Arbuckre v. Pflaeging

123 P. 918, 20 Wyo. 351
CourtWyoming Supreme Court
DecidedMay 25, 1912
DocketNo. 688
StatusPublished
Cited by12 cases

This text of 123 P. 918 (Arbuckre v. Pflaeging) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Wyoming Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Arbuckre v. Pflaeging, 123 P. 918, 20 Wyo. 351 (Wyo. 1912).

Opinion

Scott, J'usticr.

This'action is in replevin and was brought in the District Court of Laramie County by plaintiffs in error‘as plaintiffs against the defendant in error as defendant to recover the possession of about 500 head of cattle in which they alleged ownership and the right to immediate possession and the wrongful and unlawful detention by the defendant; and that said cattle were not taken upon any legal process issued against them or either of them, and that they are not held for a tax; that demand for their possession has been duly made and refused. The defendant made and filed his answer in which he denied each and every allegation in the petition set forth and contained except such as are thereinafter specifically admitted and further answered as follows, viz:

“Defendant further .answering said petition alleges that he is, and at all of the times hereinafter mentioned, was, the duly appointed, qualified, and acting State Veterinarian of Wyoming, and, as such, charged by the laws of said state with the performance of certain official duties, among which are the inspection and quarantine of live stock when necessary for the treatment or prevention of infectious or contagious diseases peculiar to live stock, and the establishment of regulations when necessary to prevent the spread of such infectious or contagious diseases. That the cattle referred to in plaintiff’s petition are a part of a herd, the exact number of which is unknown to defendant, of which plaintiffs are the reputed owners, branded “L5” on the left side, and ranged in Laramie County, Wyoming, under the general charge of one Edgar Boice, who is represented to be the agent of plaintiffs.

[359]*359That for more than one year prior to the commencement of this suit, the cattle so as aforesaid owned and ranged by plaintiffs, were infected with a disease known as scabies or mange, and the agent having charge of plaintiff’s cattle had been notified repeatedly by defendant to dip said cattle according to the dipping regulations prescribed by Circular No. 5, issued by the State Veterinarian, April 27, 1909; that notwithstanding said notifications, the plaintiffs failed and refused to dip and treat their said infected, diseased, and exposed cattle, but continued to keep and range the same with cattle owned by other persons over a wide scope of territory in Laramie County, Wyoming; that on or about the 9th day of April, 1910, defendant in the performance of his official duties as State Veterinarian, employed assistants and proceeded to gather plaintiff’s cattle from the range, and did thereafter roundup, gather, and dip 1,951 head of plaintiff’s cattle, of which 1,499 were dipped twice, and 452 were dipped once. That the labor, service, and materials necessarily used and employed in the said rounding up and dipping of plaintiff’s cattle, entailed a considerable expense, to-wit, the total sum of $5,048.06, the payment of which was refused by plaintiffs and their said agent, Edgar Boice, whereupon defendant seized, took into his possession, and held 290 head of plaintiff’s cattle, and advertised the same for sale in the manner prescribed by law in such cases, for the purpose of defraying the expense incurred in the rounding up and dipping of plaintiffs’ cattle, as aforesaid, and was so holding said cattle pending his said intended sale thereof, or a sufficient number thereof, to defray said expense, and the expense of said sale, at the time the said cattle were taken from his possession under the replevin process issued and levied in this cause. That by reason of the wrongful issuance and execution of said- re-plevin writ, and the removal of said cattle from defendant’s possession thereunder, defendant has been damaged by plaintiffs in the sum of $5,048.06.

[360]*360Wherefore, defendant prays that plaintiffs take nothing under their said petition, and that defendant have and recover judgment against plaintiffs and their sureties in the sum of $5,048.06 with interest and costs of suit.”

To this answer the plaintiffs filed a general demurrer on the ground that the facts stated therein are insufficient to constitute a defense to the cause of action pleaded in the petition. The demurrer was argued and submitted to the trial court and upon consideration thereof that court made and entered the following order, viz:

“This matter now coming on for hearing upon the demurrer of plaintiff to the answer of defendant herein and the court having heard argument by counsel for the respective parties, it is hereby ordRrRd that said demurrer be overruled so far as it involves the consideration of any question of law not included within the questions hereinafter reserved for the decision of the Supreme Court, to which order the plaintiffs at the time duly object and except.

Upon motion of the attorneys for the plaintiffs herein it is further ordrrrd that this action be certified to the Supreme Court and be reserved for its decision upon the following important and difficult questions arising under the Constitution of the State of Wyoming and the Constitution of the United States and necessary to the final decision upon said demurrer, to-wit:

1. Did the Legislature violate Section 20 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Wyoming in the passage of Chapter 164 of the Session Raws of Wyoming,' 1909?

2. Was Chapter 164 of the Session Laws of Wyoming, 1909, enacted in accordance with Section 25 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Wyoming?

3. Was Chapter 164 of the Session Laws of Wyoming, 1909, enacted in accordance with Section 28 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Wyoming?

4. Was Chapter 164 of the Session Laws of Wyoming, 1909, enacted in accordance with Section 8 of Article IV of the Constitution of the State of Wyoming?

[361]*3615. Do the second and third sentences of Section 148 of the Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899, as amended by Chapter 164 of the Session Laws of Wyoming, 1909, violate the provisions of the first section of Article XIX of the Constitution of the State of Wyoming?

6. Do the second and third sentences of Section 148 of the- Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899, as amended by Chapter 164 of the Session Laws of Wyoming, 1909, violate the provisions of Section 1 of Article III of the Constitution of the State of Wyoming?

7. Do the second and third sentences of Section 148 of the Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899, as amended by Chapter 164 of the Session Laws of Wyoming, 1909, violate the provisions of Article II of the Constitution of the State of Wyoming?

8. Does the third sentence of Section 148 of the Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899, as amended by Chapter 164 of the Session Laws of Wyoming, 1909, violate the provisions of Section 6 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Wyoming ?

9. Does the third sentence of Section 148 of the Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899, as amended by Chapter 164 of the Session Laws of Wyoming, 1909, violate the provisions of Section 7 of Article I of the Constitution of the State of Wyoming?

10. Does the third sentence of Section 148 of the Revised Statutes of Wyoming, 1899, as amended by Chapter 164 of the Session Laws of Wyoming, 1909, violate the provisions of the Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States?”

It will be observed that the trial court held the answer sufficient to show justification and withstand the' demurrer under the provisions of Chapter 164, S. L. 1909.

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Bluebook (online)
123 P. 918, 20 Wyo. 351, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/arbuckre-v-pflaeging-wyo-1912.