Brown v. Randolph County Court

Brannon, Judge:

At the general election in November, 1898, the voters of Randolph County voted upon the question of the removal of its county seat from Beverly to Elkins, and when the commissioners of the county court met as a board of canvassers to canvass the returns of the election for Governor and other officers, C. H. Scott, John T. Davis, and W. G. Wilson,, voters and taxpayers of the county, appeared before that board, and moved it to take up the certificates sent from the voting precincts as the vote upon the question, and declare the result; and T. P. R. Brown, a voter and taxpayer, objected, but the board overruled his objection, and proceeded to open the certificates, when Brown asked a recount of the ballots, and asked that he be allowed to go behind the returns apparent from the certificates, and offer evidence to set aside the election for fraud, and to exclude certain precincts for fraud'. The matter having been postponed till the completion of the canvass as to the election as to officers, on a later day Brown objected to any canvass by the canvassers of the a ote on tin-remoAuil of the county seat, and asked that the certificates as to it be transferred to the county court, insisting that it alone had jurisdiction to ascertain and declare the result of this vote, and not the board of canvassers; while Scott and others insisted that the canvassers ascertain and declare the result from the certificates, without recount of ballots,, and Avithout going behind the certificates, and hearing evidence of fraud in the election. The board decided that it had jurisdiction to canvass the returns and recount the ballots, but no.further; and that, if asked then to hear evidence upon the fairness and legality of the election, it would transfer the controversy to the county court, in order that that court might determine it and declare the result. Both sides excepted to• this action. When, later, the county court met in regular session, Brown asked it to take up the returns of the election upon this question, and canvass them, recount ballots, and hear evidence as to the fairness -and' validity of the election, and ascertain and declare the result; but it refused. Brown has obtained from this Court a mandamus nisi, and now asks that a peremptory mandamus be awarded compelling the county court to exercise jurisdiction, and take up the returns, recount the ballots, hear evidence of fraud, and ascertain and declare the result of the election. We must determine whether this peremptory mandamus shall issue. Scott, Davis, and Wilson, upon a mandamus nisi obtained from thisCourt, and a peremptory mandamus to compel the board of canvassers to simply declare the result of the election from the certificates. We must determine whether this mandamus shall issue. Brown' also obtained from this Court a rule against the board of canvassers to show cause why a writ of prohibition shall not issue to prohibit it from any proceedings touching the canvass of the-returns. We must decide whether this prohibition shall issue. All these proceedings involve and turn upon the same questions of law.

The sole question in this litigation is, which body shall canvass the returns of a vote at a general election upon the relocation of a county seat, — the county court as such or the board o.f canvasser's as such? Though these bodies are composed of the-same persons,- — county commissioners, —yet they are in law not the same, but distinct bodies. The board of -canvassers is merely a body to canvass the returns of elections for public officers, acting simply on the certificates sent from voting precincts by certain' officers holding the election, and recounting ballots when demand is made. They may send for-those precinct officers to ascertain the true result; but they hear no contests ju> dicially, no evidence of fraud in the election. They act ministerially only. If any candidate claims that the election is fraudulent or in any wise illegal, or that ballots are unlawfully counted against him, or not counted for him, he’ must get relief by contest, as provided in the statute Brazie v. Commissioners, 25 W. Va. 213. But a county court, as such, canvassing the returns of an election upon a vote upon a county-seat relocation, is an entirely different tribunal, having wider function. It canvasses the returns upon the' certificates, can recount ballots, hear evidence of fraud and illegality, and do what in the case of candidates for office can be done by that court in hearing a contest. Poteet v. Commissioners, 30 W. Va. 58, (3 S. E. 97). And that case, as also Welch v. County Court, 29 W. Va. 63, (1 S. E. 337), held that returns of elections on a county seat must go before the county court to be canvassed,, and to have the result declared, and not before the board of canvassers. Such was the law under chapter 5, section 15, Acts 1881 (Code 1887, c. 39, s. 15), as settled by those two cases. But it is insisted by Scott and others that all this has been changed by chapter 37, Acts 1895 (Code 1891, c. 39, s. 15). Scott contends that under this act of 1895, the board of canvassers must canvass the returns of such vote, if at a general election, simply by the certificates sent from the precincts, and declare the result of the vote; and that the county court has nothing to do with such canvass and declaration. If the election is a special one on the question, it is conceded that the county court makes the canvass and declaration. I do not concur in this position. If we look back through the entire life of the State, we find under the Constitution of 1863 the board of supervisors, and under that of 1872 the county court, and under the amendment in 1879, of Art. VIII. the county court, were given “superintendence and administration of the -internal police and fiscal affairs of their counties.” The.location of a county seat falls under this head. If we look at the legislation upon this subject in all this time, we find that it gave the supervisors and the county courts jurisdiction to entertain petitions for the removal of the county seats, and to order votes thereon, and to ascertain and declare their results. Acts passed in 1863, 1868, 1873, and 1881 show this. It was fit, under'these Constitutions, that the whole proceeding as to ordering vote upon tbe question of removal of a county seat, ascertaining its result, and then providing a court house and other buildings at the new county seat, should be committed to the county court. It might be questioned whether this power could be given to other hands. It requires plain legislation, not merely doubtful construction, to revolutionize this policy, established so long. The act of 1891 is made to do so- by implication only, the chief point to sustain such implication being the omission to provide, as former ac ts did, that the clerk should lay the returns of a general election before the county court. Let us look at the act.

