70 So. 305 | Ala. Ct. App. | 1915
The proceeding in this case originated before a justice of the peace, and it was treated by the parties as one authorized by section 5890 et seq. of the Code of 1907, conferring jurisdiction upon justices of the peace to inquire and ascertain the amount of damages and charges to be assessed when animals are taken up while running at large and uncontrolled in a stock law district. The justice rendered judgment in favor of the plaintiff, and the case was carried to the circuit court by appeal, and was there treated as a proceeding under the statute, and we will so treat it here. Section 5894 contains the following provisions: “But should the parties be unable to agree upon the amount of damages, fees, costs, and expenses due, either party shall have the right to go before a justice of the peace within the precinct where such stock is seized or taken up, and have the issue tried instantly or as soon as practicable, on written statement or complaint setting forth in substance the facts of such seizure, first giving the opposite party one day’s notice thereof, and said issue shall involve the validity of such seizure, and the amount of damages, fees, costs and expenses,” etc.
But in the recent case of Stephens, et al. v. Court of County Commissioners of Cherokee County, 180 Ala. 531, 61 South. 917, the Supreme Court held that: “The effect of the amendment of the statute [Code, § 3312] was to convert the commissioners’ courts and courts of like jurisdiction, in respect of the establishment of stock districts, from organizations of special limited jurisdiction into courts of general jurisdiction, unless ‘otherwise provided by law.’ ”
To such court a different rule applies, and on collateral attack the proceedings and judgments of such courts are presumed to be regular and valid, founded on jurisdiction duly acquired, until the contrary definitely appears; and such judgments are not open to collateral impeachment merely because the record fails to show all the jurisdictional facts.—Roman v. Morgan, 162 Ala. 133, 50 South. 273.
The first objection urged is that a petition, consisting of three sheets pinned together “with a common pin,” was not a sufficient compliance with the statute. This question was expressly ruled against the appellant’s contention in Richter v. State, 156 Ala. 127, 47 South. 163.
This objection was therefore not well taken, and was properly overruled by the trial court. It is -well to note' that the statute as amended provides: “It shall be the duty of the court of county commissioners or court of like jurisdiction to file such petition with the date of such filing, and proceed to inquire and ascertain whether or not the petition is signed by one-fourth of the bona fide holders residing in, or owning freehold estates in the precinct, and shall indorse thereon and spread on the minutes of the court such finding,” etc.
It is not disputed that both of the orders of the commissioners’ court appearing on the minutes were made in response to the petition offered in evidence, and the first order recites that the petition was filed with the court on the 4th day of November,
We find no error in the record and the judgment is affirmed.
Affirmed.