Court Opinion

ID: 7942938
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 23:16:59.079193+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:33:48.095527
License: Public Domain

Per Curiam.
The petitioners were charged in a proper complaint with the commission of the crime of murder in the first degree. An examination was had, and a large amount of testimony was taken. The justice of the peace found that there was probable cause to believe that the *103crime was committed and that the petitioners were guilty thereof, and bound them over to the circuit court for trial without bail. The petitioners then petitioned the circuit judge to be admitted to bail. Arguments were had before said judge, the testimony examined by him, and bail refused. The circuit judge must have based his refusal of bail upon a finding that the proof was evident and the presumption great that the petitioners were guilty of the crime of murder. Not satisfied with the ruling of the circuit judge, the petitioners now bring their case before this court by the writ of habeas corpus, thus virtually asking a review and a reversal of the conclusion reached by the circuit judge.
The courts of several States hold that the appellate court will not interfere with the decision of the circuit court, except where the discretion to admit to bail has been exercised in an arbitrary, unjust, or oppressive manner, or where the refusal is manifestly "erroneous. 5 Cyc. 90, note 72. See, also, Hull v. Wayne Circuit Judge, 87 Mich. 497. In refusing bail, the circuit judge said' that he did not deem it advisable to state at length the reasons for his denial; that the case might soon be tried, and any reason given might be misunderstood or misconstrued and result in harm. He thereupon entered an order denying the application. We think there was sufficient evidence in the testimony taken before the examining magistrate and submitted to the circuit judge to justify his finding. We do not think it a case where this court should interfere.
The prisoners will be remanded, and the application for bail denied.