Ex Parte King

Petitioner, charged with a misdemeanor, was tried and convicted in the justice court of Union town ship, Humboldt county, and was sentenced to serve a term of thirty days in the county jail. At the time of his arraignment he interposed the plea of not guilty and also, in appropriate phraseology, of “once in jeopardy.” The jury failed to find upon this latter plea and it was contended here by petitioner that the judgment of the court was void, therefore entitling him to his discharge on habeas corpus.

It is no doubt true that there should have been a verdict on each plea. (People v. Kinsey, 51 Cal. 278 ; People v. Helbing, 59 Cal. 567 ; People v. Fuqua, 61 Cal. 377 .)

Hence, judgment was improperly passed upon defendant and upon appeal it would be the duty of the appellate court to reverse it and order a new trial. (People v. Tucker, 115 Cal. 337 , [ 47 Pac. 111 ].)

But we have found no case, and we have been cited to none, holding that such a judgment is void upon its face and therefore assailable upon application for a writ of habeas corpus.

Indeed, it seems to be settled by authority, as stated in Church on Habeas Corpus, section 253: “Neither will once in jeopardy be…