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92 Ala. 89

Matthews v. State

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided November 15, 1890

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1890-11-15

Appear from the Circuit Court of Cherokee. Tried before the Hon. John B. Tally. Upon the arrest of one Henry Wright, under an indictment against him for selling liquor without a license, the defendant, J. P. Matthews, at the request of said Wright, became his surety on his appearance bond, and the said Wright was discharged thereupon.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently December 1898

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1890-11-15

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STONE, C. J.

¶1We hold it to be very clear that, after the sheriff accepted and approved one bond from Henry Wright, for his appearance to answer the indictment preferred against him, his power in the premises was exhausted, unless Wright’s bail had first surrendered him back into custody. — Code of 1886, §§ 4429-30. The second bond was unauthorized. We think, moreover, it would greatly imperil the public service, if a sheriff, after accepting one such bond, could be permitted to cancel that one and accept another in the place of it. It is certainly a grave question if a bond, taken as the second one was, is not without consideration and void. There was certainly no authority in the law for taking it.

¶2The other objection urged is equally groundless. The statute — Code of 1852, § 3683; Code of 1886, § 4428 — provides that “no bail is discharged by reason of . . there not being the requisite number of bail, or by reason of any other agreement than is expressed in the undertaking.” This statute has been in force ever since the Code of 1852 went into operation.

¶3There is no error in the record.

¶4Affirmed.

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