1 Morris 407 | Iowa | 1845
Per Curiam,
After the plaintiffs in error had been indicted for murder, they were brought before the District Court of Desmoines county, by a writ of habeas corpus for the purpose, on their part, of being let to bail. It was contended for them that although they had been indicted for murder, yet the evidence against them before the grand jury was of such an unconclusive character, that they were entitled to be discharged on bail as a matter of right, and it was claimed to be the duty of the court to go into an original examination of the whole matter, and to decide according to the natura of the proof then furnished. The court refused to bail the prisoners, or eveD to look behind the indictment. Whether that determination of the court was legal or proper, is the question brought up for our consideration.
The ordinance of 1787, the benefits of which have been transmitted to us, declares that “ all persons shall be bailable, unless for capital offences where the proof shall be evident, or the presumption great” It is contended that an indictment furnishes no such proof or presumption.
This is no new provision, but is in express terms incorporated into the constitutions of at least one half of the Slates of the Union, and is the rule of action in all the rest. It is merely declaratory of the common law of the United States. If the construction contended for by counsel be correct, it is a little remarkable that no case can be found where a vimilar application has been successfully made.
It is true, there have been cases, where prisoners-after having been indicted for murder have been admitted to bail, but not as a matter of right, nor upon the examination of original testimony. There is no doubt of the poiver of the court to let to bail after indictment for a capital offence, but can the prisoner require the court to disregard th® indictment, as furnishing no presumption of guilt, and can he lawfully claim to be let to bail as a matter of right, unless evident proof or great
Authorities have been cited to the effect that an indictment furnishes no presumption of guilt. This proves too much, else why should not the prisoner be discharged altogether? Can a person against whom there is no presumption of guilt be required to give bail for his appearance at court? The truth is, that these authorities although good law, have been misapplied. An indictment furnishes no presumption of guilt against a prisoner when he is upon his trial, but so far as it regards all intermediate proceedings between the indictment and trial, it furnishes the very strongest possible presumption of guilt, if a grand jury is the appropriate organ of the law to decide in the first instance upon the guilt or innocence of the accused and their finding of a true bill is conclusive so far as to put him upon his trial and to control all the intermediate proceedings. It is then fundus officio, and raises no further presumption.
The humanity of our law requires that before a person shall be punished as a criminal, he must be found guilty by two independent juries. The verdict of the first raises a full presumption of guilt up to the time of his trial before the second. The authorities, so far as any can be found, applicable to the case, sustain the views we have now taken. See 3 Petersdorf, 307; 1 Bac. Abr. 493; 2 Am. Com. Law, 116.
But our habeas corpus act is relied upon as exercising a peculiar influence over this case. The 15th section of that act declares, that “ the officer before whom the party shall be brought on such writ, shall immediately after the return thereof proceed to examine into the facts contained in such return, and into the cause of the confinement or restraint of such party ; whether the same shall have been upon commitment for any criminal or supposed criminal matter or not.” The 22d section further provides that “ the party brought before any such officer, on the return of any writ of habeas corpus may deny any of the material facts set forth in the return, or allege any fact to show either that his imprisonment or detention is unlawful or that he is entitled to his discharge, which allegations or denials shall be on oath. And thereupon such officer shall proceed in a summary way, to hear such allegations and proof as may be produced in support of such imprisonment or detention, or against the same and to dispose ol such parly as the justice of the case may require.”
It is contended that these sections of the act change the ordinary course of procedure in cases like the present, that as the law does not
Admitting ⅛⅛ So be true, the indictment itself furnishes all the requisite proof. Any other construction would lead to the most absurd consequences.
In the first place, the officer who issues the writ of habeas corpus, if he can look behind the indictment and go into original proof to ascertain whether the grand jury had sufficient grounds for their action, may discharge the prisoner altogether. A judge would thus become an appellate tribunal to reverse or affirm the decisions of grand juries, and may thwart the action of that body altogether, if he sees proper.
Again, if the finding of a grand jury does not supersede the necessity «¡F a reinvestigation of the original evidence by the judge, much less would a previous examination of the case under a writ of habeas corpus issued fay that same judge or one of his associates have this effect. What then is to prevent a prisoner from having a new examination every day of his confinement, until having wearied out the witnesses and the prosecutor, or for some other cause there becomes a failure of evident proof, or great presumption of guilt. When that failure takes place, must not the prisoner be discharged, independent of all the knowledge which the officer has acquired by former examinations, for why require an examination of original testimony unless the officer is to be governed thereby ?
But further than this, the sections of the law above quoted do not except cases of persons convicted by petit juries. The convict in jail awaiting execution is, under our statute, entitled to his writ of habeas corpus, and when brought before the judge, if the proof then made should appear insufficient, it vvould not only be his right, but his duty to discharge the prisoner either absolutely or on bail according to the strength of the evidence. This would be raising up a new pardoning power wholly unknown to our laws and institutions and at war with both.
But it will be replied that the verdict of the petit jury furnishes that great presumption of the prisoner’s guilt, which the ordinance of 1787 contemplates. So does the indictment by the grand jury, (see authorities above cited.) But the declaration in the ordinance, is that “all persons shall be bailable unless for capital offences, &c.” Is the convict in the penitentiary bailable 1 And yet the habeas corpus act makes no exception to his exclusion.
The evident answer to this last question is, that the object of the ha-
We therefore conclude, that the provisions of our habeas corpus act, so for as they require the hearing of original testimony, contemplate cases where no indictment has been found. The finding of the grand jury is conclusive, so far as to control all proceedings up to the time of trial before the petit jury, the verdict of the latter is conclusive altogether.
The decision of the court below is therefore affirmed.
