Case Name: Everett J. Norton et al. v. John Wicker
Court: Mississippi Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Mississippi
Decision Date: 1905-11
Citations: 87 Miss. 365
Docket Number: 
Parties: Everett J. Norton et al. v. John Wicker.
Judges: 
Reporter: Mississippi Reports
Volume: 87
Pages: 365–367

Head Matter:
Everett J. Norton et al. v. John Wicker.
[39 South. Rep., 809.]
Bastardy. Appeal l>y woman. Code 1892, § 250. Judgment. ■
Where a woman, under Code 1892, § 250, authorizing her to do so, appeals to the circuit court from the judgment of a justice of the peace dismissing her complaint in bastardy proceedings, and the case is decided against her in the circuit court, judgment for costs is proper against her and the sureties on her appeal bond, although bail had been required of the defendant by the circuit court pending the suit.
Erom the circuit court of Tippah county. '
Hon James B. Boothe, Judge.
A young woman, Miss Willie Cox, instituted bastardy proceedings against the appellee, John 'Wicker, before a justice of the peace. When the case came on for trial in the justice’s court, the defendant was enabled to persuade the justice of the peace that Miss Cox was wholly mistaken touching the paternity of her bastard child, and that there was not even ground to believe that the appellee, Wicker, was guilty, and the justice of the peace thereupon dismissed the proceeding. Miss Cox, not being content with the judgment, appealed therefrom to the circuit court, under Code 1892, § 250, giving Norton and others, appellants, as sureties on her appeal bond. When the suit reached the circuit* court, Miss Cox induced that court to require a bond of defendant Wicker, conditioned for his ■ appearance therein at the next term to answer the charge of bastardy, etc., and the bond was executed. Thereafter, at the succeeding term of the court, plaintiff’s suit was dismissed and costs were adjudged against her and the appellants — the sureties on her appeal bond. Erom this judgment Norton and others, the appellants, sureties on the woman’s appeal bond, appealed to the supreme court.
Spight & Spight} for appellants.
The bond upon which appellants became sureties is' especially provided for by statute, with a fixed penalty of one hundred dollars. The sole purpose of the legislature in allowing this appeal is that the woman complaining may have the action of the justice of the peace reviewed by the circuit judge. This was not to be a trial on the merits of the case, as provided for in Code 1892, § 250, but solely for the purpose of having the circuit judge pass upon one question alone— to wit, whether or not there was probable cause for the complaint. This bond was not an ordinary appeal bond binding the appellant therein and her sureties to pay all costs in the event — on the trial of the ease on its merits, after the pleadings were made up in the circuit court — she should be unsuccessful, but only binding them to pay the costs of that appeal in the event the circuit judge should affirm the judgment of the justice of the peace in holding that there was no probable cause.
Stephen's & Stephens, for appellee.
Counsel for appellants contend that this appeal bond is not an ordinary appeal bond, and that the sureties were relieved from all liability because the circuit court required the defendant to give an appearance bond.
We take issue with them on both propositions. In what respect does it differ from an ordinary appeal bond; or, rather, in what respect is it different from any appeal bond ? It had the same effect, and performed the office of an ordinary appeal b'ond, which is simply to take the case from one court to another and higher court.
The fact that the phrase, “at the July term, 1903,” occurs in the bond ’cannot and does not restrict appellants’ liability to that term only. The bond would necessarily hold good against the bondsmen until the final disposition of the cause. There are numerous decisions sustaining this contention.
While it is usual to make the condition of a bond general in its terms, yet Code 1892, § 946, restrains obligors from pleading any irregularity or defeet in form or the manner of execution, etc. This applies to all bonds required by law.

Opinion:
Truly, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
The appeal bond provided for by Code 1892, § 250, is conditioned to "pay all costs that may be adjudged" against the party taking the appeal. Appeals permitted by that section are returnable as other appeals from justices of the peace, and are dealt with in like manner. ITence, where the final disposition of the case is adverse to appellant, judgment for costs is properly "returned against the principal and his sureties j ointly." Code 1892, § 85.
Affirmed.