20 Kan. 66 | Kan. | 1878
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This was an action brought under the- law of 1874, to recover for the value of a certain mare killed by the train of defendant. The action was brought before a justice of the peace, and upon the trial judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff. A bill of exceptions was taken, and the case removed on error to the district court, and upon affirmance of judgment there, is now brought here.
The only question in this case is, as to the sufficiency of the demand, notice of which was served only upon the general superintendent. The statute provides that an action may be brought if the railway company “shall fail, for thirty days after demand made therefor by the owner of such animal, or his agent or attorney, to pay such owner, or his agent or attorney, the full value of such animal, if killed, or damages thereto, if wounded.” And further, in a subsequent section, that “the demand * * * may be made of any ticket-agent or station-agent of such railway company.” Upon this, counsel invokes the aid of the rule, that where a new right is created by statute, and a specific remedy provided, the right can be pursued only through the remedy prescribed; Almy v. Harris, 5 Johns. (N. Y.) 175; Stafford v. Ingersoll, 3 Hill (N. Y.), 38; Renwick v. Morris, 7 Hill (N. Y.), 575; and insists, that the word “ may ” should be construed as equivalent to “ must,” inasmuch as the rights of third parties are
We have considered the principal question in this case, passing by the question of practice; but our silence upon the latter must not be construed into an overruling of the point made by the learned counsel for defendant -in error.
The judgment will be affirmed.