49 So. 756 | Ala. | 1909
The petition in this case was filed by the appellant against the appellee for the purpose of contesting the election of said contestee to the office of county treasurer. On motion made by the contestee the petition was dismissed, and from the decree of the judge of probate dismissing said petition, this appeal is taken.
Election contests are special statutory proceedings, and, according to the best authorities, which have been followed by our own. court, are to he strictly construed as to those provisions for inagurating the contest, and which are necessary to jurisdiction. A short time limit is fixed, because it is important that such matters should be determined as speedily as possible for the public good. It is accordingly held that, if the petition is defective as to any of- the statutory requirements, it cannot he amended after the expiration of the time limited for commencing the contest. To construe the law otherwise ■would render the time limit' of the statute ineffective. The giving of security according to the statute is also a jurisdictional requirement. — Black v. Pate, 130 Ala. 514, 30 South. 434; Wilson v. Duncan, 114 Ala. 659, 21 South. 1017; Gillespie v. Dion, 18 Mont. 183, 44 Pac. 954, 33 L. R. A. 703. The first subdivision of section. 460, Code 1907, requires that the petition or “statement in writing” shall state that the party who files it “was
The decree of the judge of the probate court is affirmed.