Appleyard v. Massachusetts

Citations

• 203 U.S. 222
• 27 S. Ct. 122
• 51 L. Ed. 161
• 1906 U.S. LEXIS 1584

Syllabus

<p>The constitutional provision relating to fugitives from justice is in the nature of a treaty stipulation entered into for the purpose of securing a prompt and efficient administration of the,criminal laws of the several States and its faithful and vigorous enforcement is vital to their harmony and welfare; and while a State should protect its people against illegal action, Federal courts should be equally careful that the provision be not so narrowly interpreted as to enable those who have offended the laws of one . State to find a permanent asylum in another.</p> <p>A person charged by indictment, or affidavit before a magistrate, within a State with the commission of a crime covered by its laws and who leaves the State, no matter for what purpose nor under what belief, becomes from the time of such leaving and within the meaning of the Constitution and laws of the United States, a fugitive from justice; and in the absence of preponderating or conceded evidence of absence from the demanding State when the crime was committed it is the duty of the other State to surrender the fugitive on the production of the indictment or affidavit properly authenticated.</p> <p>Although, regularly, one seeking relief by habeas corpus in the state courts . should prosecute his appeal to, or writ of error from, the highest state court, before invoking the jurisdiction of the Circuit Court on habeas corpus, where the case is one of which the public interest demands a speedy determination, and the ends of justice will be promoted thereby, this court may proceed to final judgment on appeal from the order of the Circuit Court denying the relief.</p>