Case Name: Commonwealth by Robert Bagby v. William Little and Others
Court: Kentucky Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: Kentucky
Decision Date: 1873-02-08
Citations: 6 Ky. Op. 440
Docket Number: 
Parties: Commonwealth by Robert Bagby v. William Little and Others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Kentucky Opinions, containing the unreported opinions of the Court of Appeals
Volume: 6
Pages: 440–441

Head Matter:
Commonwealth by Robert Bagby v. William Little and Others.
Ferries — Duties of Ferryman — Remedy of Persons Injured.
In the absence of an order of the county court permitting plaintiff as relator to sue the defendant ferryman, plaintiff must disclose some interest in himself, showing that his rights have been affected In some way because of the failure of defendant to conduct and keep. ihis ferry as required by law, plaintiff’s remedy for mere injury to •himself being by acting on the ferryman’s 'bond, and not the revocation of the license.
Ferries — Violation of Duties — General Charge.
Where, in a proceeding against a ferryman for failure to comply with the law, the charge is a general one that defendant has failed to comply with the law, it is too general and indefinite to support ■the proceeding.
APPEAL PROM GREENUP CIRCUIT COURT.
February 8, 1873.
S'. L. Moore, Dtdin, for appellant.
Ireland, Phister, for appellees.

Opinion:
Opinion by
Judge Pryor:
In the absence of any order of the county court permitting the appellant to prosecute this proceeding as relator, he must disclose some interest in himself by showing that his rights have been affected in some way on account of the failure of the appellees to conduct and keep their ferry as required by law, and even then for the mere injury to the appellant the remedy should be on the bond, and not by way of revoking the franchise.
Conceding, however, that he had the right to institute the proceeding, or that his information gave to the county court the power and right to adjudicate on the question, still there is no such statement of facts in the notice of the intended motion as constitutes any cause of complaint. The notice fails to specify in what manner the appellees have failed to comply with the law. They may have all the boats required by the county court and still not a sufficient number to accommodate the public.
The name of the person is not given 'who has been delayed on account of the negligence of the appellees as ferrymen, nor is there any allegation, showing in what particular the wharf is insufficient. The substance of all the charges is, that the appellees have failed to comply with the law. Such a statement is too general and indefinite to base such a proceeding on, and the circuit court acted properly in reversing the judgment of the county court. That court, however, should have been directed by the judgment of the circuit' court to set aside the order revoking the grant and dismissing the proceeding without prejudice.
The judgment of the court below is therefore affirmed on the original appeal and reversed on the cross-appeal and remanded for further proceedings consistent herewith.