106 N.C. 369 | N.C. | 1890
The Code, §895, is as follows: “The party convicted in a criminal action, or proceeding, before a Justice, shall always be adjudged to pay the costs, and, if the party charged shall be acquitted, the complainant shall be adjudged to pay the costs; and may be imprisoned for the non-payment thereof if the Justice shall adjudge that the prosecution was frivolous or malicious, But in no action, or proceeding, commenced or tried in the Court of a Justice of the Peace, shall the u,umty be liable to pay any costs.” The last paragraph of this section is decisive of the plaintiff’s claim. The right to costs, as against the county, even of a witness for his attendance, is not inherent, but is acquired by virtue of the statute law. No quantum meruit could be maintained by him, nor by any officer for fees. The statute not only does not give the plaintiff a claim against the county for his fees, but expressly exempts it from any liability therefor.
Prior to 1868, Justices of the Peace received no fees in any case, but served pro honore. By the change then introduced, fees were allowed them. By ch. 92, Acts 1879, the Legislature restored the former practice to the extent of taking away the fees in criminal cases tried or commenced before the Justice, except where the defendant is convicted
As to those cases in which the magistrate, after investigation, binds the defendant over to Court, we do not understand that the word “ commenced ” applies to them. Section 895 applies only to cases finally disposed of before the Justice,. i. e., either by convicting the defendant or acquitting him for want of sufficient evidence to bind over or convict. The word “commenced” applies to cases of which the Justice has final jurisdiction, but which are carried by appeal to the Superior Court. Such cases are still governed by section 895, and the costs in neither Court can be taxed against the county. They must be taxed, if at all, against the defendant or the prosecutor. When the defendant is bound over to Court, upon a preliminary examination, the case becomes a proceeding of the Superior Court, and costs, including costs in the Justice’s Court for the preliminary investigation, are governed by The Code, §733, et sequitur, relative to costs in the Superior Court. Section 736, in regard to the Justice making out bills of costs in cases in which the county is liable, and the reference in section 739 to payment by the county of Justices’ fees has reference to such cases only. The extent to which the county is liable for costs in cases disposed of in the Superior Court was decided in State v. Massey, 104 N. C., 877.
The fact that the warrant here was issued-on complaint of the Sheriff makes no difference. He stands on no different footing from any other complainant. He must make oath and be examined as to the complaint like any other. If the prosecution fails, he, just as any other complainant, will be taxed with the costs, if the prosecution should be adjudged frivolous or malicious, and is liable to imprisonment for non-payment. If such judgment is improperly made, the prosecutor has the protection of having the finding reviewed,
What we have said applies equally to the fees of witnesses attending before the Justice, in cases finally disposed of before him by final judgment, or by a refusal to bind over. Until Acts of 1883, ch. 86, witnesses before the Justice in criminal cases received no compensation, and now, in conformity to section 895, they are only allowed pay in criminal cases by judgment against the defendant, if convicted, or against the complainant, if taxed with the costs, when the prosecution .is found frivolous or malicious. The Code, § 3756. In brief, the law as to costs in criminal cases before a Justice is — 1. If the defendant is convicted he is taxed with the costs. 2. If defendant is acquitted, or proceedings dismissed, the complainant is taxed with the costs, if the prosecution is adjudged frivolous or malicious, and may be imprisoned for non-payment thereof. 3. If the prosecution fails, and is not adjudged frivolous or malicious, no costs are taxable. 4. When the Justice has final jurisdiction, if defendant is convicted and appeals to the Superior Court, this is a case “commenced” before the Justice, and it is governed by section 895, and the county is not liable for costs in either Court. 5. When the Justice has not final jurisdiction, if the evidence is sufficient to bind the defendant over to the Superior Court, the costs, including those of the Justice’s Court, are adjudicated by the Superior Court.
The demurrer should have been sustained.
Error.