De Queen v. Fenton

140 S.W. 716, 100 Ark. 504, 1911 Ark. LEXIS 387
Supreme Court of Arkansas·Decided October 30, 1911·Published·Cited by 11 cases

Opinion

Frauenthal, J.

This is an appeal from a judgment discharging the appellee from a prosecution instituted by the city of De Queen charging him with a violation of one of its ordinances making it a misdemeanor for the owner of any cattle to permit or allow the same to run at large within the limits of said city. The prosecution was begun in the mayor’s court of said city, where appellee was fined $10. He appealed to the circuit court, and upon a trial in that court the jury was instructed to return a verdict in his favor, which it did.

It appears from the testimony that the appellee resides outside of the limits of the city of De Queen, and his premises lie just across the street which forms a boundary of said city. The poundmaster found six cows belonging to the appellee running at large within the limits of said city, and thereupon served written notice upon him, stating that his said cows were running at large in said city, and requesting him to drive them out. The appellee paid no attention to the notice, and did not take any steps towards removing said cattle from the city; and upon the following day the poundmaster drove them out himself. Prosecution was instituted under an ordinance of said city which was passed in pursuance of section 5450 of Kirby’s Digest. The ordinance is as follows: “It is hereby made a misdemeanor for the owner of any cattle to permit or allow the same to ran at large within the limits of said city of De Queen, Arkansas, and upon conviction thereof such person shall be fined in any sum not to exceed $25. ”

The validity of this ordinance is not assailed, but it is contended that appellee is not amenable to its provisions because (1) he resides outside of the limits of the city, and (2) because he did not commit any offense within the city, for the reason that he did not drive or turn his cattle loose therein.

In 1875 the Legislature passed a general act for the “incorporation, organization and government” of municipal corporations; and by one of the provisions thereof power was granted to municipalities to restrain and regulate the running at large of certain stock within their limits, and authorizing them to provide for impounding same. (Acts of 1875, p. 9). Subsequently, the Leg slature passed an act, which was approved April 20, 1895, the first section of which provides for a method of procedure to be followed by the officers of municipalities when impounding stock. The second section provides: “It shall be unlawful for any person or officer in any city or incorporated town to take charge of or impound any animal or animals of the kind mentioned in this act, known by such person or officer to be the property of some person residing outside of the limits of said town or city, but it shall be the duty of the proper officer or officers in said town or city to drive or remove such animals as may be found running at large in said town or city contrary to the ordinances of said incorporated town or city beyond the limits of said incorporated town or city.” The act also prescribed a penalty against any such officer for violating the provisions of said section. (Acts 1895, p. 201.)

In 1899'the Legislature passed an act entitled, “An aet to authorize cities of the first and second class to prevent and restrain the running at large of stock within their corporate limits, and providing for the impounding of the same,” which was approved April 17, 1899. By the first section of this act it was provided that cities of the first and second class were authorized and impowered to prevent the running at large within their corporate limits of certain named animals, including cattle, and they were also authorized and impowered to restrain and impound same. Section 2 of said act provided: “If the poundmaster, his agent or employee, or any employee of any such city, shall drive or toll any of the stock heretofore enumerated from without the city limits into the city, he or they shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not less than $5 nor more than $25.” By section 3 of said act it was provided that all laws and parts of laws in conflict therewith should be repealed. (Acts of 1899, p. 198).

In 1901 the Legislature passed an act, which was approved May 23, 1901, amending said act of April 17, 1899, by adding incorporated towns to the municipalities therein named. This act is now section 5450 of Kirby’s Digest.

It is contended by counsel for appellee that said section 2 of the act of April 20,1895, is in force and effect; that by virtue thereof the animals named in the above ordinance, belonging to persons residing outside of the limits of municipalities, could not be impounded by the officers thereof, but should be driven out of said city by them. It is urged by counsel for appellant that said section of said act was repealed by said act of April 17, 1899.

It is well settled that the Legislature of this State may repeal acts or sections of acts by implication as well as by express provision, there being no constitutional prohibition contrary thereto. While it is true that the repeal of statutes by implication is not favored, yet if such legislative intention is plain and manifest, the legislative will indicated negatively is as binding upon the courts as it would be if so affirmatively declared. Where two legislative acts relating to the same subject are necessarily repugnant to or in conflict with each other, the one last passed must control, and, to the extent of such repugnancy or conflict, it operates as a repeal of the first act, whether it is so expressly declared or not in the latter act. Coates v. Hill, 41 Ark. 149; Welch Stave & Merc. Co. v. Stevenson, 92 Ark. 266; Chicago, R. I. & Pac. Ry. Co. v. McIlroy, 92 Ark. 600.

In the case of Benton v. Willis, 76 Ark. 443, it was held that said act of May 23, 1901, which is amendatory of said act of April 17,1899, did not repeal section 1 of said act of April 20, 1895, for the reason that it does not expressly i*epeal the same, and is not necessarily repugnant thereto. It was there held that the two statutes presented a complete system for impounding the animals therein named. “The last statute confers the power of impounding, and said section 1 limits and prescribes the exact manner of its exercise. ” But in that case it was not decided whether or not section 2 of said act of April 20, 1895, was thereby repealed.

We are of the opinion that the provisions of the act of May 23, 1901, as well as those of said act of April 17, 1899, are necessarily in conflict with said section 2 of the act of April 20, 1895, and are repugnant thereto. The acts of April 17, 1899, and May 23, 1901, expressly authorize and impower municipalities to prevent the running at large within their limits of the animals therein named, without any exception. They further provide that the municipalities are impowered and authorized to restrain and impound any such animals found running at large within their limits, without any exception. By section 2 of said act of April 20, 1895, however, it is piwided that it shall be unlawful for the officers of municipalities to impound any such animals when they are known to be the property of some person residing outside of the city limits, and therein it is also provided that, instead of impounding the animals, such officer is required to drive them out of the city.

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De Queen v. Fenton, 140 S.W. 716, 100 Ark. 504, 1911 Ark. LEXIS 387 (Ark. 1911).

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