Bruner v. Bryan, 50 Ala. 522

Lead Opinion

B. F. SAFFOLD, J.

The appeal is from a decree enjoining the appellant against acting as sheriff of Lowndes county. The appellee was the duly elected and qualified sheriff, and was acting as such, when, on the 18th of November, 1872, one of the sureties on his official bond, N. D. Stanwood, made application in writing, verified, to the probate judge, to be discharged from his suretyship, on the ground that he was in danger of being made liable on the bond, without adequate remedy against his principal, in consequence of his inability to discharge such liability. On the 22d of November, 1872, the probate judge issued a citation to the appellee, Bryan, to appear on the 27th of November, 1872, at his office, “ then and there to show cause, if any, why he should not file a new official bond as sheriff, one of the securities having filed a petition to be released from said bond.” This notice was served on Bryan, by the coroner, on the 26th of November, 1872. On the 27th of November, 1872, the judge entered an order on his books, “ that L. J. Bryan give an additional bond as sheriff of said (Lowndes) county, within ten days from this day.” On the 7th of December, 1872, the judge entered another order, declaring the office of sheriff vacant, in consequence of the failure of Bryan to give a new or additional bond, and that the governor be notified of a vacancy in the office. The notice of vacancy having been given, the governor, on the 13th of December, 1872, issued a commission of appointment to Bryan. Between the 24th and 28th of December, 1872, Bryan, two or three times, presented to the judge bonds for approval, saying he had been appointed sheriff by the governor ; but they were refused. On the 9th of January, 1873, the governor issued a commission to the appellant, Bruner, having been notified by the judge that Bryan had íáiled for fifteen days to file an approved bond. Under this commission, Bruner duly qualified, and assumed the duties of sheriff. Bryan then filed his bill, reciting in substance the above facts, and averring that Bruner was insolvent. He claimed to be still the rightful sheriff, and prayed that Bruner be enjoined from further exercising the duties of the office, and receiving the emoluments thereof. The answer makes no material issue of facts, except it asserts that the coroner was performing the duties of sheriff when he took possession of the office, and made no resistance to him; and that he was not insolvent, but was worth at least four thousand dollars, above all incumbrances and debts. On the case thus made, the chancellor granted the prayer of the bill, and his decree is now assigned as error.

Bryan’s incumbency and right to the office, by due election and qualification, were undisputed, and free from embarrassment, when his surety, Stanwood, made application to be released from his official bond. The probate judge, upon receipt of the application, cited him to “ show cause ” why he should not file a new bond. No other notice was given to him, or demand made upon him, in reference to the matter. But, on the day appointed in the notice given, an order was entered that he give a new bond within ten days. At the expiration of the time, the governor was informed that there was a vacancy in the office. The statute (N. C. § 185) prescribes, that when a proper application by a surety is made, “ the officer to whom such application is addressed must require the principal named in such application to appear before him, on and at a certain day and place, and give a new bond ; which requisition must be in writing, signed by the officer making the same, and must be personally served on such principal before the day named therein.” N. C. § 186 provides, “If such requisition is personally served, and the officer named therein fails to give an additional bond, within ten days after the day specified in such requisition, he vacates his office ; and the officer making such requisition must at once certify the same to the appointing power, who must fill the vacancy.”

The probate judge did not require, nor intend to require, Bryan to give a new bond, on the day he was cited-to appear in the notice to show cause. He fixed a period ten days subsequent for him to do so ; but of this he gave him no notice at all. Of course, then, no demand for a new bond was made. He was not bound to regard the citation to appear and show cause, because tbe judge bad no authority so to cite him. The statute gives the surety an unqualified right to be discharged, on his proper application. The discharge, when effected, operates as a release of all the other sureties. R. C. § 191. The judge, therefore, had no discretion or option about requiring a new bond. The sheriff was not at liberty to allege or prove any reason why he should not file another bond, and the judge had no authority to consider such allegation or proof. The duties required of the judge, in such case, are purely ministerial. He must give the notice, require the bond, approve it, if sufficient, and, if not, certify the failure to the appointing power. The appointing power, which in this case is the governor, acts solely upon the information thus received. If the information is incorrect, and there is no vacancy, any appointment by the governor is wholly inoperative and void.

In Hill v. State (1 Ala. 559), a writ of error was sued out by the sheriff, on a declaration of vacancy in his office, made by the judge of the county court, on the ground of four months’ absence from the county, under a statute very similar to the one in question. This court held the order declaring a vacancy to be wholly unauthorized, extra-judicial, and entitled to no consideration whatever, as a judgment or inquisition of office. It was considered unnecessary to avoid it by the judgment of a superior tribunal. Judge Goldtbcwaite, in the opinion, said the incumbent might be compelled to resort to a court of law to regain his possession; but, as the vacancy is the only matter which can authorize the commission, its whole virtue is at an end, when it is judicially ascertained that the office was not vacant. In the case before him, no appointment had been made, or was under consideration ; and he was doubtless speaking in reference to an adverse possession of the office, not acquired by virtue alone of the governor’s appointment, but through the absence of the incumbent. In such a case, good order and proper decorum would require the true officer to regain his possession by law, and not by force. But the doctrine cannot be entertained for a moment, that the rightful incumbent is ousted by the appointment of another, proprio vigore. It would fill the State with litigation and tumult. Every species of deceit, treachery, and forgery, would be resorted to, to obtain appointments, which would be met on the other hand with violence, in consequence of the law’s delay.

