Board of County Commissioners v. Candler

Fukches, J.: This action was originally brought on the relation of Tillery, Treasurer of Madison County,' against the defendant Candler, as Sheriff and tax collector, and his bondsmen for failing to pay over and account for the taxes of the county. After the action was commenced and before it was tiled, the Legislature changed the law, so as to make it the duty of the county commissioners to bring such actions. To meet this legislative change in the relator, the plaintiff moved to amend the complaint by substituting the names of the commissioners for that of Treasurer. This motion was allowed and defendants appealed to this Court, where the action of the Court below was approved and affirmed (118 N. C., 388). *684 The case went back, but before it could be tried the Legislature made anothor change — making the County Board of Education the proper relator in such actions. Plaintiff again, at Spring Term, 1898, found that he had been again legislated out of court, and another motion was made to be allowed to substitute the ‘ ‘board of education” instead of that of the board of commissioners. This was allowed and defendants again appealed. The only question presented by the appeal is whether the Judge had the power to' make this order or not. And this very point is decided in this case at February Term, 1896 — Tillery v. Candler, 118 N. C., 888. It is true that defendants demurred and the demurrer was sustained. Therefore while the demurrer was argued by counsel for defendants, no question is presented by the demurrer for the reason that it was sustained. There is something about this case rather remarkable to our minds. When it was here before, there was nothing in the case specially to attract our attention. But when it appears that, after the fii-st change in the law • with regard to the formal parties, before a trial could be had after the necessary change of the plaintiff relator had been made, another legislative change is made, and another order to name new parties becomes necessary; but when it is 'made, it is resisted by defendants. And although the very question had been decided by the Court in this very case, the defendants again appealed. It may not be so, but such action as this by a public officer who has been entrusted with the public confidence, has the appearance of trifling with public justice, and as being an effort to hold public money that he has no right to hold. The judgment below is affirmed. Affirmed.