Lee v. State ex rel. Locke

49 Ala. 43

• Court: Supreme Court of Alabama
• Decided: January 15, 1873
• Status: Published

Opinion

PECK, C.' J.

— The City Court of Eufaula has jurisdiction, .in civil cases, where the defendant resides in said County of Barbour east of range twenty-seven; and concurrent‘jurisdiction with the Circuit Court of said county of all offences against the criminal laws of the State committed in said county. See sixth section of the act approved February 14, 1870, entitled, “An act to establish the City Court of Eufaula.” Session Acts of 1869-70, page' 105. It may be admitted that a proceeding in the nature of a quo warranto, especially when, as here, it is instituted on the relation of an individual, and its object is to determine whether the relator or the defendant is entitled to the office which it is alleged that the defendant usurps, &c., is to be regarded rather as a civil than as a criminal proceeding. If, however, the defendant appears in the court, and claims to be an officer of the court, and to exercise the duties of said office in the court, and to enjoy the privileges, and to take and receive the fees and emoluments of said office; if the court has jurisdiction of such proceedings, and on a proper relation being filed in the premises, charging him with usurping said office, and with a violation of the law in exercising the duties thereof: may not said court, by its process, require him to answer to said proceeding, and to show by what warrant and authority he claims to hold said office, and to exercise the duties thereof in said court ? and can such defendant successfully plead to the jurisdiction of the court that he resides in said county, but nob within that portion of it over which the civil jurisdiction of said court extends? These questions present a novel case, and one, perhaps, not free from doubt; but looking at it on principle, and the reason of the thing, we are of the opinion he cannot. Every court of general jurisdiction (and such is the City Court of Eufaula), within certain limits, must necessarily have jurisdiction over its own officers; and this we see, by the sixth section of the act establishing it, is expressly conferred on said City Court. Besides, by appearing in said court, arid claiming to exercise an office pertaining to said court, and necessary to the business of said court, he must be held to be subject to its jurisdiction, and bound to answer to its process, in such a case as this; and he may be required to answer and show by what warrant and authority he claims to hold said office, and to exercise and perform its duties, and to take its emoluments.

2. As to the plea that the court had no jurisdiction of the subject matter of said proceeding, we have no doubt. It is clearly insufficient. True, section 3084 of the Revised Code, which is part of chapter 5 (page 599), says that such proceedings must be brought in the Circuit Court' of the county in which the act or acts are done and suffered. But it must be remembered that the act establishing said City Court was passed after the adoption of said Revised Code, and expressly confers on said City Court the same jurisdiction, within certain limits in said county, as are exercised by the Circuit Court of the county. Section seven of said act gives to the judge of said court, within the limits of said court’s jurisdiction, the power to issue writs of injunction, habeas corpus, or any other writ or process, in any and every case in which, by existing laws, circuit judges might order the issue of the like remedial writs or process, &c. The said City Court, therefore, committed no error in sustaining the demurrer to said pleas.

3. The motion to dismiss the proceeding out of said court, because security for the costs was not given, was properly overruled. Section 2083 of the Revised Code says that such action may be brought on the information of any person giving security for the costs, &c. ; but it does not say that the action shall be dismissed if security for costs be not given. Section 2802 of the Revised Code, which requires security for the costs to be given by non-resident plaintiffs, expressly provides that, unless security for the costs be indorsed on the complaint, the suit shall be dismissed by the court on motion. Section 3083 contains no such provision. A motion to stay proceedings until security for costs was given would probably have been sustained. Such is the common law practice in similar cases.

4. As to the first specified cause of demurrer: The relation states that the relator had been duly elected solicitor of said county, at the general election in this State held on the 5th day of November, 1872; that he had received a certificate of his election from the secretary of State, and a commission from the governor ; that said defendant, Alto Y. Lee, “ for the space of one week or more last past, had used, and still did use, tlie liberties and franchises of said office of solicitor for said County of Barbour, in violation of the existing laws of . said State.” One who uses the liberties, privileges, and franchises of a public office without right, and in violation of the laws of the State, is a usurper.

