Ex parte Stiff

Edward Stiff, by his counsel, presents his petition to the court for a writ of habeas corpus, and prays that he may be admitted to bail. The facts alleged in his petition are these: At the Fall Term 1847, the petitioner was indicted in the Circuit Court of Cherokee for the murder of Wm. Gilbert, and at that and the next succeeding term, the cause was continued by the prisoner. At the Fall Term 1848, at his instance, the venue was changed to the county of DeKalb, and at the Spring Term 1849, the presiding judge being incompetent to try the piisoner, the cause was continued. At the Fall Term…