A writ of habeas corpus was issued in this case by order of the chief justice and made returnable before the court, upon the petition of Eay Hovey alleging that she is unlawfully imprisoned and restrained of her liberty at the town
It appears from the pleadings that on the 7th day of November, 1907, one of the regular days of the July term of said district court, the plaintiff was placed on trial, after a plea of not guilty, upon an information filed by the prosecuting attorney of Natrona County charging her with the statutory offense of enticing a female of good repute and chastity into a ‘house of ill fame for the purpose of prostitution ; that a jury was impaneled and sworn upon said trial, to whom, after the introduction of evidence, arguments of counsel, and instructions of the court, the cause was submitted on Saturday, November 9, 1907, and they thereupon retired to deliberate upon their verdict. That on the following' day, Sunday, November 10, 1907, át the hour of ten o’clock in the forenoon, the presiding judge of said court convened the same in session, the clerk and sheriff being present, as also the plaintiff here, who- was defendant in said cause, and the attorneys for the State; whereupon the jury aforesaid was called into the presence of the court, and upon inquiry by the court reported that they were unable to agree, and that there was no probability of their agreeing or rendering a verdict, and asked to be discharged from a further consideration of the case. Thereupon, on said day, they were discharged by the court; and an order was then made and entered of that date reciting the report of the jury and that “it thereupon appearing to the cоurt that the jury cannot agree and that there is no probability of their agreeing, and that they are unable to
It further appears that thereafter, at the same term, viz.: November 21, 1907, the following order, which constitutes the authority for the imprisonment complained of, was made and entered by said court in' the cause aforesaid:
(Omitting the title and caption.) “This cause coming on to be heard regularly on the special plea in bar heretofore filed by the defendant, Fay Hovey, and the same having been argued by counsel, and fully considered by the court, it is, this 21st day of November, 1907, by the court, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the special plea in bar of the defendant, Fay Hovey, be and the same is hereby denied and overruled, to which denial and overruling of the court of said plea in bar, the defendant here and now excepts, and the court being unable to re-try said cause at this present (July term, A. D. 1907) term, it is by the court ordered, that the said cаuse be and the same is hereby continued- until the next regular term of this court, the January, A. D. 1908, term, and it is further ordered, that the bond in this cause shall be and hereby is fixed at the sum of three hundred dollars ($300.00) for the appearance of said defendant, Fay Hovey, before this court on the first day of the regular January, 1908, term thereof, at 10 o’clock a. m., and there to remain and not depart without leave of court and to abide the judgment and order of the court, and it is further ordered, that the sheriff of Natrona County, Wyoming, be and he is hereby commanded to receive and safely keep the said Fay Hovey and her, the said Fay Hovey, to safely keep and imprison in the jail of said Natrona County until she, the said Fay Hovey, be discharged by due process of law, and a certified copy of this order shall be the authority of said sheriff of Natrona County. To each and every part of this order the defendant now and here excepts. Done in open court this 21st day of November, 1907.”
Upon the ground that the discharge of the jury was unlawful and void, for the reason that it occurred on Sunday,
The defendant admits, by his answer and return, the discharge of the jury on Sunday, but denies that it was a nonjudicial day, and alleges that the jury was discharged because of disagreement. He further alleges that one of the jurors, named in the answer, was not a citizen of the United States, a fact not known to the prosecuting attorney at the time of the impaneling and swearing of the jury, and which could not then have been ascertained by the exercise of ordinary diligence, for which reason it is alleged that the jury was not competent and was not regularly and legally impaneled to try the cause.
Plaintiff filed a reply admitting that the juror named was not a citizen of the United States, but alleging that such disqualification was known to this plaintiff at the time, and that, being satisfied with him as a juror, she accepted him as such and considers that she thereby waived her right to object to him. The cause has beеn heard by the court upon the pleadings, and certain papers offered by the defendant as evidence for the purpose of establishing his allegation -as to the disqualification aforesaid of one of the jurors.
