Jones v. Dowd, 27635.

Decision Date03 November 1941
Docket NumberNo. 27635.,27635.
Citation37 N.E.2d 68,219 Ind. 114
PartiesJONES v. DOWD, Warden.
CourtIndiana Supreme Court

OPINION TEXT STARTS HERE

Original habeas corpus proceeding by Clyde Jones against Alfred F. Dowd, as Warden, Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, Indiana.

Petition dismissed.

Clyde Jones, per se, for appellant.

FANSLER, Chief Justice.

This is a petition for a writ of habeas corpus filed as an original action in this court.

Section 4 of article 7 of the Constitution of Indiana provides that this court shall have original jurisdiction only in cases provided by the General Assembly. Section 3-1905, Burns' Ind.St.1933, section 1023, Baldwin's Ind.St.1934, provides: ‘Writs of habeas corpus may be granted by the circuit or superior courts of the county in which the person applying therefor may be restrained of his or her liberty, or by the judges of said courts * * *.’ There is no statute conferring original jurisdiction of habeas corpus upon this court.

The petitioner says that his writ is addressed to this court for the reason that the La Porte Superior Court, a court of general jurisdiction, and having jurisdiction to issue writs of habeas corpus under the statute, has been prohibited by this court from exercising jurisdiction over his petition for habeas corpus. It does not appear that the petitioner filed an application for habeas corpus in the La Porte Superior Court, and it seems that he refers to cases in which it has been held by this court that the La Porte Superior Court has no jurisdiction to discharge a prisoner from the Indiana State Prison when he is held upon a commitment issued in execution of a judgment of a court of general criminal jurisdiction. This rule is firmly established, and it may be added that if this court had general jurisdiction of habeas corpus proceedings it would have no jurisdiction to discharge a prisoner by writ of habeas corpus under such circumstances.

It is clear that the basis of the petitioner's writ is alleged error of law in the trial in which he was convicted of first degree murder in the year 1930. Procedure and methods of correcting error of law by appeal are provided by statute, and neither courts of general jurisdiction nor this court can review the proceedings of a court of general jurisdiction for error by habeas corpus proceedings. Petitioner's difficulty lies in the fact that he does not have a case authorizing the issuance of a writ of habeas corpus. It does not arise out of a lack of jurisdiction in the nisi...

To continue reading

Request your trial
1 cases
  • Kissinger v. Lane
    • United States
    • Indiana Supreme Court
    • 9 Octubre 1963
    ...for rehearing was denied. This court has no jurisdiction to entertain applications for writs of habeas corpus. Jones v. Dowd, Warden (1941), 219 Ind. 114, 37 N.E.2d 68. The documents heretofore submitted to the Clerk of this Court by the petitioner are therefore ordered stricken from the re......

VLEX uses login cookies to provide you with a better browsing experience. If you click on 'Accept' or continue browsing this site we consider that you accept our cookie policy. ACCEPT