be longer held in custody for any grade of offence growing out of the same transaction.  1. Habeas Corpus: Erroneous proceedings not corrected. The indictment is set forth in the record, but it is imma-i. terial whether it charges a felony, a misdemeanor or no offence at all. In no event could the question whether court erred in causing the defendant’s plea of guilty to be withdrawn be determined in this proceeding without making the writ of habeas corpus serve the office of an appeal or writ of error, which is wholly beyond its function. If the facts entitled the petitioner to be discharged from further prosecution, as to which the parties may profitably consult Lange, ex parte, 18 Wall., 163, he might have obtained his discharge upon motion in the same cause. Atkins v. State, 16 Ark., 574-5, or he may do so by special plea to a new indictment for the same offence. He cannot raise the question by habeas corpus, Wharton Pl. and Pr., secs. 477, 996; 1 Bish. Cr. Pro., sec. 821; Church on Habeas Corpus, secs. 253, 255; Hurd on Habeas Corpus, B’k 2, ch. 6, sec. 1; Pitner v. State, 44 Tex., 578; Wentworth v. Alexander, 64 Ind., 39; State v. Sheriff, 24 Minn., 87; Com. v. Norton, 8 Serg. and R., 71; Ex parte Hartman, 44 Cal., 32; Semler’s Petition, 41 Wis., 517; Ex parte Ruthven, 17 Mo., 541.  2. Same: Review of proceedings on: Practice. The order on which he is held is regular on its face and which the court had power to make. Mansf. Dig. secs. 2158, 2169; Hortsell v. State, 45 Ark., 59; Gordon v. State, 35 Ala., 430. We extend the inquiry no further. Brandon, ex parte, 49 Ark., 143. In the case of Jackson, ex parte, 45 Ark., 158, where the petitioner was released on habeas corpus after conviction before a justice of the peace, it clearly appeared that the fact for which he was committed was not a crime for which he could be punished in any tribunal, and we proceeded only in accordance with the practice of the court of King’s Bench at common law in directing his discharge. Hurd on Habeas Corpus, supra. The action of the circuit judge in refusing the prayer of the petition is affirmed.