5, 6. The second cause of demurrer was, that the relation failed to show that the relator had no other remedy in respect to the matters complained of. The matters stated in said relation, if true, present a case in which a proceeding under said chapter five, in the nature of a quo warranto, is the proper remedy. Where an office is claimed by one person, who alleges that another is unlawfully in possession of the same, and is exercising the duties and enjoying the privileges and emoluments thereof, in violation of law, the only remedy to try the right and to remove the alleged usurper, and also to recover the office, is,' in this State* a proceeding under said chapter five. The election laws, which provide the mode and manner of contesting an election, afford no remedy against one who is already in the possession of an office. If, as in this case, the office is filled by the vote of a single county, the contest is made before the probate judge of the county; and his judgment either confirms or annuls the election altogether, or declares some other person than the one whose election is contested to be duly elected; in which latter case, if the person so declared elected is entitled to a commission, the judgment must be certified to the secretary of State, who must commission such person. In such cases, the judge of probate acts in the character of a supervisor of elections, and his powers are not judicial. If the said election laws apply to cases like the present, they are unconstitutional, as providing a tribunal to determine between the conflicting claims of individuals to the same office, where one is already in possession, without providing any mode by which the right can be determined by trial by jury. Wammack v. Holloway, 2 Ala. 31; State, ex rel. Thompson v. Circuit Judge of Mobile, 9 Ala. 338; The State, ex rel. Spence v. Judge of Ninth Judicial Circuit, 13 Ala. 805. Besides, the relator was returned by the supervisors to the secretary of State as elected, to whom the secretary gave a certificate of election, upon which the governor issued a commission. There was, therefore, no person with whom he could contest said election before the probate judge. A contest is made, not by the successful, but by the unsuccessful candidate, or by some other' proper person.

This disposes of all the remaining causes of demurrer, which only state the same cause in different forms.

7. There was no error, under the facts disclosed by the record, in the refusal of a trial by jury to the defendant. If there was no issue of fact, and no disputed fact between the parties, — in other words, if all the facts as to the merits were confessed and admitted, — there was nothing for a jury to do. The facts all being confessed and admitted, it only remained for the court to pronounce the judgment of the law on those facts.

8, 9. We now proceed to consider and dispose of the case on the facts admitted and confessed by the parties, as it seems to us the law and right and justice demand. We have already decided that the relation presented a proper case for a proceeding in the nature of a quo warranto; and that the rights of the State, and of the relator and the defendant, could not be decided by a contest before the probate judge of said county. We further hold that the certificate of election issued by said Parker, as secretary of State, was a mere nullity. It was issued before any return and certificate had been made by the inspectors of election for said county, stating the number of votes cast at each box and precinct in the county for said office of solicitor; but they expressly stated and certified that they could not do so. Said certificate, therefore, conferred on said defendant no lawful authority or warrant to take upon himself the office of solicitor of said county, or in any manner to exercise the duties thereof. We also hold that said injunction was a legal excuse on the part of said supervisors for not making their certificate to the secretary of State that any person was elected solicitor for said county within the time required by said election laws ; and that it^was legal to make said supplemental return and certificate after the dissolution of said injunction. At any rate, the defendant cannot be heard to make an objection on that account, as we are bound to presume that said injunction was illegally and improperly obtained by him, from the fact that it was dissolved within three days after it was granted. To permit him to do so, would be to permit him to take advantage of his own wrong.