2. Bryan’s acceptance of a commission of appointment from the governor cannot be construed into a resignation of his right to the office under his election. It is more indicative of a determination not to abandon it. He, no doubt, thought if he could procure the commission, it would be as good a way as any to quiet his title. He would have to give a new bond in any event. We cannot deduce an. intention to resign an office from, an act which itself gives evidence of the opposite intention. Inasmuch, therefore, as he had not failed to give bond after proper notice to do so, and there was no proof of any abandonment of his office, by which Bruner, under color of his commission, could have acquired adverse possession, the latter was manifestly exhibited to the chancellor as attempting to exercise the duties and privileges of sheriff, while they were being performed and enjoyed by the rightful sheriff.

3. What is the remedy in such case ? Has a court of equity any jurisdiction in the matter ? “ The powers and jurisdiction of courts of chancery extend, 1st, to all civil causes in which a plain and adequate remedy is not provided in the other judicial tribunals.” R. C. § 698. On undoubted precedent and authority, this jurisdiction attaches to restrain a person from violating an exclusive privilege, by participating in it. ■ The reason for interference is stronger, if the attempt be to disable the party from using it. It is not sufficient to exclude the jurisdiction, that an action at law could be maintained, or that the materials exist on which a verdict might be found, and a judgment rendered. An action at law affords a remedy only for the single act. Equity interposes to prevent its repetition, and to jDrotect the privilege. Irreparable injury is a ground of jurisdiction, and it exists when the remedy at law would be barren of results — a remedy in name only, not in substance. This is the doctrine of the supreme court of the United States, in Osborn v. U. S. Bank (9 Wheat. 738), restraining the auditor of Ohio from collecting an illegal state tax out of the bank. There was remedy by action at law to recover the money; but Chief Justice Marshall said the remedy in equity was more beneficial and complete than the law could give.

It has been held by this court, that the right to exercise an office is as much a species of property as any other thing capable of possession ; that a wrongful deprivation or withholding of it is as susceptible of redress as any other wrong, and is triable by jury. Wammack v. Holloway, 2 Ala. 31. The correctness of the proposition is indisputable between individual claimants, whatever modifications it may be subject to in a controversy between the officer and the State. It is not affected by any statutory provisions in respect to contested elections, because the theory in such cases is, that neither of the contestants has the right until the contest is determined.

What remedy has the lawful incumbent when another assumes his office ? It is vain to say that he is not, or cannot be, injured. Such usurpation is seldom practised without some color of right, and some adherents of influence sufficient to create a doubt in the minds of the people as to which should be recognized and obeyed. He is not ousted, though the other may show a commission from a proper power, because the false authority cannot be held more potent than the true. Reason dictates that the subsequent appointee should sue out the prior one, because of his actual possession. In cases like this, the governor does not ascertain a vacancy. The law fixes the fact upon which he must appoint, and requires the probate judge to find and report that fact. In Hill v. State, supra, this finding was held to be a mere ministerial act, which, if untrue, confers no right. The incumbent is, therefore, without remedy at law. He cannot proceed by quo warranto, because he cannot admit that he is dispossessed. His action for damages, commenced to-day, does not include the injuries which may be inflicted tomorrow. Having thus shown him to be without remedy at all, it is needless to argue in his behalf any inadequacy of remedy.

No sufficient reason can be given why equity should not interfere at the suit of either party. It is a court of equal power and dignity with the circuit court. The public is as much interested in knowing who is the officer as the claimants are. When two are acting, the acts of one must necessarily be void. There cannot be two sheriffs in one county. Bondurant v. Buford, 1 Ala. 359. Rights of property depend largely on service of process, and other duties to be performed by the sheriff. Operating through a series of years, the entire property of the community becomes affected by them. When the judgment of avoidance, even in one case, is declared, distress, confusion, and disaster ensue. What more salutary jurisdiction can be exercised by the chancery court, than at the outset to call these contending claimants before it, hear what they have to say, and decide which of them shall exercise the office for the present, and until the circuit court and its jury finally adjudge the dispute. It requires a bond of the successful party amply to indemnify the other; which is not the case at law. It prevents the imposition upon the people by fraud and violence of an officer whom they have not selected. It conserves the peace, and thereby prevents demoralization. It discourages unlawful attempts to seize on and appropriate offices, by summarily restraining the wrong, and thereby removing the inducement. Its judgment does not finally determine the right, but, in most cases, it so develops and manifests it, that further litigation is avoided. The decree is affirmed.

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Dissenting Opinion

BRICKELL, J.

(dissenting.) —I cannot concur in the foregoing opinion. A bill in equity is not a proper remedy to try the right to a public office. Besides, the probate judge had power to declare the office of sheriff vacant, under the facts stated in the pleadings. That power he exercised, and it is presumed rightfully, — conclusively so presumed, until his action shall be reversed by a superior tribunal.

Apart from this consideration, the case presents the anomaly of continuing in office a sheriff, without an official bond, for the protection of the public and of the citizen, having large pecuniary interests dependent on his fidelity and promptness. Eor the court is compelled to the ’concession, that the proceedings before the probate judge had the effect to release or discharge the sureties of the complainant as sheriff. It cannot be that, in legal contemplation, an individual right to a public office is superior to the right of the public to security against his mal-feasance or non-feasance.

Case Details

Case Name: Bruner v. Bryan

Court Name: Supreme Court of Alabama

Date Published: Jan 15, 1874

Citation: 50 Ala. 522

Court Abbreviation: Ala.