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6 Va. 678

Jones v. Timberlake

Supreme Court of Virginia

Decided November 15, 1828

Supreme Court of Virginia · decided 1828-11-15

On the petition of David Jones, to the General Court, setting forth that the petitioner, a resident ox Fluvanna County, having arrived in the City of Richmond, on the 18th November, was arrested on the day following by the Serjeant of the said City, and that he is now illegally detained in the custody of the said Serjeant. A Writ of Habeas Corpus was awarded, directed to the said Serjeant, returnable on the next day.

Decided 1828-11-15

STUART, J.

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

¶2The application of David Jones to be discharged from the custody of the Serjeant, has been considered by the Court. The petitioner was taken on two Escape Warrants issued by James Currin, on the 22d February, 1825. It is objected, that it does not appear on .the face of the Warrants, that Currin was a Magistrate. It has also been urged, that the length of time which has intervened, since the date of the Warrants, has raised a presumption that the debt has been discharged.

¶3On the other hand, it has been proved, that Currin was in fact an acting Justice at the date of the Warrants, and that for some time past there has been no Jail in that County.

¶4The Court is of opinion, that although Escape Warrants ought to be issued by Justices of the Peace, and, that regularly, it ought to appear on the face of the Warrants that they are such, yet in this instance, that defect has been supplied by proof of the fact. They are also of opinion, that the want of a Jail repels any presumption arising from the lapse of time. The petitioner is therefore remanded to the custody of the Serjeant of the City.

¶5Note. — The petitioner afterwards applied to the Court of Appeals for a Writ of Error to this Judgment, which that Court refused. — Note in Original Edition.

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