Howe v. State

Thomas W. Howe was summoned to appear before a justice of the peace of Washington county, to testify in a cause then and there pending before the justice; he appeared but refused to be sworn, because he said lie had in his possession a letter of attorney constituting him an attorney for the defendant; which letter he threw down on the table before the justice ; the justice decided that he must be sworn, and upon his refusal committed to jail as for a contempt. The circuit court being then in session, Howe applied for and obtained from the court a writ *683of habeas corpus ; the circuit court,…