Ball v. Toler
153 S.E. 238
W. Va.
1930
Check Treatment
Hatoher, Judge:

Chapter 28A, § 12, of the West Virginia Code of 1923 provides that it shall be unlawful for a county court to issue any certifiсate, order, or other evidence of indebtedness which cannot be paid out of the levy for thе current fiscal year, and that in ease of negligent or willful violation of such provision, a court of competent jurisdiction shall enter an order forfeiting the offices of the members thereof. This is a proceeding brought under that chapter to remove J. Albert Toler and Bert Cook as members of the cоunty court of Wyoming county. The circuit court found that the charges against the defendants were not sustainеd by the evidence and dismissed the petition.

It is not denied that certain county funds for the fiscal year of 1927-28 were largely overdrawn during the winter and spring of 1928. Evidence was introduced by petitioners showing that the defendants knowingly had the overdrafts issued. This was denied by defendants who maintained that they did not know the funds were ‍​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‍exhausted whеn issuing the overdrafts. The finding of the circuit court forecloses the issue as to willful violation of the statute in thеir favor, since we cannot say the finding is plainly wrong. Because, also, of that determination, we will cоnsider the issue as to negligent violation upon their own admissions.

The sheriff of Wyoming county, commencing Januаry 1, 1928, endorsed all county orders “No Funds.” Mr. Toler admits prompt information of this fact. A letter dated February 7, 1928, from F. E. Shannon, who was then prosecuting attorney, to D. D. Moran, stated: ‘ ‘ Two of our county funds are overdrawn, which is nothing unusual.” This letter was published in a county newspaper on March 22,1928. Both de *63 fendants, say they saw tbe letter. Yet, on April 3, 1928, they caused drafts amounting to $25,000 to be issued against tbe general county fund for tbe purchase of a lot. Tbe price paid for tbe lot was about one-tbird of tbe ‍​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‍entire amount of tbe general county fund for that fiscal year. There bad been no provision made for tbe purchase in laying tbe levy. . The defendants knew this. They also knew, according to Mr. Toler, that “nearly always, * * * no great amount of money” remained in tbe funds that late in tbe fiscal year. Mr. Toler further testified: “A. At tbe time this lot was purchased, therе was some discussion as to whether we bad funds or not, and it was concluded we did have tbe funds — we were so informed there. Q. Who informed you? A. I think tbe Clerk informed us. I am not sure, but any way tbe information came directly or indireсtly from tbe Clerk. I don’t know now. There were several people around that discussed it. ’ ’ When Mr. Cook was аsked as to what effort be made to ascertain the condition of tbe funds at tbe time of the purchase, be testified: “A. Well, I don’t know that I made any particular effort, but I bad information that there were funds. Q. From whоm did you have that information ? A. I think I bad that information from tbe Clerk.” (Tbe uncertain evidence of the defendаnts as to receiving this assurance from tbe clerk is not substantiated by bis testimony.)

The obligation of a public official to “faithfully perform the duties” ‍​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‍of bis office is not satisfied with a perfunctory performance. Nail v. Browning, 73 Fla. 316, 74 So. 315. Hе must not rely on indirect information when direct information is at band. He will not be permitted to close bis eyеs to the condition of funds entrusted to him. He cannot avoid statutory restrictions on tbe ground of ignorance which results from bis own inattention. It is bis plain duty to be informed. That duty is a primary one. It requires tbe exercise of tbе diligence of an ordinarily prudent man. Hamrick v. McCutcheon et al., 101 W. Va. 485, 133 S. E. 127. Tbe defendants here testify only to casual information ‍​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‍as to thе condition of tbe county funds. ‘ ‘ I think tbe Clerk informed us. I am not sure, ’ ’ says Toler. “Well, I don’t know that I made any particulаr effort (to ascertain tbe condition of tbe fund) * * * I think I *64 bad the information (that there were funds) from the Clerk,” says Cоok. Even if the desirability and good faith of the purchase, which are denied, be admitted, the defendants were patently negligent in making, at that time of the fiscal year, an expenditure of such comparative magnitude, not contemplated in ‍​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‍the levy without definitely ascertaining whether the balance in the fund warranted the expenditure. A fortiori was their conduct negligent in this respect after learning that the sheriff and prosecuting attorney regarded the county funds as overdrawn. The defendants seek justification under the decision in Hamrick v. McCutcheon et al., supra. In that case the members of a board of education, because of a great рublic necessity and threat of criminal prosecution, contracted beyond funds legally at their disposal. However, before doing so, they diligently sought information and advice from their secretary, from a reputable attorney, and from the state tax commissioner. They exercised the care of reasonably prudent men. Their wrongful act was occasioned by unsound advice and unsound business judgment, not by negligenсe. Therefore, that case is not comparable to this.

The negligence of the defendants hеre is established by their own testimony. The finding of the circuit court to the contrary is therefore plainly wrong.

Other violations are charged against defendants, but as negligence is so thoroughly established as to the one upon which we have commented, a discussion of the other charges is unnecessary.

The judgment of the circuit court is accordingly reversed and an order entered here sustaining the prayer of the petition.

Reversed: order entered here.