Sec. 1. Be it Ordained by the City Council of the City of , that in all cases, where any Person or Persons, shall at any time hereafter, be arrested, or under arrest, in this , under any Writ or Process, and shall be brought before the Municipal Court of this , by virtue of a Writ of Habeas Corpus, the Court shall in every such Case have power and authority and are hereby required to examine into the Or[i]gin, Validity and Legality of the Writ or Process, under which such arrest was made, and if it shall appear to the Court upon sufficient testimony that said Writ or Process was illegal, or not legally issued, or did not proceed from proper authority, then the Court shall discharge the Prisoner from under said Arrest, but if it shall appear to the Court, that said Writ or Process had issued from proper authority, and was a legal Process, the Court shall then proceed and fully hear the merits of the Case, upon which such Arrest was made, upon such evidence as may be produced and sworn before said court, and shall have power to adjourn the hearing, and also issue process from time to time in their discretion, in order to procure the ateendance of Witnesses, so that a fair and impartial trial and dacision may be obtained in every such case.

Sec. 2. And be it further Ordained, that if upon investigation it shall be proven before the Municipal Court, that the Writ or Process has been issued, either through private pique, malicious intent, religious or other persecution, falsehood, or misrepresentation, contrary to the Constitution of this or of the the said Writ or Process shall be quashed, and considered of no force or effect, and the Prisoner or Prisoners shall be released and discharged therefrom.

Sec. 3 And be it also further ordained, that in the Absence, Sickness, Debility, or other circumstances disqualifying , or preventiny the Mayor from officiating in his office, as Chief Justice of the Municipal Court, the Aldermen present shall appoint one from amongst them, to act as Chief Justice, or president pro tempore.

Sec. 4. This Ordinance to take effect, and be in force, from and after its passage.

Passed August, 8th, 1842.

, Recorder. [p. [3]]