The controlling reason for its enactment was to authorize, for the first time, a special election upon the relocation of a county seat. I see no other great change. Under it the petition for a vote on relocation must go to the county court. It alone could order a vote, and make all provisions necessary for it up to the election. How after the election? It says: “The said vote shall be taken, superintended, conducted and returned in the same manner and by the same officers as elections for county and state officers. If said election be held at a general election, the commissioners of election shall make out and sign a separate certificate of the result of said vote, and deliver the same to the clerk of the county court within the same time they are required by law to deliver the certificates of the result of the election of officers held by them. And if said election be held at a special election, then said county court shall at the session at which the election is ordered, appoint three commissioners of that election for each voting place in said county, who shall ascertain and certify the result of such election in the same manner as herein provided to be done at a general election. And the certificates of the result of such special election shall be laid before the court by the clerk thereof, at a special session thereof, which shall be held within five days (Sundays excepted) after said special election. Said court shall thereupon ascertain and declare the result of said vote and enter the same of record.” Here we observe an aim at similarity of procedure in general and special elections, as far as possible. In words it requires the returns of a special election to go before the county court for canvass and declaration of result. Why should it be different in the case of a general election? Is it because there are canvassers after a general election to canvass as to candidates, and none at a special election, and that convenience requires that they canvass as to both candidates and relocation? This idea is of slight force. The county court is in existence, and it makes no speed to have the canvassers act, as removal cannot occur until the county court orders it, as the act shows. . This act requires separate certificates as to this election from those as to candidates. Why? Because they go for action before different bodies. If the canvassers are to declare the result, why the separate certificates? And then the unreasonableness of making such a difference between a special and general election. What calls for it? But it is'urged that former acts provided, as to the certificates at general elections,, that “said clerk shall l'ay the same before the county court at its next session,” whereas the act of 1891 omits this provision as to a general election, but retains it as to a special election. If this does not sustain the theory that only the' canvassers can act, no other provision does. This clause may be dispensed with entirely without affecting the power of the county court, for the act requires the election officers to make certificates and deliver them to the clerk in the case of general and special elections. For what purpose? Plainly that he may lay them before the court, for there is the clause saying: “Said court shall thereupon ascertain and declare the result of said vote, and enter the same of record.” This clause applies to both general and special elections. On what can the court act but on those certificates? The law intends them in both elections for their action. They are sent to the court, because sent to their clerk.' His custody of them is the custody of the court. Why say that the clerk shall lay them before the court? If it is said that the fact that it requires the cíeik to lay the certificates before the court in a .special election excludes the idea that he is to do so also In the case of a general election, I answer this is at most only an implication, and that, if it had been the intention to have the clerk lay them before the board of canvassers sitting, not under tlrs act, but under chapter 3, section 68„ Code, — a body not mentioned in this act, — we should reasonably expect, if this sharp distinction was in the brain of the legislature, that it would have said so in words.. Scott’s counsel contends that, as these certificates are not directed to be laid before the county court, they must go somewhere, and they go before the canvassers. 1 answer that this act does not say so-, but, to the reverse, leaves the fair strong inference that they go before the court; and I answer, further, that they don’t go before the canvassers under section 68, chapter 3, because that in terms is limited to a canvass as to candidates for office, and never mentions the canvass of returns to remove a county seat, and confers no power on the canvassers as to that. The form of declaration of result gives a place for every candidate “for office,” but no place for a candidate for a county seat. This section knows not that such a candidate is running. Why carry these certificates to a tribunal knowing them not, whose power of attorney is silent as to them?

