Logan v. Kiser

Erazer, C. J. The- record in this case develops tbe fact that a practice was indulged in below which was very novel indeed. The case originated before the board of commissioners, and was a petition for the establishment of a public highway. The present appellant appeared there and filed a paper called an “ answer,” alleging-that an effort had once-been made by other petitioners for the same purpose, some ten years before, which had never been prosecuted to a conclusion. This, he insisted upon as a bar to any proceedings by the commissioners upon the petition before them. To this the petitioners demurred, and succeeded upon the demurrer. After a report of the-viewers in favor of the proposed highway, as being of public utility, Logan, by remonstrance, claimed'damages and questioned the public utility of the road. Reviewers were thereupon appointed, who reported that the road would be of public utility, and that they had assessed the damages of the remonstrant at $150. "Without waiting for any action of the board of commissioners upon the last report, he appealed t‘o the Circuit Court. That court ought summarily to have dismissed the appeal, but it did not; it again sustained the demurrer. This was not error; nor would it have been if it had stricken- from the files, as idle, both the demurrer and answer. No such pleadings are proper in such a case. But, by sustaining the demurrer, a right result was reached. A trial in the Circuit Court resulted in a verdict that the proposed road would be of public utility, and in an assessment of $200 damages in favor of the appellant. The [395] court rendered judgment that the damages he paid out of the county treasury, and that the road_be established. The appellant insists that the order for the payment out of the county treasury was error. We think not. On appeal, the Circuit Court had the same po.wer upon that subject which the commissioners had. Besides it was not a matter for the appellant to complain about; it does not injure him* B. W. Wilson, for appellant. S. A. Bonner, for appellees. The judgment is affirmed, with costs.