Ex parte Alexander

The petitioner alleges that be is unlawfully deprived of bis liberty by tbe respondent, tbe sheriff of Jackson county. Tbe return of tbe sheriff alleges that tbe petitioner is in bis custody under a writ of commitment issued by Paul R. Spicer, a notary public of Jackson county. Tbe main question for decision is tbe validity of the writ.

Tbe day before that on which tbe petition for a writ was presented, an original proceeding for a writ of mandamus was filed in this court entitled: 1 ‘ State of Missouri at the Relation of General Accident, Fire & Life Assurance Corporation, Limited,…