Habeas corpus cases.
--Several important habeas corpus cases have recently been decided in the Circuit Court of Pittsylvania county by Judge Wingfield. In regard to some magistrates, who were duly elected to, and were discharging the duties of, their office, but who had failed to obtain the Governor's certificate asking exemption, his Honor decided that these men were State officers and were entitled to their release, with or without Governor Smith's certificate. Mr. George C. Brown, teller in the office of the Bank of Virginia, at Danville, was armed with the Governor's certificate to the necessity of his exemption, but his service was demanded by the Bureau of Conscription on the ground that, though holding the certificate of the Executive, he was not included in the list of persons exempted by act of Congress, and the judge decided that bank officers not being State officers, he should be remanded to the military authorities. There were two cases in which parties had sued out writs on the ground of owning fifteen hands or more on plantations, etc., one of which was decided favorably, and the other adversely, to the petitioner.