We áre not advised by the record in this proceeding as to the ground or substance of the special plea in bar, which appears to have been overruled by the order committing the petitioner, or the time when it was filed. The strong inference, perhaps, may be that it was filed after the discharge of the jury, and that it was based upon the ground that such discharge was illegal and void and the proceedings, there-' fore, tantamount to a verdict of acquittal, entitling the accused to set up the defense of former jeopardy or acquittal to a second trial upon the information or for the same offense.
At any rate the only ground urged here for the plaintiff's discharge upon habeas corpus is that, by reason of the pro
On the other hand,, while it is -conceded that at common law Sunday is a non-judicial day, it is argued that the purpose of the day is far better subserved by discharging a jury unable to agree instead of keeping them together throughout the clay and until Monday morning, and that the act may well be regarded as a necessity and upheld on that ground. It is further contended that the district courts are authorized to sit on Sunday, and to discharge a jury on that day for disagreement, by virtue of the statute of 1895 (Rev. Stat. 1899, Sec. 3612), which provides that, in addition to the regular terms fixed by law, “each district court shall be open at all times for the transaction of business in the entry of judg
Counsel for plaintiff insists that thе expression “at all times” in said statute has reference only to days in vacation or recess upon which a court may lawfully sit and transact judicial business, and does not necessarily include Sunday or other non-judicial days. It is argued that a clear and unequivocal statute to the contrary is required to overthrow the common law principle prohibiting the transaction of judicial business on Sunday; and that the statute aforesaid is reasonably capable of a construction not interfering with that principle.
The question thus sought to be presented is an important one. If the propositions relied on by plaintiff are sound, and should be disregarded by the district court, and the plaintiff compelled against her objection to undergo another trial, notwithstanding that she has been once in jeopardy for the same offense or that in legal effect the result of the former trial was equivalent to an acquittal, an error will be committed. And if, as we suppose, the overruled plea in bar set up the,facts here alleged, the order denying- it and committing the plaintiff may have been erroneous. Thе question here upon habeas corpus, however, is not whether error has been or may be committed by the district court, but whether, in committing the plaintiff to the custody of the sheriff to await another trial, the court has exceeded its jurisdiction. In this proceeding we are not concerned with mere errors of law not affecting the jurisdiction of the court to make the order under which the plaintiff is held, nor is it material here whether the discharge of the jury was a void act or not, unless, if held to have been illegal, it divested the court of jurisdiction to proceed further in the cause. And upon this point it is contended on behalf of defendant that the court retained jurisdiction, and that habeas corpus
That the writ of habeas corpus is not endowed with the functions of a writ or error or other proceeding for the review and correction of errors is an elementary rüle, and has many times been asserted by this court. (Kingen v. Kelly,
Neither is the writ of habeas corpus designed to interrupt the orderly administration of the criminal laws by a competent court while acting within its jurisdiction. The ocсurrence of mere errors or irregularities in a criminal case, not affecting the jurisdiction of the trial court, will not authorize a discharge of the accused upon habeas corpus. Jurisdictional facts only are to be considered upon this writ, whenever the restraint complained of appears to be under legal process or judicial order. A void process or a void judgment or order of a committing court is ground for the
Our statute proceeds upon this principle in the provision that “it is not permissible to question the correctness of the action of a grand jury in finding a bill of indictment, or a petit jury in the trial of a cause, nor of a court or judge when acting within their legitimate province, and in a lawful manner.” (Rev. Stat. 1899, Sec. 5498.) In the case of In re McDonald, supra, Chief Justice Groesbeck, speaking for this court, said, in referring to that statute in connection with the facts of the case, that “the court had acted within its legitimate province, for it had jurisdiction of the offense and of the person of the offender”; and a decision of the Iowa supreme court construing the words “in a lawful manner” in a similar statute was quoted from with approval. In effect the decision thus approved held that “manner” had reference to the method of acting more than to the degree of perfection or correctness in the results arrived at, so that if a court observes proper methods or means it may be said to be acting in a lawful manner, although it may err in the application of legal principles, to such an extent as to involve reversible error. But it was explained that a court would not be regarded as having acted in a lawful manner when the judgment pronounced is absolutely void, since such a judgment would have no support in law. (Elsner v. Shirgley,
