In re Miller, 129 Wash. 538

129 Wash. 538 | Wash. | 1924

Main, C. J.

This is an application for a writ of habeas corpus to secure the release of Peter Miller from the state penitentiary. The applicant has three sentences against him: First, pronounced April 19, 1913, for a term of not less than twenty nor more than forty years for the crime of burglary committed on April 26,1909; second, pronounced May 21,1913, for a term not less than three nor more than fifteen years for the crime of perjury (this sentence to commence at the termination of the first sentence); and third, pronounced September 24, 1913, for a term not less than five nor more than fifteen years for the crime of burglary (this sentence to commence at the termination of the second sentence).

The applicant, whose first sentence was the result of having been found by a jury to be an habitual criminal under the act of 1903, ch. 86, § 3, p. 126, claims that the jury so finding was an improper one because not impaneled within the time required by the statute. This was a matter which he should have raised on his appeal, and not having done so he has waived the point. State v. Alexander, 65 Wash. 488, 118 Pac. 645; State v. Miller, 78 Wash. 268, 138 Pac. 896.

The other objection to this jury — that it contained a husband and wife — was considered and passed on adversely to the objection on the appeal. State v. Miller, supra.

The applicant claims that the cumulative sentences are illegal, not having been imposed within the provisions of Laws of 1909, ch. 249, § 33, p. 898; Rem. Comp. Stat., § 2285 [P. C. § 8720]; and also claims that the habitual criminal statute of 1903, ch. 86 (which was subsequently amended by Laws of 1909, ch. 249, § 34; Rem. Comp. Stat., § 2286) [P. C. § 8721], under which he was sentenced for a crime committed before the act of 1909 went into effect, is unconstitutional in that it is a denial of the equal protection of the law. These and other minor matters already adversely disposed of on the appeals of the applicant from his convictions cannot be considered in this action, for if they were all determined according to the applicant’s contention, still be would not be entitled to a writ of babeas corpus, for be bas not yet served tbe sentence wbicb be admits was legally imposed, and babeas corpus is a writ seeking release from confinement and is not a writ by which to review errors. Moreover, tbe writ will not be granted by tbis court except in cases involving tbe interests of tbe state at large or of public interest, or where it is necessary because of no other adequate remedy. We have said in In re Emch, 124 Wash. 401, 214 Pac. 1043:

“While it is true that § 4, art. 4, of tbe state constitution gives tbis court original jurisdiction in habeas corpus, this jurisdiction is not exclusive, for § 6 of the same article gives tbe superior court the same juris: diction. In view of tbis situation, tbis court is afforded a discretion in regard to tbe matter and may, upon occasion, refrain from assuming jurisdiction and require that resort be made to tbe superior court. We find tbe supreme courts of states where similar constitutional provisions exist confining their assumption of jurisdiction to cases directly involving tbe interest of the state at large, or to eases of public interest, or to cases where it is necessary to take jurisdiction in order to afford an-adequate remedy.

“12 R. C. L., p. 1218, states the situation as follows:

“ ‘But even where the constitution gives tbe highest court of tbe state original jurisdiction in habeas corpus, it bas frequently been held that some special reason must exist for invoking- the powers or tbe parties will be relegated to a lower court for relief, and accordingly it bas been held that appellate courts will not exercise tbis extraordinary jurisdiction where there is another effective remedy available.’

“See, also, Ex parte Lambert, 36 S. W. (Tex. Cr.) 81.

“Tbe inexpediency of determining tbe controverted facts before tbe supreme court presents another reason for tbe exercise of tbis court’s discretion in favor of tbe denial of tbe application in such cases. Tbe principle wbicb we have just announced is tbe same as that involved in the recent case of State ex rel. Ottensen v. Clausen, ante p. 389, 214 Pac. 635.”

Returning to the rule that habeas corpus will not lie to review or correct error, we find that we have said in In re Newcomb, 56 Wash. 395, 105 Pac. 1042:

“ ‘A habeas corpus is not a writ of error. It cannot bring a case before us in such a manner that we can exercise any kind of appellate jurisdiction in it.’ ”

The courts which sentenced the applicant had jurisdiction over him and the crimes of which he was guilty and to impose sentences after conviction. The only claim is that they committed errors in imposing sentences for periods not allowed by law. Such errors, if they existed, are corrected in the superior courts and do not deprive those courts of jurisdiction. Beale v. The Commonwealth, 25 Pa. St. 11; In re Bonner, 151 U. S. 242; Ex parte Williams, 1 Wash. Terr. 240; In re Nolan, 21 Wash. 395, 58 Pac. 222; State v. Gilluly, 50 Wash. 1, 96 Pac. 512; In re Newcomb, 56 Wash. 395, 105 Pac. 1042; State v. Andrews, 71 Wash. 181, 127 Pac. 1102; In re Blystone, 75 Wash. 286, 134 Pac. 827; 16 C. J. 1312; 29 C. J. 58; 12 R. C. L. 1194, 1208.

