Court Opinion

ID: 6570660
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 19:28:07.71934+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:56:53.692529
License: Public Domain

Chipman, Ch. J.,
delivered the opinion of the Court. Five sev eral exceptions have been taken to the declaration.
*118First — That it does not appear by the declaration, that there is any treasury of the town of Georgia, and no person is named as treasurer. It has been urged, that it ought to have been averred in the declaration that there was a treasurer of the town of Georgia, for, by the statute, if there be no treasurer in a town, one half of such penalty is given to the county treasurer. But from this provision of the statute, it does not follow that such averment is necessary. It is to be presumed that towns are organized with proper officers, and no averment of that kind is necessary. Had the one half of the penalty been demanded for the county treasury, an averment that there was no treasurer in the town would have been necessary, because this is by way of proviso or exception to the general provision. The town treasury, if there be a treasury, is at all events entitled to the penalty; but the county treasury is entitled only in a particular event — the want of a toivn treasurer. Nor is there any foundation for the exception, that the name of the town treasurer is not inserted in the writ.
By the act on which this action is brought, one half of the penalty is given to the town treasury. The person holding the office of town treasurer, will receive for the town one half of the penalty if it shall be recovered.
The town treasurer is, with other town officers, chosen annually, and different persons may be chosen for each succeeding year. If it be necessary to commence the suit in the name of the person holding the office of treasurer at the time the suit is commenced, it would seem that the appointment of a different person to the office, while the action is pending, would abate the suit; or it would be necessary to erase the name of the old, and insert the name of the new treasurer, toties quoties. We think it the better mode to designate the office only.
The second exception is, that twelve penalties are accumulated in the same action. It is insisted by the defendant’s counsel, that for each month’s neglect there is a separate and distinct forfeiture which must be separately demanded 5 or, if it be allowed to demand the forfeitures for several month’s neglect in the same action, yet they ought to be demanded in several distinct counts. No authority has been cited directly in point. The question seems not to have been directly decided. The case cited from Blackstone’s Re-*119parts, 906, is, as far ás it has a bearing on the question, an authority for declaring in distinct counts, but we do not think it necessary to decide this point.
The third exception is, that in the conclusion of the declaration, damages only are demanded, omitting the debt — whereas it is said that in penal actions no damages can be recovered, under that name, and so are the authorities. But it may be observed, that the word damages includes costs; and all the precedents of declarations which have been produced conclude in the same manner as the declaration in this case.
The fourth exception is, that it does not appear by the declaration that the defendant was ever appointed proprietors’ Clerk of the town of Georgia, or that he had in his hands, any files, records or papers belonging to the office of the proprietors’ Clerk of that town. It is averred indeed, loosely, that Ira Allen, a long time before the 15th day of November, 1791, was proprietors’ Clerk of the town of Georgia, and that at the time of the demand made, Reuben Everts of said Georgia was legal proprietors’ Clerk. It is not stated how Ira Allen came into the office, or how he went out — nor is it necessary. But it is not averred that the defendant had in his hands or possession any files, records or papers belonging to the office of the proprietors’ Clerk of Georgia. Such averment is indispensibly necessary. If the defendant had no such files, records or papers in his hands or possession, there could be no right to demand — no neglect, and no penalty could have been incurred. This omission is fatal.
The fifth exception is in effect that the action is barred by the statute of limitations. It is not necessary to decide, whether in a penal action, the defendant can avail himself of the statute of limita-; tions on a demurrer to the declaration. The cause of action does not accrue on the demand, but on the right after the demand. This view of the subject discloses another defect in the declaration, not noticed in the special demurrer, which would alone be fatal.
It is stated that the demand was made on the 15th day of Novem? her, 1791; the neglect charged is from the 16th day of August, 1792, to the 17th August,. 1793. The defendant is charged with no neglect during the nine'months intervening between the 15th of November, 179-1, the day on which the demand was made, and the *120l6tli of August, 1792. It is not averred that the defendant did not comply during that time. If he was guilty of no neglect during that time, or rather if he complied during that time, no penalty could afterwards accrue. The defendant is charged with neglect in not delivering over the records between the 16th of August, 1792, and the 17th of August, 1793; and it is not stated that the defendant did not at any time after the demand made deliver over the records. Nothing in this, which is a penal action, can be taken by implication, or aided by intendment. The plaintiff must shew clearly that the penalty had accrued, and how it accrued.
Judgment for the defendant.