Ex Parte Drane

• Decision Date: 07 February 1917
• Docket Number: (No. 4336.)
• Parties: Ex parte DRANE.
• Court: Texas Court of Criminal Appeals

191 S.W. 1156

Ex parte DRANE.

(No. 4336.)

Court of Criminal Appeals of Texas.

February 7, 1917.

Appeal from Galveston County Court at Law; J. C. Canty, Judge.

Application by J. W. Drane for a writ of habeas corpus against the Sheriff of Galveston County. From a judgment refusing his application for a discharge from custody to discharge him, applicant appeals. Affirmed.

T. C. Turnley and V. M. Clark, both of Galveston, for appellant. E. B. Hendricks, Asst. Atty. Gen., for the State.

MORROW, J.

Appellant prosecutes this appeal from a judgment in the county court at law of Galveston county, refusing to discharge him on hearing of his application for writ of habeas corpus.

Appellant was charged with a misdemeanor growing out of an alleged violation of the Pure Food Law. Complaint was filed against him in the corporation court of the city of Galveston, and he gave bond for his appearance before that court. Subsequently, affidavit and information were filed against him in the county court at law of Galveston county, charging him with the same offense, and the case pending in the corporation court was dismissed.

His contention is that under these facts the county court at law had no jurisdiction to try him. He insists also that prosecution by information was not sufficient to justify his detention, but that an indictment would have been required. He contends also that the sheriff, who had taken him in charge under process issued in the county court at law, was charged with the burden of proving his guilt, and that the mere introduction of the process, together with the complaint and information, did not justify his detention, and further that the complaint charged no offense.

In the case of Vaughn v. State, 32 Tex. Cr. R. 407, 24 S. W. 26, and in several cases cited therein, this court held that there was no way to prevent the state from filing a case in two courts, each of which had jurisdiction of the person and subject-matter, and subsequently dismissing the case in one of the courts and trying it in the other. Subsequent to the time these decisions were rendered, article 63, C. C. P., was amended so as to provide that when two or more courts have concurrent jurisdiction of any offense against the penal laws of this state, the court in which an indictment or complaint shall first be filed shall retain jurisdiction of said offense to the exclusion of all other courts. In obedience to this statute, the prosecution in this case should have been in the court in which it was first filed. This fact, however, would not entitle the appellant to his discharge on habeas corpus when arrested on process issued from the court in which the case was subsequently filed. His rights and remedies relating thereto could only be enforced by proper proceedings upon the trial of the case. Pittcock v. State, 73 Tex. Cr. R. 1, 163 S. W. 972; Wilks v. State, 66 S. W. 787. The writ of habeas corpus cannot serve to discharge the applicant on account of errors or irregularities which render the proceedings voidable merely, but lies to secure a release where the proceedings are absolutely void. Vernon's C. C. P. p. 103, art. 160, note 3. It is not available to establish former jeopardy, conviction, or acquittal. Id., note 11.

His claim that the prosecution failed because prosecuted by information rather than by indictment cannot be sustained. The Constitution (article 1, § 10) only requires felony cases to be presented by indictment; article 436, White's Ann. Code of Crim. Proc., provides that misdemeanors may be prosecuted by either indictment or information; and article 642, Vernon's Ann. Code of Crim. Proc., provides that under certain circumstances a prosecution shall be dismissed and the bail discharged, unless indictment or information are presented.

Under his proposition that the respondent was charged with the duty of proving his guilt appellant cites the case of Ex parte Newman, 38 Tex. Cr. R. 165, 41 S. W. 628, 70 Am. St. Rep. 740. That was a capital case, and it was held that the mere introduction of the indictment was not sufficient authority for the court to hold the accused without bail, but that to justify such action evidence was required to show that the proof was evident of the defendant's guilt of a capital offense. This rule does not apply where bail is granted by the trial court, as was done in this case. The respondent was required only to show that the appellant was not illegally held, and this obligation was discharged by showing that he was charged by complaint and information with an offense within the jurisdiction of the county court, and that he was held by the sheriff under process from said court. The question of the innocence or guilt of the appellant would be relegated to the trial of his case on its merits. Ex parte Muse, 74 Tex. Cr. R. 476, 168 S. W. 520; Ex parte Jennings, 76 Tex. Cr. R. 116, 172 S. W. 1143; Ex parte Kent, 49 Tex. Cr. R. 12, 90 S. W. 168. The principle controlling in the above cases distinguishes the practice in this state from that pursued in the California case cited by appellant (Ex parte Sternes, 82 Cal. 245, 23 Pac. 38), where an inquiry into the facts was held on a habeas corpus proceeding.

The information on which appellant was held is as follows:

"That in the county of Galveston, state of Texas, on or about the 21st day of November, A. D. 1916, J. W. Drane, in the county and state aforesaid, did then and there have in his possession with intent to sell, and did then and there offer and expose for sale a certain article of food, to wit, butter, which...