Gillis v. Leekley
Gillis v. Leekley
Opinion of the Court
This is an appeal from an order quashing a writ of habeas corpus, and remanding the prisoner. It appears from the writ and the return thereto that the appellant is held under a rendition warrant, issued by the governor of this state, upon the demand of the acting governor of the district of Alaska, and that the respondent is the agent designated in the rendition warrant to transfer the appellant to the district of Alaska for trial.
The first point urged on the- appeal is that the respondent failed to establish the identity of the appellant as the person accused of crime, and named in the rendition warrant. This position is untenable for two reasons; first, because the identity of the appellant as the person named in the warrant was not put in issue by the pleadings. The
The second objection urged is that the executive of this state did not require the prosecuting attorney, or other prosecuting officer, to investigate the grounds of the de»mand, before issuing the rendition warrant, as required by Pierce’s Code, § 2035. This position is equally untenable. The governor of a state in extradition matters acts under the authority of the constitution and laws of the United States. The act of our legislature referred to simply imposes duties upon prosecuting officers, and not upon the executive. The executive may investigate the grounds of the demand in such manner, and through such agency, as he chooses, and no court can control his action, so- long as he acts within the pale of the law.
The third objection urged is that the governor of this state is not authorized by any law of the United States, or of this state, to surrender a fugitive from justice upon the demand of the governor of the district of Alaska. This contention is based on the ground that § 5278, of the
“That whenever a person charged with treason or other felony, in said district, shall flee from justice, the governor of the said district may appoint an agent to demand such fugitive of the executive authority of any state or territory of the United States in which he may be found.”
Express authority is, therefore, conferred upon the governor of the district of Alaska to demand fugitives from justice of the executive authority of the state of Washington ; and from the power to demand, we think the duty to honor the demand, and the power to issue a rendition warrant for the return of the fugitive, are necessarily implied. The power of Congress to extend the extradition laws to all places within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States cannot be denied. Furthermore, Pierce’s Code, § 2035, supra, provides that, “When a demand shall be made upon the governor of this state by the executive of any state or territory m any case authorized Toy tha
There is no error in the record, and the judgment is affirmed. Let the remittitur issue forthwith.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- In the Matter of the Application of Robert Gillis for a Writ of Habeas Corpus. Robert Gillis v. George A. Leekley
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Extradition—Identity—-Question How Raised—Habeas Cóübus —Pleadings. Upon babeas corpus to release a fugitive from justice held under a rendition warrant, tbe objection that tbe identity of tbe prisoner was not established cannot be urged where tbe pleadings did not put the identity in issue, but merely averred that be was not guilty. Same—Rendition Warrant—Prima Facie Evidence or Necessary Facts. Upon habeas corpus a rendition warrant in due form is prima facie evidence of every fact which tbe executive must determine. Extradition—Grounds of Demand—Governor’s Investigation— Prosecuting Officer. Upon an application for the extradition of a fugitive from justice, the governor is not required by Pierce’s Code, § 2035, to require the prosecuting ofheer to investigate the grounds of the demand, since the governor, acting under the federal laws, may investigate the grounds of the demand through such agency as he chooses. Same—Demand by Governor of Adaska. The governor may extradite a fugitive from justice on the demand of the governor of Alaska, under the provisions of § 393 of the Alaska Criminal Code, authorizing the governor of Alaska to make demand therefor, and under Pierce’s Code, § 2035, providing therefor where a demand is made in any case authorized by the laws of the United States.