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4 S.C.L. 44

State v. Stalnaker

Supreme Court of South Carolina

Decided April 15, 1806

Supreme Court of South Carolina · decided 1806-04-15

The prisoner was in the prison of Orangeburg district, in October term, 1804, when he demanded his trial. In April term, 1806, two bills of indictment were found against him for passing counterfeit bank bills. At this term he again demanded his trial. He was tried on one oí the indictments, and was convicted. He was not prosecuted on the second indictment, under an expectation that he would suffer death in consequence of his conviction on the first.

Decided 1806-04-15

Bay, Brevakd, and Wilds, Justices,

¶1were of opinion the prisoner was intitled to his discharge. The conviction on one indictment did not prevent the State from proceeding on the other. The prisoner demanded his trial in both cases, and he ought to have been tried at the second court, after demanding his trial on both indictments, or discharged as to the indictment not proceeded on. The Solicitor, and the court, should not have calculated on his suffering death on the conviction in the case, tried. A new trial might have been granted, and the prisoner admitted to bail, or judgment might have been arrested, or (as it happened) there might be a prospect of his being pardoned. To keep him in confinement under these circumstances, would be contrary to the spirit and intention of the habeas corpus act.

¶2*45Waties, and Trezevant, Justices, contra. It was unnecessary, after conviction on one indictment, to proceed on the other. The prisoner was pardoned at his own instance ; the same as if he had escaped, &c.

¶3Motion granted.

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