| Tenn. | Oct 29, 1898
In this case there was a conviction of assault and battery, with sentence of $50 fine and six months imprisonment in the workhouse. The imprisonment was suspended until the next term after the final judgment. While thus suspended, the defendant never having been sent to the workhouse,
The workhouse law, as it is called, provides that the Commissioners may discharge any prisoner when satisfied, from the certificate of the physician, in charge, that he or she is physically unable to do labor, or for any cause, when they may deem it best for the institution and the public good. Shannon, § 7423.
It is insisted by the State that this provision of the workhouse law is invalid and unconstitutional; that it is an exercise of the pardoning power, which is alone vested in the Governor (Constitution, Art. III., Sec. 6), and we are called upon to pass upon the constitutionality of this provision.
We are of opinion we cannot do so in the present case, as the Commissioners clearly exceeded their authority, even if the act were valid and constitutional. In no event could they release a defendant from the custody and sentence of the Court before he had ever been delivered to and placed in the workhouse and under their control and charge. They had acquired no jurisdiction of the defendant, even if the law were valid. Their act was an unwarranted interference with the judgment of the Circuit Court while that Court still had control of the prisoner, and of the judgment, the sentence being suspended.
It appears that the Commissioners issued two pardons, presumably on the idea that, if one was not sufficient, two might be. The first was issued
The action of the Circuit Judge was entirely correct, for the reasons we have stated, and his judgment is affirmed, with costs.