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19 Abb. Pr. 413

Williamson's Case

New York Supreme Court

Decided June 15, 1865

New York Supreme Court · decided 1865-06-15

<p>Commitment by Special Sessions.—Record of Conviction.— Habeas Corpus.</p> <p>It is not necessary, upon a conviction by the Court of Special Sessions in the city and county of New York, that a record should be filed.*</p> <p>If it were—it seems, that the omission to file one would not be ground for discharging the prisoner upon habeas corpus.</p>

Decided 1865-06-15

Ingraham, P. J.

¶1A writ of habeas corpus was allowed in this case, and a return is made that the prisoner is held by *415virtue of a commitment from the Special Sessions, on a conviction before that court.

¶2The conviction and commitment appear to be valid; and where that is the case, it is the duty of the magistrate to remand the prisoner.

¶3It is urged that no record of conviction has been filed in the county clerk’s office, and therefore the prisoner should be discharged. No such fact appears before me; and even if it did, ■ it is hardly a proper inquiry on habeas corpus, where the statute has made it the duty of the magistrate not to extend his inquiry behind the commitment.

¶4Besides, the necessity of filing the record of conviction on trials before the Special Sessions has ceased. The act of 1858, 441, ch. 282, § 5, provides that transcripts of convictions shall *416not be required to be filed, but makes a certified copy by the clerk of the Court of Special Sessions evidence.

¶5A similar provision may be found in the act of 1830, ch. 42.

¶6There are cases where convictions take place before other ofiicers than those holding the Special Sessions, where it is necessary that a record of conviction should be filed. Such, for instauce, as that provided for by the 3d section of the act of 1833, ch. 11, where it is to be filed with the clerk of the Court of Sessions. This, however, does not apply to the Court of Special Sessions.

¶7The prisoner should be remanded.

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