Bloss v. State

11 Kan. 462 | Kan. | 1873

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Brewer, J.:

Dorman Bloss was arrested on a charge of grand larceny, and committed for trial. Bail was fixed by the examining magistrate at $800. He sued out a writ of habeas corpus before the probate judge, who reduced the bail to $400. Afterward the sheriff took and approved a recognizance in the sum of $400, which was forfeited by the nonappearance of the accused. An action was brought on this forfeited recognizance, judgment rendered in favor of the state, and this proceeding in error instituted to reverse such judgment. The only point made by counsel is, that the bond was void because taken by the sheriff. It is insisted that the judge who issued the writ of habeas corpus, and reduced the bail, was the only officer authorized to take the recognizance. This is a mistake. While the proceedings in habeas corpus were pending before _ the judge unquestionably he had power to take the recognizance. (Criminal code, § 62; civil code, §§ 672, 673.) But after he had rendered his decision and reduced the amount of bail, and returned the accused t'o the custody of the sheriff, that officer then had the power. (Crim. code, §143.) He held the accused under a mittimus. That mittimus fixed the amount of bail. The proceedings before the judge had reduced the amount, but they had not set aside the mittimus. Probably the probate judge could have himself issued a valid mittimus indorsing the bail thereon at the reduced amount, but still the sheriff would have had the power to take the recognizance. Even if such proceedings were without warrant of law, and void, it is doubtful whether either the accused or his sureties could take any advantage of the fact. The sheriff accepted a recognizance for a less amount than that fixed by the committing magistrate. Hodges v. The State, 20 Tex., 493. But so far as the record shows, the action of the judge was legal and valid. Having availed themselves of such action in their favor, they are hardly in a position to contest its validity.

The judgment of the district court is affirmed.

All the Justices concurring.