This court has adopted the liberal view sustained by the later authorities that the jurisdictional facts ’cognizable on habeas corpus are not alone those which relate to jurisdiction оf the subject matter, and of the person, but as well to jurisdiction to render the particular judgment. (Kingen v. Kelley, supra; Miskimmins v. Shaver, supra; Bandy v. Hehn, supra.) In Kingen v. Kelley, it was said: “Lack of jurisdiction of the subject matter, jurisdiction of the person, or jurisdiction to render the particular judgment as
We are, therefore, to inquire into the legal consequences of the wrongful or illegal discharge without verdict of a trial jury impaneled and sworn in a criminal case, to ascertain whether or not the act presents a jurisdictional question,
At this day it is unnecessary to cite authority to sustain the right of a trial court, without prejudicing a future prosecution, to discharge a jury in a criminal case, where it appears that after a reasonable time for deliberation has been allowed a verdict has not been agreed upon, and there is no probability of an agreement. In accordancе with the general rule upon that subject, now well established on the ground of necessity, the constitution of this state, in the section containing the provision against a second jeopardy, provides that, “if the jury disagree, * * * the accused shall not be deemed to have been in jeopardy.” The statute, moreover, provides that whenever a jury shall be discharged after they have been kept so long together that there is no probability of agreeing-, the court shall, upon directing- the discharge, order the reasons therefor to be entered on the journal; and such discharge shall be without prejudice to the prosecution. (Rev. Stat. 1899, Sec. 5386.)
It may be conceded that the improper discharge of a jury in a criminal trial after the commencement of jeopardy will render the proceedings equivalent to a verdict of acquittal, so far as such a verdict will constitute a goodi defense in bar of a subsequent trial for the same offense, either upon the same or another indictment or information, and perhaps also entitle the accused to a judgment of acquittal and discharge upon the same information upon motion in the trial court. When a criminal trial has reached the stage where jeopardy has commenced, and the jury is discharged without the consent of the defendant on trial, without some recognized necessity, or reason authorized by law, it may well be held, as it generally is, since the right of the accused to a verdict at the hands of the jury has been rendered impossible
It does not follow, however, that the erroneous or void discharge of the jury, and the advantage thereby afforded to the accused, will deprive the court of further jurisdiction in the case, or upon another information or indictment for the same offense. It is true that the facts may furnish the accused with a good defense on the ground of former jeopardy; but whether they amount to a sufficient defense or not, either as a matter of law or fact, is to be determined in the manner provided by law, the same as any other defense. The fact that the defense is based upon an immunity granted by the constitution offers no valid objection to,the court’s jurisdiction to hear it, and determine upon its sufficiency; nor is the opportunity offered to pass upon the matter incorrectly a ground for denying jurisdiction.
The constitution gives an accused the right to demand the nature and-cause of the accusation against him, to have a copy thereof, to be confronted with the witnesses against him, to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses; yet, it is apparent that neither the chance that the court wherein the prosecution is pending may commit error in respect to any of those matters, or an actual erroneous ruling thereon, will usually affect the jurisdiction of the court. One of the most frequent objections in a criminal prosecution is the alleged insufficienсy of the indictment or information to apprise the accused of the nature and cause of the accusation; it is not, however, generally supposed that an adverse decision upon such an objection, though erroneous, takes away further jurisdiction, unless, indeed, the act sought to be punished constitutes no crime' or offense under the law. In Ex parte Harding,
The statute clearly contemplates that the trial court has jurisdiction to entertain and determine the plea of former jeopardy. It prescribes that upon arraignment the accused may offer a plea in bar that he has before had judgment of acquittal, or been convicted or been pardoned for the same offense, to which plea the prosecutor may reply that there is no record of such acquittal or conviction, or that there has been no pardon; and a trial of'such issue to a jury, if necessary, is provided for. (Rev. Stat. 1899, Sec. 5331.)
