People ex rel. Valenti v. McCloskey

Breitel, J. P.

Relators, two brothers, appeal from the dismissal by Special Term of writs of habeas corpus obtained by them to secure their release from custody. Since August, 1958 they have been held in civil custody under orders of the Supreme Court issued pursuant to section 406 of the Civil Practice Act.

On November 14, 1957, in the rural town of Apalachin in Tioga County up-State New York, a group of men, numbering about 60, assembled at the home of one Joseph Barbara. They came unaccompanied by their wives or other female companions. Indeed, there were no women at the place except,…