And now, as a telling argument, contemplate the great evil ensuing upon the construction of the act contended for. The case of Brazie v. Commissioners, 25 W. Va. 213, holds that canvassers have no power to go behind the returns to inquire as to fraud or illegality in the election. Thence it would follow that, if the board of canvassers act on a county-seat election, fraud would go unchallenged, and the result must be declared by the returns, however tainted by fraud. There is /statutory provision for a contest given to a candidate' defeated by fraud, but none in the case of a county-seat vote. If the construction of the statute contended for by- Scott is given it, the result is, as Judge Green said in the Poteet Case, that one running for the petty office of constable has remedy against fraud, but the opponents of a fraudulent removal of a county seat — a most important matter — have none. If the act is given the construction that I contend for, we preserve the remedy laid down in the Poteet Case. If we give it the. effect of changing the law so as to carry the returns before the board of canvassers, we ought, as a sequence, for reasons stated so well in the Poteet Case as a necessity, vest in that board power to go behind the returns, and hear evidence of fraud and illegality. But that would be a total change in the character of that tribunal, and counsel for Scott repudiates that result. If canvassers cannot- go behind returns, then certiorari would not answer, to meet fraud, as tbe fraud could not be made to appear. It is suggested by counsel that chancery would entertain jurisdiction. Why destroy the remedy already existing to go abroad seeking a doubtful remedy, and that by mere construction of a statute by implication? In fact,, equity disclaims jurisdiction in cases of contested elections. It does not overthrow elections, or try title to office, as will be seen in that late excellent work, American & English Decisions in Equity (volume 3, pp. 413„ 437), Alderson v. Commissioners, 32 W. Va. 643, (9 S. E. 868). Though a vote upon removal of a county seat is not an "election” in strict sense, yet this rule of equity might apply by analogy. However, as this is not an election for office, but only on a public question, it may be that equity would take jurisdiction by injunction to prevent a county court from removing a county seat under a vote tainted with fraud. As shown by cases collected in the work just cited (page 439), this may be done; but the cases conflict. Be this as it may„ it is no reason for changing the well-considered case of Poteet v. Commissioners, and destroying the ready remedy it gives, without very plain language from- the legislature. The object is to reach the intention of the legislature. 1 Bl. Comm. 61. Is it retasonable to say that it intended to make a difference between special and general elections as to the tribunal declaring the result? Why so? Why not harmonize by committing the power'to the county court in both cases? Why make a difference* especially when it destroys an essential remedy? The new law retains the feature that in both elections separate certificates shall go to the clerk, and the general clause that the comity court shall declare the result, and retains the clause that the clerk shall lay the certificates before the county court, but only says so as to a special election. This is a mere inadvertence of drafting. The draftsman intended it as to both general and special elections. If he had intended them in a general election to be laid by the ' cletk before another body, would he not have said so? The clause that the county court shall declare the result is controlling. “Where the law antecedently to the revision was settled, either by clear expression in the statute or adjudication thereon, the mere change of phraseology shall not be deemed or construed a change of the law, unless such phraseology evidently purports an intention in the legislature to work a change. A contrary construction might be productive of the most dangerous consequences.” Parramore v. Taylor, Grat. 220, 243; 1 Minor Inst. 41. Owners v. Bragdon, 121 Grat. 685; Vaughan v. Jones, 23 Grat. 403. The motive of the act of 1891 was to change the old law only to the extent of allowing a vote at a special election. It was not intended to allow the county court to canvass a vote only at a special, and not at a general, one, and thus take away the citizen’s right to contest an illegal vote on the removal of a county seat. Such change does not speak from the act. If the construction contended for by Scott is correct, it results-in this anomaly: that a vote at a special election can be contested for fraud or other illegality, but one at a general election cannot be. This was never intended. This alone is enough to repel that construction, though other reasons supplement and fortify it. I should add the argument that the act not only requires the county court to “ascertain and declare the result of said vote,” but elsewhere also says that, if three-fifths of the votes be in favor of relocation, “the said county court shall enter an order declaring the place so receiving three-fifths of all the votes cast therefor to be the county seat.” Now, if the intent was that the canvassers should canvass the re-, turns,, we would look for some provision to certify from the canvassers to the county court the result of the canvass; to ' enable it to make such an order. There is none. Why? Because it was intended that the county court shall canvass, and as the result would be on its own record,, there was no need of a certificate of-the re-suit of the canvass. If we could say, even, that the act does not provide what body shall declare the result of a voté at a general election, what then? As it is the county court that entertains the proceedings for relocation by receiving the petition for a vote, and ordering it, and the certificates from the precincts are in the custody of the clerk, we would say that it was also to declare the result, not the board of canvassers, as was held in State v. Whitney, 12 Wash. 420; (41 Pac. 189.)