In this case there has been no judgment of acquittal, and in such case, where the further proceedings are had upon the same information that was before the discharged jury, as well generally where the accused is held to answer upon a second trial to the same information, á formal plea in bar may, perhaps', be unnecessary, though the usual practice we think is even then for the accused to ask and be granted a right to withdraw his previous plea of not guilty and substitute the plea in "bar, setting up the facts deemed to constitute former jeopardy. There is, however, authority denying- the necessity of the formal plea after a disposition of- one trial upon the same information or indictment under circumstances that place the accused once in jeopard)1". (People v. Taylor,
The legal effect of an erroneous discharge of the jury without a verdict is neither greater nor less where the act is erroneous because void, than where it is erroneous for any other reason, as, for example, where it occurs in the en
The order committing the plaintiff into the custody of the sheriff was made on a lawful day of the court, subsequent to the discharge of the jury. Was it made in excess of jurisdiction? The authorities are numerous upon the subject of the effect upon the jurisdiction of the court of an erroneous discharge of a jury in criminal cases and, with very few exceptions, the loss of jurisdiction is denied, as well as the right to have the resulting question of jeopardy determined upon habeas corpus. If the court has jurisdiction it is evident that it is not confined in its exercise to the rendering of a correct decision. As said in parte Bigelow,
In that case several indictments against the defendant for embezzlement had been ordered by the trial court to be consolidated for the purpose of trial. A jury was thereupon
It was further said in the opinion in that case: “If the question had been one of former acquittal — a much stronger case than this — the court would have had jurisdiction to decide upon the record whether there had been a former acquittal for the same offense, and if the identity of the offense were in dispute, it might be necessary on such a plea to submit that question to the jury on the issue raised by the plea. The same principle would apply to a plea of former conviction. Clearly in these cases the court not only has jurisdiction to try and decide the question raised, but it is its imperative duty to do so. If the court makes a mistake on such trial it is error, which may be corrected by the usual modes of correcting such errors.”
In Ex parte Ulrich,
“Whether the first jury was discharged without sufficient legal excuse was a mixed question of law and fact, to be determined by the court, or by the court and a jury, if the facts were disputed. It is undeniable that the court had jurisdiction to determine that issue. It was the only court that had jurisdiction to determine it in the first instance; and, if it be conceded that the court decided the question erroneously, its jurisdiction over the cause was not thereby lost or in any degree impaired, and its judgment was not void, and is not open to collateral attack.”
So we find it laid down as a general rule that the defense of former jeopardy or of former acquittal or conviction does not entitle the prisoner to be discharged on habeas corpus. (21 Cyc., 305, and cases cited; 9 Ency. Pl. & Pr., 632; Church on Hab. Corp. (2d Ed.), Sec. 253, and note; 1 Bish. New Cr. Proс., Sec. 821.) In'the section cited, Mr. Bishop states that a discharge of the jury after jeopardy begun, without verdict or the prisoner’s consent, operates in law as an acquittal; and on motion, without plea, he is entitled to be set at liberty, but that should the court refuse, habeas corpus will not lie.
One of the early cases on this subject frequently cited and approved is Wright v. State,
The case of Wright v. State has been followed upon this point in an unbroken line of decisions in Indiana, with the single exception of the case of Maden v. Emmons,
It is true that the Indiana-cases rest lаrgely upon the provision- of their statute above referred to, which, perhaps, may be regarded as more strongly prohibitive of questioning the judgment of a competent court than our own statute. It is evident, nevertheless, that the theory of the Indiana cases is opposed to the loss of jurisdiction in the trial court after an irregular or wrongful discharge of the jury.. Indeed, in Gillespie v. Rump, it is stated in the opinion, that the discharge of a juror and the impaneling of another in his place, even if erroneous, 'did not deprive the court of jurisdiction, and render the subsequent proceedings void. And it seems clear from a reading of that case that a void judgment, apparent on the record, would even under the Indiana statute be deemed ground for discharge upon habeas corpus.
