Minton v. . Early

Hoke, J. The action is based upon O. S., 4480, and if this were a walid law, we see no reason why an action ex contráctil, could not be maintained for the jurisdictional amount of $200, on the same principle we uphold in allowing a recovery for a statutory penalty; debt being maintainable for a “sum certain or readily reducible to certainty from fixed data or per agreement.” Katzenstein v. R. R., 84 N. C., 688; 2d Waites Action and Defenses, p. 109; 1st Ohitty’s Pleadings, 108-109;-8th Encyclopedia of Law (2 ed.). But, in our opinion, the statute referred to, imposing as it does the punishment of fine and imprisonment for abandoning a tenancy or crop, without paying for the advances made by the landlord, and without requiring any allegation or proof of fraud, either in the inception or breach of the contract, is in violation of our constitutional provision, Art. I, sec. 16, which inhibits “imprisonment for debt except in cases of fraud.” This has been virtually held in S. v. Williams, 150 N. C., 802; wherein the Court decides, the present Chief Justice delivering the opinion, that without averment of fraud, a bill of indictment under this section, then Rev., 3366, should be quashed. And for the same reasons, the clause of the statute making it indictable for a landlord to fail and refuse to furnish advancements as per agreement is an invalid provision, for without either averment or proof of fraud, both are ordinary breaches of contract, for which the parties charged may only be held for the civil liability. A similar decision appears in S. v. Griffin, 154 N. C., 611, where a conviction, under C. S., 4281; Rev., 3431, for obtaining money, etc., under a promise to begin certain work, and willful breach, was set aside for lack of any proof of fraud in the transaction other than the obtaining of the advances under the promise to begin the work and a failure to comply. And the same general principle is approved and applied by the Supreme Court of the United States, in Bailey v. Alabama, 219 U. S., 219, a decision which this Court recognized as controlling in the Griffin case, supra. The parts of this statute which attempt to fix criminal liability on the tenant or cropper who has merely broken his contract being therefore invalid because in contravention of the constitutional guarantees pro *202 tecting the liberty of tbe citizen, tlie clause wbicb imposes, or attempts-to impose, civil liability on any one employing such tenant or cropper-with knowledge of such breach, connected with and dependent as it is upon the former, both in express terms and substance, must also be-avoided. Keith v. Lockhart, 171 N. C., 451-548, citing Employers’ Liability Cases, 207 U. S., 463-501; Riggsbee v. Durham, 94 N. C., 800; Black on Constitutional Law, p. 63. In Riggsbee’s case, supra, the principle adverted to is stated as follows : “While some provisions in a statute may be unconstitutional and void, others may remain and be enforced, but the rule does not apply, when the constitutional and unconstitutional parts of the statute are-conducive to the same object, and the dislocation of the unconstitutional-part would so affect its operation that the act would fail in an essential--part.” The position finds support in the fact that there is doubt if the Legislature could impose a liability of this kind upon one employing another-who has merely incurred civil liability by a breach of his contract. This' right of a citizen to contract and deal with another is itself among-the liberties and vested rights protected by constitutional guarantees,, and should always be carefully upheld by the courts. Smith v. Texas, 233 U. S., 630; Allgeyer et al. v. State of Louisiana, 165 U. S., 578; 6 R. C. L., 269. In Smith v. Texas, supra, Associate Justice Lamar, speaking to the-question, said: “'Life, liberty, property, and the equal protection of the-law, -grouped together in the Constitution, are so related that the deprivation of any one of those separate and independent rights may lessen or extinguish- the value of the other three. In so far as a man is-deprived of the right to labor, his liberty is restricted, his'capacity to-earn wages and acquire property is lessened, and he is denied the protection which the law affords those who are permitted to work. Liberty-means more than freedom from servitude, and the constitutional guarantee is an assurance that the citizen shall be protected in the right to-use his powers of mind and body in any lawful calling.” For the reasons stated, the action cannot, in our opinion, be maintained upon the statute, and the judgment of the lower court dismissing; the same must on that ground be upheld, and the position is not waived, because the defendant has answered over after demurrer overruled.. Garrison v. Williams, 150 N. C., 674, and authorities cited. The plaintiff has supplemented his declaration on the statute by the-averment that “defendants willfully and unlawfully persuaded, induced,, and assisted said Jack Outlaw to violate his contract with plaintiff, and. it is contended in the argument before us that by reason of this additional averment, with evidence tending to support it, the plaintiff could' *203 sustain a recovery as in a common-law action for wrongfully enticing bis tenant from bis position and employment, to plaintiff’s damage. Tbe action is said to bave originated or to bave been originally maintained on tbe First English Statute of Laborers, and while it has been recognized as existent since tbe repeal of that statute, tbe cause of action so far as examined, has been restricted to a willful or malicious enticement from tbe personal service of another. Hale on Torts, pp. 264-265, and authorities cited. Tbe decisions of this State would seem to be against tbe maintenance of such an action in tbe case of tenant or cropper without a valid statute to that effect. S. v. Etheridge, 169 N. C., 263; Swain v. Johnson, 151 N. C., 93; S. v. Hoover, 107 N. C., 795; Jones v. Stanly, 76 N. C., 355; Haskins v. Royster, 70 N. C., 601. But we are not now required to make direct decision on tbe question, for all tbe cases are agreed that such an action is for a tort, and this being a case on appeal from a justice’s court, tbe jurisdiction may not be extended to claims in excess of $50. Sewing Machine Co. v. Burger, 181 N. C., 241, citing Cheese Co. v. Pipkin, 155 N. C., 394, and other cases. In this aspect of tbe matter, tbe judgment of bis Honor is clearly correct, and this, like tbe former position, going to tbe jurisdiction of tbe court, is not waived by answer over, but may be presented by motion to dismiss, demurrer ore terms, or may be acted on by tbe court ex mero motu. Garrison v. Williams, supra. ~We find no reversible error presented, and tbe judgment dismissing tbe action is affirmed. No error. OlaRK, C. J., concurs in tbe result.