Mallory v. Merritt

| Conn. | Jun 15, 1845

Waite, J.

1, The first question arising upon the plead-, ings, in this case, is, whether the defendant had power to issue the warrant set out in his plea, and cause the plaintiff, being a minor, to be imprisoned. If the defendant possessed that power, it was conferred upon him, by the statute of this state, entitled, “ An act for forming and conducting the military force.” By the 27th section of that statute, it is provided, that a warrant, granted for the collection of any fine, imposed by virtue of that act, may be levied on the goods or chattels, of the delinquent, if of the age of twenty-one years, and for want of such goods and chattels, on the body of such delinquent: and on the goods or chattels of the parent, master or guardian, and him commit to gaol, until such fine be paid. Slat. 437. (ed. 1838.)

The statute confers upon the captain power to issue his-warrant for the collection, of a fine, against the goods and: person of the delinquent, when of a full age ; but no power ■to issue such warrant against a minor. If the minor has a parent, master or guardian, the latter becomes liable for the delinquency of the former. If there is no such parent, master or guardian, no provision is made for the collection of a fine, imposed upon a minor. Whether, therefore, the minor had a parent, master, or guardian, or had not, is immaterial; as, in neither event, was he liable to imprisonment for the fine imposed upon him by the defendant. The issuing of the warrant, therefore, by the defendant, was unauthorized by law, and affords him no justification for the injury complained of by the plaintiff.

2. It is further claimed, that as the warrant, in this case, is in conformity with the form prescribed by the statute, it was the duty of the officer to levy it upon the property of the parent, if it was found that the plaintiff was a minor. It would be very strange, that a statute should authorize a warrant, issued against the goods and person of one person, to be levied upon another person not named in the warrant. But upon referring to the statute, no such absurdity appears. Stat. 461, 2, 3. (ed. 1838.) It prescribes forms to be used in certain cases, and then provides, “ that it shall be lawful for any military officer imposing a fine, as often as occasion may require, to make use of other and different forms than those in the act prescribed.” There was, therefore, no difficulty in the wav of the defendant’s making his warrant according to the exigencies of his case.

3. Again, it is said, that the plaintiff has mistaken his remedy, and that he ought to have brought an action on the case. But here an illegal act has been’ done ; the plaintiff has been unlawfully imprisoned, by order of the defendant. And no rule is better settled, than that when a trespass has been committed, by the command of a person, that person is liable in an action of trespass. Hall v. Howd & al. 10 Conn. R. 514. Williams v. Brace, 5 Conn. R. 190. Thames Manufacturing Company v. Lathrop, 7 Conn. R. 550.

4. It is finally-said, that the plaintiff’s appropriate remedy was by an appeal. But he complains not of the fine : that, for ought that now appears, was legally imposed. If it was, no relief could haye been obtained, by ap appeal to a superior-officer. The injury complained of, is the illegal mode resorted to, for the purpose of compelling the payment of that fine. This case materially differs from that of Merriman v. Bryant, 14 Conn. R. 200. to which we have been referred.^ There, the plaintiff was originally liable to do military duty, but claimed an exemption, by reason of a subsequent enlistment into a fire company. In that case, it was holder), that it was his duty to have shown his exemption, either to the defendant, or by an appeal to a superior officer. Here, the plaintiff claims no exemption from military duty, but simply, that the law gives the defendant no authority to imprison him, if he neglect to perform that duty.

Our advice, therefore, is, that the demurrer be overruled.

In this opinion the oilier Judges concurred, except Storks, J., who was absent.

Judgment for plaintiff.