In State ex rel. Tingstad v. Starwich, 119 Wash. 561, 206 Pac. 29, 26 L. R. A. 393, this court said:

“. . . a judgment of sentence made under a wrong statute, or for an unauthorized period, does not deprive the court of jurisdiction to impose and enforce a sentence according to law.”

Further than this, the law expressly prohibits the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus in this case. Section 1075, Rem. Comp. Stat. [P. C. § 8039], reads:

“No court or judge shall inquire into the legality of any . . . process whereby the party is in custody, or discharge him when the term of commitment has not expired, in either of the cases following:

“1. Upon any process issued on any final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction; . . .

“3. Upon a warrant issued from the superior court upon an indictment or information.”

Referring to subdivision 3, this court held in State ex rel. Anderson v. Callahan, 119 Wash. 535, 206 Pac. 13, that it “would seem to prevent the granting of the writ of habeas corpus” when the ‘‘relator is being held upon a warrant issued from the superior court upon an information, even though the information upon which it was issued has been held defective, , . .” In In re Putnam, 58 Wash. 687,109 Pac. 111, the same result was announced concerning the same subdivision. There can be no distinction between the rule applicable to subdivision 3 and subdivision 1, and in fact the court has followed the same rule in discussing subdivision 1, for in In re Newcomb, 56 Wash. 395, 105 Pac. 1042, it said:

“Charles P. Newcomb was convicted of the crime of murder in the first degree, . . . and is now in custody on process issued on the final judgment. . . . He has petitioned this court 'for a writ of habeas corpus, alleging that his restraint and imprisonment are illegal in this: first, because the jury law of 1909, Laws of 1909, p. 131, under which the jury was drawn and selected, is unconstitutional; Second, because Department No. 3 of the superior court of Pierce county . . . had no jurisdiction to try him; and third, because on the 14th day of May, 1909, the date of the homicide, there was no law in this state defining or prescribing punishment for .the crime of murder. Errors and irregularities such as those complained of cannot be inquired into or corrected on an application of this kind. Our statute provides that,

“ ‘No court or judge shall inquire into the legality of any judgment or process whereby the party is in custody, or discharge him, when the term of commitment has not expired, in either of the cases following: (1) Upon any process issued on any final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction. . . . (3) Upon a warrant issued from the superior court upon an indictment or information. ’ Bal. Code, § 5826.

“ ‘ A habeas corpus is not a writ of error. It cannot bring a case before us in such a manner that we can exercise any kind of appellate jurisdiction in it. On a habeas corpus, the judgment of even a subordinate court cannot be disregarded, reversed, or set aside, however clearly we may perceive it to be erroneous, and however plain it may be that we ought to reverse it if it were before us on appeal or writ of error. We can only look at the record to see whether a judgment exists, and have no power to say whether it is right or wrong. It is conclusively presumed to be right until it is regularly brought up for revision. We decided this three years ago at Sunbury, in a case which we all thought one of much hardship. But the rule is so familiar, so universally acknowledged, and so reasonable in itself, that it requires only to be stated. ’ Passmore Williamson’s Case, 26 Pa. St. 1.

“See, also, Ex parte Winston, 9 Nev. 71.

“ All the courts acknowledge the existence and binding force of this general rule, but when we come to consider what constitutes error and what constitutes a want of jurisdiction they differ widely. The error complained of in the matter of drawing and selecting the jury manifestly did not go to the jurisdiction of the court, and cannot be considered at this time. . . .

“The question, and the only question before the trial court on this branch of the case, was this: Was Bal. Code, § 7035, continued in force, as to the particular offense here involved, by virtue of either the saving clause found in § 42 of the new criminal code, or the general saving clause enacted at the extraordinary session of 1901, Laws of 1901 Special Session, p. 13? The superior court was vested with full and complete jurisdiction to determine that question, and whether its determination was right or wrong its jurisdiction to hear the case continued and its final judgment is not void. The authorities are by no means agreed upon the proposition, but in our opinion, if a court of general jurisdiction determines a question of law or fact, properly before it in the exercise of its acknowledged jurisdiction, its determination cannot be void, however erroneous it may be.”

For these reasons the application for a writ of habeas corpus will be denied.

Parker, Hot.comb, Tolman, Mitchell, and Bridges, JJ., concur.