Ex parte Maxwell,
A statute like that in Indiana did not exist in Nevada, but the statute of the latter state was said to extend the power of the court in- habeas corpus beyond that at common law. Yet it was remarked that the writ was not intended to operate or to have the force of an appellate proceeding, and that the process or authority holding the prisoner must be absolutely void, and not merely voidable,
That a claim, of former jeopardy based upon an alleged improper discharge of the jury without verdict will not be determined on habeas corpus is also maintained in Missouri. The principle was announced in an early casе where the discharge occurred in the prisoner’s absence, and without his consent, after the jury had been out but a few hours. (Ex parte Ruthven,
In Texas, habeаs corpus is held not the proper remedy to try the issue of former acquittal, but that the appropriate remedy is by special plea entered in the court wherein the indictment is pending, under which the party is imprisoned. (Pitner v. State,
However, in Ex parte Davis,
That no inquiry can be had on habeas corpus as to whether the prisoner was present or absent when the jury impaneled and sworn to try him upon an indictment had been discharged from further consideration of the case, or whether such discharge was proper or not, was held in State v. The Sheriff,
In Steiner v. Nerton,
The principle under discussion is further illustrated by cases where the claim of former jeopardy has arisen out of circumstances other than the discharge of a trial jury. In a Colorado case the petitioner for» habeas corpus was in jail awaiting trial on a charge of murder. He had been once tried and found guilty of manslaughter, and announced himself ready to receive sentence upon the verdict. The court declined to pass sentence, but, over the objection of the petitioner, ordered the verdict set aside, and a new trial had. A motion for the prisoner’s discharge was then made on the ground of former jeopardy, and denied, and he was remanded to await trial. On petition for habeas corpus before the supreme court, it was held that the defense of former jeopardy could not be raised in that proceeding. It was contended by counsel that as all the facts appeared upon the recоrd in respect to the plea, it entitled the party to be heard and to be discharged in the summary proceeding; the court recited a part of the argument and stated its conclusion as follows: “In support of this proposition they urge that in such circumstances, where the petitioner has already moved the trial court for a discharge
In re Terrill (Kan.),
Our investigation of this question has resulted in the discovery of but three cases which appear to be flatly opposed to the principle supported by the array of authorities above cited. One of them, Ex parte Ulrich,
The supreme court of the United States, however, has had occasion to distinguish between the case of In re Bigelow and one where, after one conviction, the accused has been again convicted upon the same indivisable act for the same offense and sentenced upon both convictions. In re Snow,
There may be cases where a prisoner has been discharged on habeas corpus on the ground of former jeopardy, where the question of the right to the writ under the circumstances was not raised. They might be persuasive, but hardly controlling authority where the objection to the use of the writ in such cases is presented. Such a case apparently is State v. Blevins,
The main reliance of the plaintiff is upon the Oregon case of In re Tice,
Nothwithstanding that the Oregon court, for whose opinions we entertain great respect, seems to distinguish the discharge of a jury upon a non-judicial day from a discharge upon a lawful day for an improper or unauthorized reason, in its effect upon the jurisdiction- of the court, we think that the case cited is out of harmony with the general line of decisions respecting the jurisdictional consequences of an unnecessary or irregular discharge of a jury bn a criminal trial.
Suppose it to be conceded that the act of the court in discharging the jury was absolutely void. The prisoner is not held under that order, any more than if he should be held under a warrant of arrest or commitment upon a new information. The old information is still pending and undis-posed of, and the plaintiff’s commitment is for trial thereon. She has already submitted a plea of some kind in bar of another trial, and that plea has been overruled. Ret it be assumed that she interposed in defense of the pending charge the former proceedings, or that she will do so. If it be true that those proceedings amounted to an acquittal, then her plea ought to be sustained, and the court has erred or may err in otherwise disposing of it. But the jurisdiction of the court to hear, and determine the plea is clear, it seems to us; and the error, if any, in such determination may be reviewed and corrected before the proper court in the mode pointed out by law. It ought not to be considered on habeas corpus, in which proceeding this court has no greater authority than a single justice, or a district judge would have upon a similar application. We are of the
For the above reasons we think it not only unnecessary, but improper, to consider the other questions presented; and we are constrained to refuse to discharge the plaintiff from the custody of the sheriff.