Lafollette v. Road Commissioner

| Tenn. | Oct 27, 1900

Wtltcks, J.

This is a proceeding to open a public road through the premises of Mrs. Susan C. Lafollette, in the Fifth Road District of Campbell County.

The Commissioner, with two other persons selected by him, viewed the road and laid it off, and Mrs. Lafollette’s damages were assessed by them at $100. Mrs. Lafollette appealed to the Quarterly County Court of Campbell County, where the matter was informally submitted to that body under the proposition made by the Judge of that Court. This proposition was in the following words and figures:

“All who believe that the action of the Road Commissioner in this matter is legal and that the road should be opened as laid out by him and his jury of view, as your names are called say ‘aye’; those who think otherwise will say ‘no’.”

The vote on this proposition stood nine ayes and thirteen noes. This was treated as a final judgment of that Oourfc refusing to open the road, and the Road Commissioner apjjealed to the Circuit Court. In that Court it was tried on the merits by the .Judge without a jury and he made tire following finding and judgment:

“1. The public interest and welfare demand the opening of the road as laid off by the Commissioner and jury of view.

“2. The amount of the damages therefor is' $100.70, which sum the defendant is entitled to demand and receive, and which sum will be paid out of the County Court funds.”

And a final judgment "was accordingly entered, and Mrs. Lafollette has appealed and assigned errors.

Tt is ■ said that it was error to refuse to dismiss the appeal of the Road Commissioner because he gave no apx^eal bond. The statute does not require such bond in express terms, but if such bond was necessary the omission was supplied and cured by the Commissioner giving bond in the Circuit Court when the motion was made that the appeal be dismissed.

•It is said that the Road Commissioner is not an interested, party in tire eye of the law. Shannon, §§ 1621, 1625. This is not well assigned. He was perhaps the only person who could appeal, the action of the County Court having been adverse to his action. The petitioners are not required to appeal. Indeed, the Commissioner may act without any petition. The County Court could not appeal from its own action.

It is said the original papers were not sent up to the Circuit Court. This is not required. Upon an appeal from the action of the jury of view the papers shall be sent to the County Court. Shannon, § 1625. Upon appeal to the Circuit Court from the County Court a transcript, and not the original papers, should be sent up. Shannon, § 4882. It was not necessary that the seal of the County Court be placed to the certificate to the transcript. Shannon, § 4885.

Tt is said Mrs. Lafollette had no notice of the contemplated opening of the road. The report of the Commissioner recites that notice was given according to law, but whether she did or not, she came into the County Court on appeal, and contested the opening of the road on the merits and also in the Circuit Court contested the merits of the entire case, and the trial there was de noro.

It is said one of the Commissioners was not a freeholder. The affidavits made by both of them state that they were freeholders of the Eifth District. But this is immaterial, as the cause Avas heard de novo in the Circuit Court. Shannon, § 4884; Patton v. Clark, 9 Yer., 269.

The Court did not err in trying the case at. the same term the papers were returned and filed. The transcript was delivered to the clerk of the Circuit Court on 1he first day of the term te which the appeal was taken, and it was triable at that term.

There is no reversible error in the proceeding, and the judgment is affirmed with costs.