A taxpayer or a voter of a county, merely as such, may appear before the county court, and in any legal mode contest the returns of and vote upon a relocation of a county seat for fraud, irregularity of illegality, or other ground which in law would change the result or overthrow the vote, in whole or part. This is presented in brief of Brown’s counsel,, but is not contested. Poteet v. Commissioners, 30 W. Va. 59, (3 S. E. 97); Welch v. County Court, 29 W. Va. 63, (1 S. E. 337); Hamilton v. County Court, 38 W. Va. 76, (18 S. E. 8); Kriecshel v. Board, 12 Wash. 436, (41 Pac. 186).

In deference to the extended oral and printed argument of counsel, I have said too much in the case. I regard it as quite plain. From these views it follows that we must award a peremptory mand imus to Brown to compel the county court to take jurisdiction, and take up the returns of the vote, and canvass them, and recount the ballots,, and hear evidence touching fraud and illegality in the vote, if asked„ and declare the result, and enter it of record; and we must award the writ of prohibition sought by Brown against the board of canvassers prohibiting it from exer'cising any jurisdiction whatéver over the certificates and returns of said vote, and we must refuse the mandamus asked by Scott, Davis, and Wilson to compel the board of canvassers to proceed with the canvass of said vote.

Notts by

Dent, President:

So far as the opinion of Judgb Brannon holds that the county-court has authority to hear and determine contests with reg-ard to the relocation of a court house, it is undoubtedly legislation by judicial construction to supply as a matter of necessity an inadvert' nt omission in the'statute. The same may be said of the decision in the case of Poteet v. Commissioners, 30 W. Va. 58, (3 S. E. 97). But to hold otherwise is to deny to the taxpayers the undoubted right to inquire into and know whether their court house has been relocated in the manner provided by law And for this reason, though reluctant to usurp legislative functions, I concur in the proposed judicial amendments of the statute to prevent a denial of the just rights of those in interest. Judge-made law, in such an unforseen event, is better than no law. It is at least in accord with, and preservative of, that favorite maxium of the courts of common law, founded on fiction though it be, that “there is no right without a remedy. ” Charleston & S. Bridge Co., v. Kanawha County Court, 41 W. Va., 676, (24 S. E. 1002).

Writ Granted.

Case Details

Case Name: Brown v. Randolph County Court

Court Name: West Virginia Supreme Court

Date Published: Feb 4, 1899

Citation: 32 S.E. 165

Court Abbreviation: W. Va.