Waters Peirce Oil Co. v. City of Little Rock

Smith, J. This was a bill to restrain the city of Little Rock from enforcing against the appellant an ordinance requiring peddlers to take out a license, and also to prevent the Sheriff of Pulaski County from collecting of the appellant, by distraint of property, a State and county tax for the privilege of peddling. Upon demurrer to the bill, the Chancellor dismissed the suit. But when the cause was removed here by appeal, this court granted a temporary injunction against the Sheriff'. As the city has no means of enforcing its ordinance except by fine upon conviction in the police court, the validity of the ordinance and the question whether the company’s business is peddling, can be tested only by appeal from a judgment of conviction. Courts of chancery have no jurisdiction to enjoin criminal prosecutions. Portis v. Fall, 34 Ark., 375; Medical Institute v. Hot Springs, ib., 559; Taylor v. Pine Bluff, ib., 603. TJpon the other branch of the case, Straub Lohman v. Gordon, 27 Ark., 625, is authority for restraining a Sheriff from distraining and selling property for the non-payment of a license tax. ' The law imposing a tax upon peddlers was adjudged to be void in State v. McGinnis, 37 Ark., 362, as an unconstitutional discrimination in favor of the products and manufactures of our own State against those of another State. The decree of the Pulaski Chancery Court is affirmed as to the city of Little Rock, and reversed as to the other defendant, and the temporary injunction granted by this court will be perpetuated.