Haynes v. Hall

37 Vt. 20 | Vt. | 1864

Pierpoint, J.

Two questions are presented for our consideration ' upon the case as made up by the parties.

1st. Did the defendant, as deputy sheriff, charge and receive illegal fees, within the meaning of § 17, ch. 125, G. S. ? and if he did, 2d. Did he do it with that knowledge of the illegality of the act, that is necessary to constitute an offense under the statute, and subject him to the penalty?

The first question is one, that in view of its importance, the pecu liar phraseology of the statute regulating the subject of fees, and the construction that was put upon this statute by the court in Henry v. Tilsen, 17 Vt. 479, we are not now prepared to decide.

But as we all concur in the opinion, that a decision of the second question must always determine the fate of this case, it is thought best to decide it upon that point, rather than to subject the parties to the delay and expense of further litigation, to settle a question, which, decided either way, cannot affect the ultimate decision of the case.

j_ The language of the statute is, that “ if any officer, or other person, shall receive any greater fees than is provided for by law, he shall pay,” &c.jThe 17th section of the statute in its terms imposes the penalty upon all who receive a greater amount of fees than is provided for by law, without any reference to the question whether it is done intentionally, or with a knowledge of its illegality. ¿ Yet the court in Henry v. Tilsen, above referred to, have very clearly shown that by the true reading of the said section, when taken in connection with the preceding sections, as well as upon every sound principle applicable to such cases, it is necessary that the officer receiving such fees should do it with a knowledge of the illegality of the act to constitute it an offense, subjecting him to the penalty. >

Now in this case the offense, if any, consists not in the taking by the defendant of more than is allowed by law for services, for which a specific fee is given by ¡the statute, but for charging and taking pay for services that are not enumerated in the statute, and for which no fee is directly given. Whether he had the right to charge and take pay for such services, is a question, as before remarked, that is nofe readily determined. There seems to be a diversity of opinion on the subject among officers, and also in the legal profession in the state.

It is agreed in the statement that the amount taken by the defendant for the services performed, is but a reasonable compensation therefor, if he was entitled to take anything, ^/it is also agreed that it has been a uniform and universal custom among officers in this county, for years, to charge for such services, and that the defendant received the amount in good faith, believing it was legal and proper for him to do so. Upon such a state of facts, it is very clear that it cannot be said that he received the money knowing that it was illegal, and that he was violating the statute.

There was no intent on his part to do wrong, and violate the law, and the intent is the very essence of all penal offenses?} The intent may be, and generally is, presumed from the act itself; but here it is agreed there was no illegal intent, but on the other hand the defendant supposed he was doing only what he had a legal right to do. We think, therefore, he cannot be subjected to the penalty sought to be imposed upon him.

Judgment of the county court affirmed.