Case ID: nc_126/html/0149-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Clark, J. \n      Per Curiam.\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

State ex rel A. BAKER v. F. P. HOBGOOD, Jr.
    (Decided March 13, 1900.)
    
      Quo Warranto — Title to Office of County Superintendent of Schools for Qrcmville County — Tiuo Appointments by Tiival de Facto Boards — Officer de Facto■ — Officer de Jlure.
    
    1. Where an appointment is made by a de facto officer, holding an office to which is annexed the appointing power, such appointee holds a title to the office against the appointee of a de jure officer, subsequently made.
    2. Where there are two rival Boards, both de facto, and both exercising as far as possible tne duties of the office, and each makes an appointment the same day to the same place, in such case the appointee of the de facto Board, which is subsequently adjudged to be the de jure Board, clearly bas the title.
    3. When both officers are acting and claiming to be de facto, possession by the de jure officer excludes the consideration of any other claim.
    Civil- ActioN, in tbe nature of quo warranto, to try the title of defendant to the office of Superintendent of Schools .for Granville County, tried before Moore, and a jury at January Term, 1900, of GbaNVIlle Superior Court upon the following issue:
    Is the plaintiff relator, A. Baker, entitled to the office of County Superintendent of Schools of Granville County ?
    Each party claimed the office, under appointment made the same day, July 10, 1899, by rival Boards — the plaintiff by the Board of Education, under Act of 1891; and the defendant by the County Board of School Directors, under Act of 1899; the former, termed “the old Board,” has since been adjudged to be tbe legal Board. Dolby v. Hancock, 125 N. C., 325.
    Tbe special instructions asked for by tbe plaintiff and declined by bis Honor are stated in tbe opinion. Plaintiff excepted.
    Tbe jury having responded in tbe negative to tbe issue, judgment was rendered against tbe plaintiff, and be appealed.
    
      Messrs. W. A. Devin, and B. IF. Dolby, for appellant.
    
      Messrs. Boyster & Hobgood, for appellee.
   Clark, J.

On July 10, 1899, tbe plaintiff was elected “County Superintendent of Schools” for Granville County, by tbe Board of Education, wbicb bad been elected in 1897 for a term of three years, and commonly styled “tbe old Board.” On tbe same day the defendant was elected “County Superintendent of Schools” by tbe County Board of School Directors, chosen by tbe Legislature of 1899, and commonly known as tbe “new Board.” This Court has since bald in Dalby v. Hancock, 125 N. C., 325, that tbe “old Board” was the legal Board.

It is settled in Norfleet v. Slaton, 73 N. C., 548, and Jones v. Jones, 80 N. C., 127, that where a subordinate office is filled by an appointment made by a de facto officer bolding an office to which is annexed tbe appointing power to fill tbe subordinate office, such appointee bolds a title to tbe office against the appointee of a de jure officer. But there was here evidence tending to show that both Boards were de facto and exercising as far as possible tbe duties of tbe office. In such case tbe appointee of tbe de facto Board,wbicb is subsequently adjudged to be the de jure Board, clearly has tbe title ho the office. Ledford v. Green, 125 N. C., 254. When both officers are acting and claiming to be de facto “possession by the de jure officer excludes by its paramount right the consideration of any other claim. Mechem Pub. Off., sec. 322.” Murphy v. Moies, 18 R. I., 100. To same effect Hallgreen v. Campbell, 82 Mich., 255; Mead v. Treasurer, 36 Mich., 419 ; Williams v. Boynton, 147 N. Y., 426; State v. Blossom, 19 Nev., 312; Ex Parte Norris, 8 Rich. (S. C.), 408.

The second prayer for instruction by plaintiff was, “If you find that the old Board being legally in office continued to exercise the duties thereof, then the acts of other persons claiming to be such Board can not have the validity of de facto officers,” and it was error to modify it by adding “unless they were recognized by the public generally, the mere election of the defendant would not be sufficient recognition.” The evidence tended to show that both Boards were acting, and the question of de facto office does not depend upon general recognition.

The fifth and sixth prayers for instructions were as follows: “5. In considering the evidence relied on by defendant to show that his electors were de facto officers, yon will not consider acts subsequent to July 10th, for, in order that defendant may now be adjudged entitled to the; office, they must have been so at the time of his election. 6. If you find that Dalby, Sykes and Euller met on the 10th of July, and elected the plaintiff and the trustees, then you will find they performed their full duty in regard to these offices.”

It was error to refuse to give these prayers.

The seventh prayer for instruction was as follows: “If you find there were two Boards contending for the same office and performing, or attempting to perform, the same duties, and both themselves and their appointees were recognized by some of the people, while the other Board and their appointees were recognized by others, then the acts of the Board found to be tbe illegal Board would not be valid as against the acts of the Board found to- be the legal Board.” It should have been given as asked.

It is unnecessary to consider any other assignments of error, since for the above errors there must be a

New trial.

Per Curiam.

The motion to dismiss the appeal: 1. Because the response to the issue is omitted in printing. 2. Because tire appellant has failed to print the word “exception” and number of each at the proper place on the margin, is denied. As to the first point, the omission of the response “No,” is palpably a mere printer’s error, for the issue is printed; and besides, the response is recited and printed in the judgment. As to the second point, while the exceptions must be entered in the record and numbered (Rule 19, (3), and 21, Alexander v. Alexander, 120 N. C., 472; Lucas v. Railway Company, 121 N. C., 506), the amended Rule 28 (121 N. C., 695), expressly says that the exceptions may be printed in the body of the page instead of on the margin, as under the printer’s rule the latter course would largely add to the expense. Clark’s Code (3d Ed.).

The further motion to tax the. appellant with the costs of “making the transcript and printing the testimony of the witnesses which does not bear upon the exceptions of the appellant, and which is not necessary to enable the Court to understand the nature and scope of his exceptions,” is allowed. The appellee entered his exception to the incorporation of such unnecessary matter when the case was settled, as is proscribed by Rule 31, as amended, 121 N. C., 696; Hancock v. Railroad, 124 N. C., 222. Besides the “case on appeal” shows that the appellant agreed that if this unnecessary matter, not relative to exceptions taken, was incorporated by the Judge in his statement of the case, the costs thereof should be taxed against him if successful in his appeal.. The Clerk will tax the costs accordingly.