10. Was the said motion in the Circuit Court, and the judgment of said court on the same, as evidence conclusive, or as a plea at bar, to the present proceeding? Clearly it was not. It was not between the same parties ; the issue was not the same; and the right of said relator and said defendant to said office in fact was not, and could not .be, decided in that way. The court only decided, and could only decide, whether the said motion ought to be granted or refused; that is, whether the relator, on the production of his commission, ought to be permitted to act as solicitor of Barbour County in said Circuit Court. Whether said court decided right or wrong in denying said motion need not now, and ought not to be decided. The State was not interested, and was not a party to said motion, and could not be prejudiced by it. The State is a party to the present proceeding, and has a deep interest in knowing whether any person is exercising the duties of a public office, which concerns the administration of the public justice of the country, without legal warrant or authority, and in violation of the laws of the State. 'Consequently, the rights of the State were not, and they could not be, prejudiced by said motion in the Circuit Court, which was made alone in the name of the relator; and the judgment of said court on said motion was no bar to this proceeding, which is in the name of the State, and in which the State as well as the relator is interested. On this subject, see 1 Greenl. Ev. §§ 622, 523, notes, and cases cited.

11. Did the irregularities in the conduct of the election at box number one in the city of Eufaula, as stated in the record, render the election at said box invalid, in the absence of any fraud, or intended fraud, on the part of the persons who actually performed the duties of inspectors of election in conducting it, it not appearing that there was any misconduct on their part calculated to prevent a free, fair, and full exercise of the elective franchise? We think this question ought to be answered in the negative. Statutes directing the mode of proceeding by' public officers are directory, and a strict compliance with their provisions is not essential to the validity of their proceedings, unless it is so declared by the statute. The People v, James M. Cook, 14 Barbour’s S. C. R. 259; and the same case, on error, 4 Selden, 67. In many of its aspects, that case was like the present. It was a proceeding in the nature of a quo warranto, to determine whether the relator, Benjamin West, Jr., or the defendant, was the lawfully elected treasurer of the State of New York. The complaint, or information, alleged that the defendant, said James M. Cook, without any legal warrant or authority or right whatsoever, had, for the space of five or more, last past, and since the first day of January, 1852, held, used, and exercised the duties of said office of treasurer of said State of New York, and still did hold, use, and exercise the duties of the same, and, without any legal warrant or authority, had claimed, used, received, and enjoyed all the rights, franchises, fees, and emoluments belonging and appertaining to said office ; that said Benjamin West, the relator, was rightfully entitled to said office, and to all the rights, franchises, and emoluments thereof ; and further alleged, that at a general election held throughout said State of New York, on Tuesday, the 4th day of November, 1851, according to the Constitution and laws of said State, for the election of a state treasurer, with several other officers, he, the said relator, was duly elected treasurer by the greatest number of votes given at said election. By the rejection of the votes polled at certain places of holding said election, for alleged irregularities, &c., the defendant had been declared elected by the board of canvassers; and he claimed to hold said office, and to use and exercise the duties thereof, by warrant and authority thereof, &c., as lawfully he might; and he denied that he held the said office unlawfully, without warrant and authority of law, &c. Many questions of alleged irregularities on the part of those persons who conducted the said election in those places, were considered and decided. In deciding said questions, the court declared that statutes directing the mode of proceeding by public officers are directory, and are not to be regarded as essential to the validity of the proceedings themselves, unless it be so declared in the statute ; and the court say that this- rule should have a liberal application in respect to the duties of inspectors of elections, when we consider the character of the duties and of the men who are necessarily-selected to fill these offices. This certainly may be applied most appropriately to our own State, as we so well know that, with us, these officers are oftentimes ignorant and inexperienced, and poorly qualified to discharge the duties of any public office.

In that case it was held, also, that the fact that the inspectors of an election proceeded with the election for a short time with only one clerk, could not, in the absence of any evidence of fraud, render the election void ; nor the fact that a person who was not a member of the board nor a clerk, sat at the table, and kept a list of the voters, and copied some from the poll-list; nor the fact that, while two of the inspectors were gone to breakfast, the remaining inspector appointed another person inspector, and administered to him the official oath, the two then proceeding to act as inspectors in the absence of the others; nor the fact that a person thus appointed assisted, while the other two were eating their dinner, in the same room where the polls were held ; nor the fact that he assisted for a short time, by the request of the others, while all three were present. It was held, also, that the fact that there were four inspectors acting at the polls, and that the returns were signed by four, although an irregularity, would not affect the validity of the election.

