In re RAY

183 N.W. 774, 215 Mich. 156, 1921 Mich. LEXIS 740
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedJuly 19, 1921
DocketDocket No. 96
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 183 N.W. 774 (In re RAY) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
In re RAY, 183 N.W. 774, 215 Mich. 156, 1921 Mich. LEXIS 740 (Mich. 1921).

Opinion

Fellows, J.

Certiorari to review habeas corpus-proceedings. The plaintiff, Thonfas Ray, 'was indicted by the grand jury of Wilkinson county, Georgia, for the murder of one Dewitt Faulkner. The return of the sheriff of Wayne county to this writ shows him to be detained on a warrant of rendition issued by the governor of this State on November 4, 1920, upon the requisition of the governor of Georgia. There is no claim of any 'irregularity in the rendition proceedings and it is not claimed that plaintiff is not a fugitive from justice. Upon the argument in this court it was admitted that plaintiff killed Faulkner at the time and place charged but it was insisted that the killing was in self-defense.

Two grounds are urged to sustain the writ. We will consider them in the order presented by plaintiff’s counsel. The first of these is that plaintiff was discharged by Judge Hunt in former habeas corpus proceedings, and that such proceedings are res adr judicata. From the record and the argument in this court it appears that the facts with reference to the case before Judge Hunt were these: Before the grand jury of Wilkinson county, Georgia, returned its indictment the sheriff of that county learned that Ray was in Detroit and came there and instituted proceed[159]*159mgs under 3 Comp. Laws 1915, § 15887 et seq. As we understand it, the same crime as here charged in the indictment was there charged in an affidavit. It does not appear whether a warrant of rendition was issued by the governor in that proceeding. Application was made to Judge Hunt for a writ of habeas corpus, and upon the hearing plaintiff was discharged, Judge Hunt holding that the proceedings were defective. About this time the grand jury of Wilkinson county, Georgia, returned the indictment and the sheriff of that county so notified the Detroit officers. Plaintiff was again arrested; the governor of Georgia requested the rendition of Ray by this State, basing his requisition on the indictment. A hearing was had before the governor, and his warrant of rendition of November 4, 1920, was issued. Plaintiff’s counsel contend that, inasmuch as the same crime was charged in the affidavit as is now charged in the indictment, the decision of Judge Hunt discharging plaintiff is res adjudieata. We cannot agree with this contention. Plaintiff was not put in jeopardy in the first proceedings and they were dismissed as defective. Ruling Case Law thus announces the rule (11 R. C. L. p. 751) : .

“The release of a person on the ground of informality or mistakes in the proceedings should not be a bar to an arrest on perfected papers or regular proceedings. * * * A second indictment for the same offense may serve as the basis for the second extradition of a person as a fugitive from justice without violating any rights secured to him by the Federal Constitution or laws, where the first indictment, on which the accused was originally extradited, was dismissed on motion of the State’s attorney before the accused was placed in jeopardy.”

This text finds support in the following cases: Kurtz v. State, 22 Fla. 36 (1 Am. St. Rep. 173); Bassing v. Cady, 208 U. S. 386 (28 Sup. Ct. 392; 13 Ann. Cas. [160]*160905); In re White, 45 Fed. 237. We are not cited to any authority to the contrary where the detention was by virtue of a warrant of rendition.

The other ground urged as a basis for the discharge of plaintiff upon this writ is that he is a negro and cannot obtain a fair trial in Georgia, that there have been numerous lynchings in Georgia and other southern States, and that there is much of mob violence there. Upon the argument considerable was said on the subject of “good faith.” We think it due to the State of Georgia and its officials to state that the record discloses no testimony which can be said to question the good faith of the governor of that State in making the demand on the governor of this State for the return of plaintiff or the good faith of the sheriff or other officers of Wilkinson county, Georgia, in prosecuting plaintiff for the murder of Faulkner. The governor of Georgia was highly spoken of by plaintiff’s witness White, secretary of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and no attack has been made on the integrity of the sheriff or other officials of Wilkinson county. Sifted to its final analysis the contention of plaintiff is that he being a colored man would not be accorded a fair trial in the State of Georgia and he fears he will be lynched if taken back, and statistics gathered by interested parties showing the number of lynchings which have taken place in Georgia and other southern States were introduced and witnesses were permitted to express their opinion as to the probability of a fair trial of plaintiff if he was returned. Indeed, plaintiff’s counsel were given a free hand in making their record, and much of hearsay and other incompetent testimony is before us. It may be said in passing that we are persuaded that plaintiff’s fear of lynching is not based on substantial grounds. While lynchings in Georgia are more frequent than [161]*161in this State, the statistics put in evidence show them to have occurred here. This is to the regret of all' •law-abiding _ citizens of this State and we may indulge the belief that their occurrence causes regret by the law-abiding citizens of our sister States. They are occasioned by atrocious crimes, executed in the heat of passion before the cooling off period has run as it has in the instant case by the delay resulting - from these proceedings.

Upon the argument a most powerful appeal was made by plaintiff’s counsel to our sympathies. But a human life was taken in Wilkinson county, Georgia; that life was taken by plaintiff. Under the system of laws obtaining in this country a jury of the vicinage or of some other county of Georgia to which the case may be removed upon application for change of venue is the only body to determine whether that life was taken in self-defense. Unless plaintiff is tried in Georgia for the murder of Faulkner he cannot be fried at all.

We are to determine the legal question upon this record and no others. Had the demanding State the legal right to the return of plaintiff? The governor of the State in according or refusing rendition interprets his duty under his constitutional oath and his action cannot be controlled by this court. Commonwealth v. Dennison, 24 How. (U. S.) 66; Germaine v. Governor, 176 Mich. 585 (46 L. R. A. [N. S.] 857, Ann. Cas. 1915B, 418). If his warrant of rendition is defective in itself or was issued without compliance with the requirements of the Federal statute, the courts are open to the prisoner and habeas corpus may be resorted to for the purpose of securing his discharge. Possibly the question of whether the prisoner is a fugitive from justice may be inquired into on such application but as that question is not before us, we [162]*162express no opinion. Manifestly the field of inquiry into which the courts may enter is very much circumscribed.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
183 N.W. 774, 215 Mich. 156, 1921 Mich. LEXIS 740, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/in-re-ray-mich-1921.