This is аn appeal from an order of the county court of McClain county, Oklahoma, wherein one Buick Light Six, 1917 model,- automobile was ordered confiscated and forfeited to the state of Oklahoma, on the grounds that the same was used in conveying intoxicating liquors contrary to the provisions of the law.
The evidence adducеd at the trial in the lower court shows, in substance, that, on the 12th day of January, 1918, Nora G. Hoskins, as guardian for her minor son, Elmo Hoskins, purchased the ear in controversy for hf"’ ward. Aftеr the urehase of the car, the guardian arranged with one Richard Hoskins, to use the same in Oklahoma City as a service car; the arrangement being that, after the еxpenses for operating the car were paid, the profits were to be equally divided between the guardian and Richard Hoskins. The guardian was evidently impressed with the idea that there was a chance for great profit in the venture. We are not prepared to say that, as a general proposition, her hopеs of profit were not well founded, but after a few weeks’ experience in this new venture, she realized that the arrangement was a losing proposition, the exрenses of operation largely exceeding the receipts. Whereupon, she instructed Richard Hoskins to cease operating the car as a service car, and ordered him to place the same in a certain garage in Oklahoma City. The guardian called up the garage and ascertained that her оrders had been obeyed; she thereupon instructed the management of the garage not to allow the car to be taken out without her consent.
On the 15th day of March, thereafter, Richard Hoskins, without the knowledge or consent of the guardian, took the car from the garage, and, on the afternoon of that date, was arrested in Purcell by the city marshal. At the time of the arrest of Richard Hoskins, the car contained 80 pints of whisky. On the 22nd day of March, the car was turned over to the deputy United States marshal, and was taken to Chickasha, Oklahoma, where it remained in possession of the United States marshal until the 28th of Mtereh, on which date it was turned over to the sheriff оf McClain county. The return of the sheriff was filed on the 29th day of March, 1918.
Nora G. Hoskins, as guardian, filed an in-terplea for her ward, Elmo Hoskins, and alleged that, if the car had beеn used in violation of the prohibitory laws of the state of Oklahoma, such use was not with her knowledge or consent. Upon trial, the county court rendered judgment confisсating the car, from which, judgment the guardian prosecutes this action.
Plaintiff in error assigns numerous errors; however, we will confine ourselves to assignments 4, 7, and 8. The 4th assignment of еrror is:
“The court erred in not sustaining the intervener’s demurrer to the petition, or that part of it, wherein the officers of McClain county surrendered the ear to the United States marshal, on March 22nd, 1918, and allowed the same to be taken out of McClain county, Oklahoma, on the 22nd day of March, 1918, to Grady county, Oklahoma, and allowed it to rеmain there until the 29th day of March, 1918.”
The proceeding to confiscate an automobile, used in transporting liquors contrary to the prohibitory laws of the state of Oklаhoma, is in the nature of a proceeding in rem. There might arise cases where the car would ¡be confiscated, and the driver of the car be entirely innocent of violating the law. In a sense, the car is guilty of committing the offense, and the penalty is confiscation. The style of the prosecution is the state of Oklahoma аgainst the offending car.
In the instant case, when the officer of McClain county arrested Richard Hoskins, and seized the liquors and the car, it appears that the fedеral officers claimed prior or superior jurisdiction in the premises, and demanded that the car be delivered to them, which was done by the officer making the seizure. After holding the car for a short time, the federal authorities returned the same to the sheriff of McClain county, who immediately thereafter sought to comply with the requirements of secton 8617, Revised Laws of 1910, by making before the county judge the required complaint and his return: The automobile, after the seizure, was at no time out of the custody of officers, either federal or state, whose duty it was to see that the prohibition laws were enforced. Therefore, when the officer of McClain county filed his complaint and return, the county court of McClain county was thereby vested with full jurisdiction in the premises. To hold otherwise, would be in effect holding that, after an individual had сommitted an offense against *202 thé criminal laws of the state, had been- arrested, and, before being taken before the magistrate, escaped, fle<|, into anothеr jurisdiction, and thereafter''was. arrested by the officers of the county where the offense had been committed, the courts of the county would thereby lose jurisdictiоn to try the offender.
There is some similarity between criminal procedure regarding arrests and the law authorizing the seizure of an automobile transporting liquor contrаry to law. Under the former, where an officer makes an arrest without a warrant, he is required to take the party arrested before a magistrate without unnecessary delay. The failure of the officer, however, to act promptly or without unnecessary delay in taking the offender before the magistrate, would not be jurisdictional, and, notwithstanding the delay, if afterwards the party is taken before the magistrate, .such failure would not affect the jurisdiction of the court to proceed thereаfter as directed by the statute.
The plaintiff, in error next contends that the judgment of the court was contrary to the evidence. From a careful .examination of thе record, we have not been abl.e to find where there is any evidence in any way imputing to the plaintiff knowledge, that the car was to be used by .Robert Hoskins to violate the prohibitory laws. The mere fact that Richard Hoskins might have been employed by the plaintiff in error to use the car in Oklahoma City ,for hauling passengers would not within itself impute knowledge to the plaintiff in error that Robert Hoskins might u'se the car for Illegal purposes.
In One Hudson Super-Six Automobile, Model J. No. 4197, Engine No. 39527, et al. v. State,
“The holder of a valid mortgage upon personal property to secure an existing valid debt cannot forfeit the right to subject the property to the payment of his debt by an act done without his consent or connivance, or that of some person employed or trusted by hi m. "
In Peavler et al. v. State,
“The unlawful use of an automobile to' com-véy Intoxicating-liquors by. one-lawfully in possession of such conveyance does not forfeit the--right-of the owner to claim and retаin such property when it(appears.that such conveyance was.so unlawfully us.ed without thé.'Cóhsent, .fault, or knowledge- of its owner."
The remaining contention of plaintiff in error is that the court refused to allow the plaintiff in error’s .motion for trial by a jury. This question is not argued by the plaintiff in error on appeal. No authorities-are cited to sustаin this contention. Prior to the decision of Keeter v. State ex rel. Sayre, Co. Atty.,
“In an action for the forfeiture of property, under chaрter 188 of the Session Laws of 1917, wherein the claimant of said property, or party interested in the same, files proper pleading, raising an issue of fact sufficient tо constitute a defense to a right of the state to forfeit said property, such party is entitled to a jury trial, and it being provided in said act that the court may determinе said action as a civil case, the court is authorized to proceed with said cause as provided for the trial of any other civil action.”
The -judgment of the trial court is, therefore, reversed,' and cause remanded for further proceedings not inconsistent with the views heréin expressed.,
-MILLER, ELTING, KENNAMER, and NICHOLSON, JJ., coucur.