The principle settled in that case is, that if it does not appear that any illegal votes were received, or any legal votes rejected at the election, and there is no evidence of fraud in conducting the polls, or canvassing the votes, such and like irregularities will not render the election void. That case, it seems to us, presents the view that ought to be taken in disposing of the present case and all cases of this sort. It establishes the principle, and we think correctly, that an election ought not to be held invalid on account of irregularities, where no illegal votes are alleged to have been received, and no legal votes to have been rejected, and where no misconduct is shown, calculated to prevent a fair, free, and full exercise of the elective franchise. We are not prepared to hold that the election at said box number one ought to be declared invalid on account of the irregularities at said box j no fraud being shown, and the election appearing to have been in fact fairly conducted on the part of the persons who actually managed and conducted it. It is fair to presume, we think, as nothing to the contrary is shown, that the said election was properly conducted in all its essentials, and that the will and choice of the lawfully qualified voters were fairly and freely expressed, without let or hindrance. To declare said election invalid on account of the ignorant, but no .doubt honest mistakes and irregularities of the inspectors, or of those who acted as such, would be to visit their mistakes upon those who were not in any wise the cause of or responsible for them, and would also be in violation of sound public policy.

We have been overwhelmed by the multitude of books referred to by the counsel for the defendant, in their arguments and briefs. Most of them have been examined; many of them are altogether inapplicable ; and some of them seriously militate against the view which we feel constrained by a high sense of duty to take of this case. To adopt technical and stringent rules in the construction of our election laws will be, in most cases, to defeat the very objects and purposes of said laws, and to disregard the honestly and fairly expressed will and desire of the people, which it is manifestly the purpose and intention of said laws to secure and carry into effect. This should not be done. A more liberal and just rule of interpretation will be more in harmony with the manifest policy and purpose of said laws, and, as we believe, will promote the public good, and the general welfare of the people of the State. It is admitted by the defendant that, if the votes cast at said box number one be counted, then the relator was elected to the office of solicitor of said County of Barbour, and that he was not. For aught that appears in the record, and in the facts agreed on by the parties, we are persuaded and satisfied that those votes were legally counted.

12. There is another reason, satisfactory to us, why the votes cast at said box should not be rejected. One of the two inspectors who had been appointed, and who was not present when the poll at said box was opened, and whose place was filled by the inspector who was present, came soon afterwards, and claimed that he was one of the inspectors originally appointed, and that by virtue of said appointment, notwithstanding his place had been filled as aforesaid, he had a right and was entitled to participate as an inspector in said election, and in conducting the same. Now, it may be conceded, perhaps, that his legal title as inspector was destroyed by said appointment of another person in his stead ; but it did not destroy his color of title. That still remained. He had the evidence of his appointment, his commission, the notice of his appointment which had been served on him; and this gave him claim, or color of title. And as his claim was yielded to by the persons then conducting said election, and was also acquiesced in by the assembled voters there convened to cast their votes ; and as, for aught that appears, his said claim was made honestly and in good faith; and as he was permitted to take his place as an inspector on his said claim, and the one who had been appointed in his stead thereupon retired; and further, as he acted from that time forth as an inspector in conducting said election, — he must be regarded as an inspector de facto, and his acts be held valid as to all third persons and the public. The People v. Cook, supra, and cases cited.

The filling of the place of the inspector who retired during the day, before the election was over, can hardly be regarded as an irregularity. We will presume, as the contrary does not appear, that he retired for a good reason ; but whether he did so or not, it was the duty of the two remaining inspectors to fill his place. If this could not be done, it would be in the power of an unscrupulous inspector to defeat an election whenever he might please to do so.

It follows from what we have said, that the judgment of the court below is correct, free from any hurtful error, and ought to be, and is hereby, affirmed. The appellant will pay the costs.