13 Kan. 207 | Kan. | 1874
On the first of April 1873 the district court of Neosho county made the following order, to-wit: “Whereas, the health, comfort and convenience of those who are required to be in attendance upon the session of the district court of Neosho county demand that some suitable carpeting be placed upon the floor of the court-room, therefore it is ordered by the court, that the sheriff of said county be and he is hereby directed to purchase 51 yards of cocoa matting, at a cost not exceeding $1.10 per yard, and that the same be bound with tin and placed upon the floor of the courtroom on or before Wednesday, April 2d, 1873, at 9 o’clock A. M.” On said 2d of April, the sheriff of said county in pursuance of said order, and without any other authority, purchased in the name of the county, and for the county, from the plaintiff below, defendant in error, fifty-five yards of cocoa matting at $1.15 per yard, amounting to $63.25, and on the same day placed said matting on the floor of the courtroom of said Neosho county. It is agreed that “said matting is indispensable to the comfort and convenience of those having business to transact in said court.” On the 23d of said April the plaintiff below duly presented his claim against the county for said matting to the board of county commissioners of said county. On the next day the commissioners examined said claim and disallowed it. On April 25th, 1873, the plaintiff below appealed from the board of county commissioners to the district court. On April 26th, 1873, the case was tried in the district court before the court, and without a jury, and judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff below and against the county of Neosho for $60.50, and costs. To reverse this judgment the county now appeals to this court.
The only question which we are asked to decide by either party is, whether the sheriff had the power to purchase said matting, either with or without said order of the district court, and make the county responsible therefor. We do not think he had any such power. In this state a county is a
The judgment of the court below is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.