What shall be stated in the return of the writ.
Section 538
SEC. 538. What shall be stated in the return of the writ. — When the person to be produced is imprisoned or restrained by an officer, the person who makes the return shall state therein, and in other cases the person in whose custody the prisoner is found, shall state, in writing, to the court or judge before whom the writ was returnable, plainly and unequivocally: 1. Whether he has or has not the party in his custody or power, or under restraint; 2. If he has the party in his custody or power, or under restraint, he shall set forth, at large, the authority and the true and whole cause of such imprisonment and restraint, with a copy of the writ, warrant, execution, or other process, if any, upon which the party is detained; 3. If he has had the party in his custody or power, or under restraint, and has transferred such custody or restraint to another, he shall state particularly to whom, at what time, for what cause, and by what authority such transfer was made.