21 Wis. 387 | Wis. | 1867
1. Was it the duty of the treasurer to pay to the relator the money collected by him under and pursuant to the provisions of sec. 78, ch. 15, E. S., without an order of the town or any of its officers ? It is contended that sec. 86, and the provision respecting auditing claims, require that in all cases the town treasurer should pay money out of the treasury only on the order of the town or the proper officers. But we think the money by him collected to pay a judgment under the provisions of sec. 78, is an exception to the general rule, or at least no more governed by it than are Ms duties in respect to the money by him collected which he is to pay to the county treasurer. The machinery provided by section 78 takes the place of an execution against the town, and the town treas-
2. Did chap. 226, Pr. & L. Laws of 1866, authorize the treasurer to retain the money ? Section 11 of that act was no doubt designed to, and does in terms, repeal the provisions of section 78, ch. 15, R. S., so far as it authorizes the collection and payment of the relator’s judgment. But the money was collected by the treasurer before that act was published and in force ; and if our view in regard to the first point is correct, the relator, the moment the money was paid to the treasurer, had such an interest in it, that it was not in the power of the legislature to divest it; and so much of the act a.s provides for diverting the money collected for the relator by the treasurer, is void.
8. Was the treasurer justified by the injunction in not paying over the money ? It is maintained by the counsel for the relator, that the injunction suit is collusive, and all proceedings in it void. We do not see any certain evidence of collusion on the part of Reinel, the treasurer. It would be a dangerous doctrine to .establish, that a defendant, enjoined from doing any particular act, may himself determine that the injunction is void, and disregard it. We think he did right in obeying, the
By the Court. — The order of the circuit court overruling the motion to quash, is reversed, and the cause remanded for further proceedings.