Ex parte McClelland

SMITH, Chief Judge.

This is an original proceeding in habeas corpus arising from a sentence for contempt entered against petitioner. We issued our order to show cause, stayed the commitment, ordered briefs and heard oral argument. We now order petitioner discharged.

David McClelland is a policeman in the Florissant, Missouri, police department assigned to narcotics investigation. In that capacity he was contacted by certain citizens who did not wish their identities known. They gave McClelland information, admittedly hearsay once-removed as to them, concerning a series of four deaths in the…