Case Name: Du Boise & Bro. v. Babcock et al.
Court: Iowa Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Iowa
Decision Date: 1875-12-16
Citations: 42 Iowa 233
Docket Number: 
Parties: Du Boise & Bro. v. Babcock et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Iowa Reports
Volume: 42
Pages: 233–234

Head Matter:
Du Boise & Bro. v. Babcock et al.
1. Fees: service oe notice. The original notice in an action in the Circuit Court may be served by a constable, and he is entitled to receive therefor fifty cents and mileage, which may be taxed as part of the costs in the case.
Appeal from Bremer Circuit Court.
Thursday, December 16.
G. C. Wright, for appellants.
Smalley & Smalley, for appellees.

Opinion:
Beck, J.
The original notice in this case was served by a constable and his fees therefor taxed in the bill of costs. The defendants against whom the judgment was rendered moved to retax the costs and exclude therefrom the constable's fees for serving notice, on the ground that, as the service was not rendered by the sheriff, the fees therefor could not be taxed as costs. The Circuit- Court sustained the motion, and a proper certificate was given by the judge entitling plaintiffs to appeal from the order, which they did, and they now bring the case here. The decision of the Circuit Court is erroneous.
Code, § 2601, provides that an original notice may be served by any person not a party to the suit. Under this section the constable was authorized to serve the notice. Section 3805 provides that he is entitled to charge and receive fifty cents for serving any notice or civil process upon each person served, and for traveling fees five cents per mile. This section prescribes the compensation for the services authorized in the preceding one. The record discloses no reason why the plaintiffs should not be entitled to recover as costs the fees which the constable is authorized by law to charge and receive. Reversed.