In Re Clemente

Petitioner is before this court upon a writ of habeas corpus. The petition therefor sets forth that she is illegally detained and restrained of her liberty by the chief of police of the city of Los Angeles, acting under instructions from the health department of the city of Los Angeles not to release her until she had submitted to an examination ordered to be made by said health department for the purpose of determining whether she was affected with a contagious or infectious disease.

Upon the hearing the testimony showed that the petitioner had been arrested and charged with conducting a house of ill fame. Two police officers of the city of Los Angeles testified that they visited the house of the petitioner on the day of her arrest, and of the acts and conduct of petitioner on this occasion. There was also testimony to the effect that the reputation of petitioner’s house was that, of a house of ill fame. This information had all been furnished to the health department and upon it the department made its order for the examination of petitioner and for her detention until she should submit to sueh an examination. Repeated demands had been made of petitioner by the health…