Court Opinion

ID: 6536906
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 22:12:29.701803+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:41.366250
License: Public Domain

Ringo, Ch. Justice, delivered the opinion of the court: A motion was filed on behalf of the Mayor and Aldermen of the city of Little Rock, to dismiss this cause, on two grounds: first, that the Corporation of the City of Little Rock is, in truth, and ought of right to be, the defendant in error, and heard by counsel, instead of the State of Arkansas, as the case now stands; and second, because this writ of error has not been served upon the corporate authorities of said city, as required by law. The question presented by this motion is important, not on account of the interest to be effected by it in this case, but from the number of cases in which it may arise. To understand the question correctly, it is important to ascertain what parties are interested in the controversy. The plaintiff in error has a direct and unquestionable interest; for the judgment to be pronounced is to operate directly for his benefit or to his prejudice. The State is the other party to the record, and no third party is mentioned in it; and if interested in the controversy is entitled to notice, and may claim the right to be heard» -But'if, on the contrary, the State occupies the attitude of a party merely nominal, and is a trustee for public purposes, without any beneficial interest, whatever, in the controversy; not entitled to the benefit of the fine, if recovered, or subjected to the payment of costs, if the prosecution fails, to what purpose should she be served with notice? Could she assume the control of the case, and exclude from its management and direction the party really and beneficially interested? If the interest of the party entitled to the benefit of the recovery, be legitimately shown in such manner that the court is bound to take judicial notice of it, we think it cannot be doubted that such party is entitled to notice, and may well insist upon the right to be heard; for it is a fundamental maxim, admitted in the jurispudeucc of'all civilized and enlightened countries, 44 that the law will never suffer a man to be divested of his rights, without having an opportunity to make a defence.” The interest of the Corporation of Tattle Rock, in the present controversy, is clearly ascertained by the City Charter or act of incorporation, approved November the 5th, 1835. Section 10th, whore it -a enacted, 44 That the full amount of all sums arising from the tax on all licen-ces in said city, and from amercement of fines, shall be paid into the “treasury of said city: forty per centum of all the nett proceeds of “said sums shall be paid by the city treasurer into the treasury of “the county of Pulaski, for the benefit of said county; and the resi“due applied to the common benefit of said city.” By the same act the City Court is created, and its jurisdiction - and powers prescribed. Section 7, provides 44that the said Cify Court “shall have exclusive jurisdiction, without the privilege of appeal of “all offences which are less than felony at common law, which shall “be committed within the limits of the City of Little Rock, in violation of the by-laws, ordinances, or regulations of said city,” &c. By an ordinance of the Common Council of the city of Little Rock, approved December the 17th, 1035, betting money or other valuable thing, on any gaming table commonly called A, B, C, or E, O, or rouge et noir, or faro, or any other gaming table, or hank, of the same or like kind, or of any other description, under any other denomination whatsoever, is prohibited, and afine denounced against those who shall be convicted thereof in the City Court. The present controversy arises upon a prosecution and conviction in the City Court, for betting at a game commonly called faro; an offence which was clearly within the jurisdiction of that court; and the fine, when collected by the statutory provisions above recited, as clearly belonged to the Corporation; into the treasury of which it is required to be paid. It is true that the corporation is directed to pay forty' per cent, of the nett proceeds of the fine to the county of Pulaski; but that does not, as to the present question, affect in the slightest degree the interest of the corporation in regard to the controversy; for it must be remarked that the claim of the county does not arise until the controversy between the corporation and the individual is determined, and the fine collected and paid into the city treasury: then, and not until then, the interest of the county commences': and until that interest arises, the attorney for the State cannot, in his official character, have any thing to do with the controversy. The corporation has, by law, a Solicitor, whose duty it is to prosecute in all cases in behalf of said city. This duty is expressly enjoined upon him by the city charier. The right and interest of the' corporation in the subjpet matter of this controversy, is legal; the statutory provisions above recited make it legal: and hence we are bound to take judicial notice of it. if the right was merely equitable,the court could not regard it until specially shown; hut if we are correct in the conclusion that the corporation of Little Rock has the legal interest in the controversy, and that their interest appears by a general law of the land, we are not at liberty to overlook or disregard it. By the Constitution it is made the duty of the attorney for the circuit in which the Supreme Court may hold its ’terms, to attend the Supreme Court and prosecute for the State: and by the act of the Legislature of 1836, the same duty is enjoined in all cases in which the State is interested. These provisions, if the view which we have taken of the subject be correct, can have rió influence, whatever upon the question now before us. They only require the attorney for the State to- attend the court, and prosecute or defend in such cases as the State may be interested; but where the State has no interest whatever, although named in the record as a piirty, it is not reasonable to conclude that either the Convention o'r Legislature intended to require him to appear and take part in the controversy; especially in such cases as the present, where such interference would conflict with the legal rights of the party alone interested in the cause, ft is, therefore, the opinion of this court, that the Corporation of the City of Little, Rock- -»a? a i •'■■-V be heard in this controversy, ana ought <.o h-;/-; ■ s- -• :z summons or notice to appear, as required by htr: and th.ic &*• i» ney for the State is not, by virtue of his office, authorized by law to enter an appearance in this case for the defendant. But the fact that the corporation of the city" of Little Nock lias not been summoned 1 J or notified to appear, is not a ground to dismiss this suit. The present motion to dismiss, must consequently be overruled.