IN THE MATTER OF PATRICK HAMMEL

Turner, for the petitioner, contended, 1st, that town councils have no power to punish for contempt of court, the authority being vested in the state courts. 2d. That the mittimus was void and illegal, inasmuch as no definite term of punishment was named, but it directed the prisoner to be held in prison until further order of the court. 3d. That the officer had no power to committ without written process. The Attorney General, Willard Sayles, Esq., contra. THE COURT held that the mittimus was illegal, for the reason that no definite term of punishment was named therein, and without passing upon the other questions raised by the petitioner, ordered that he be Discharged.