Ex Parte Newell
Ex Parte Newell
Opinion of the Court
The petitioner, Hugh H. Newell, was tried upon an information charging him with cashing a check drawn upon a bank in which he had no funds, and he was acquitted on the ground of variance. Thereupon the court directed the district attorney to file a new information so as to avoid the variance discovered upon the trial. In accordance with this order a new information was filed and the petitioner was detained in custody to await trial upon the new information. He applies for a writ of habeas corpus on the ground that his detention to answer the new information is illegal.
Section 1165 provides that where an acquittal occurs because of a variance between the pleading and proof, the court may order the defendant to be detained in custody “to the end that a new indictment or information may be preferred, in the same manner and with like effect as provided in section 1117.” Section 1117-provides that when the trial of a cause is discontinued and a jury discharged because the facts alleged did not constitute an offense, and the court, nevertheless, believes from the evidence adduced or for other good reasons that a new charge can be framed which will constitute an offense, the court “may direct the district attorney to file a new information . . . and the same proceedings must be had thereon as are prescribed in section 998; provided, that after such order or submission the defendant may be examined before a magistrate, and discharged or' committed by him as in other cases.” Section 998 provides that where a new information is ordered the defendant shall remain in custody, or on bail, to answer the same, but that if it is not filed before the next grand jury of the county is discharged, the defendant must be discharged from custody or his bail exonerated.
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We are not to he understood as holding or conceding that the validity of the new information so ordered to be filed could be attacked on
habeas corpus
in any event. It would seem that the.superior court having jurisdiction of the cause regularly brought before it would have jurisdiction to direct an amendment of the information, and that its action in doing so would be an exercise of its jurisdiction, erroneous but not void, and reviewable only on appeal. But upon. this we need express no opinion.
There being no merit in the petition in any view of the case, it is ordered that the writ be denied and that petitioner be remanded to the custody of the sheriff of Alameda County to be held for trial on said new information.
Richards, J., pro tem,., Shurtleff, J., Wilbur, J., Sloane, J., and Lawlor, J., concurred.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ex Parte Hugh H. Newell on Habeas Corpus.
- Cited By
- 6 cases
- Status
- Published