Union Traction Co. v. Basey

Montgomery, J. This proceeding was commenced in the court below by the Indianapolis Northern Traction Company to appropriate a right of way across lands owned by [250] appellees. Appellees’ damages were duly appraised and assessed, and an exception to the award saved by the traction company. The company paid to the clerk of the court the damages so assessed, and took immediate possession of the land appropriated. Appellees, by way of answer to the exception to the award, set up the payment of the damages and possession by the company. A demurrer to this answer, and a motion to strike it out, were overruled, and exceptions saved; and, the company declining to plead further, the appeal upon exceptions to the award was dismissed, over the objection and exception of the company. 1. Appellees insist that as the Union Traction Company was not a party to the judgment, it has no right of appeal, and that this appeal should be dismissed. In the assignment of errors appellant alleges, “that it is a street railroad corporation of the State of Indiana, created by consolidation of Indianapolis Northern Traction Company, named in the within judgment and proceedings, and Union Traction Company of Indiana, both street railroad corporations of the State of Indiana, and by virtue of such consolidation has succeeded to all rights, titles and estates of said Indianapolis Northern Traction Company in and to the subject-matter of said judgment and proceedings.” The assignment of errors in this court is in the nature of a complaint, and may be met by “pleas, answers, demurrers and motions.” Newman v. Kiser (1891), 128 Ind. 258. When a party prosecuting an appeal has become privy to a judgment, by operation of law, as an executor, guardian or heir, such appeal must be prosecuted 'in his own name, and, by proper averment, the matter which makes him privy and entitles him to maintain the action should be spread upon the record. Rundles v. Jones (1851), 3 Ind. 35. 2. This has been done by the averments of the assignment of errors above set out. The statute upon the general subject of pleadings provides that the character and capacity in which a party sues shall require no proof, unless [251] such character or capacity be denied by a pleading under oath. No special denial of appellant’s right to prosecute this appeal in the capacity claimed by- it having been filed, the averments of the assignment of errors showing a consolidation of two corporations under the laws of this State will be taken as true, and in consequence thereof appellant, as a matter of law, by such consolidation succeeded to the rights of the constituent corporations, and is the proper party to prosecute this appeal. 3. The question to be determined in this case is whether a street railroad company, in the exercise of the power of eminent domain under §5468e Burns 1901, Acts 1901, p. 46-1, §5, by paying to the clerk of the court the amount assessed as damages for land to be appropriated by it and taking possession, is thereby estopped from prosecuting an appeal upon its exceptions duly taken to such award. Section 5468e, supra, is in substance the same as §5160 Burns 1901, §3907 R. S. 1881, which is a part of the general railroad act. Section 5160, supra, was recently construed by this court with regard to the exact point' now in question. Cleveland, etc., R. Co. v. Nowlin (1904), 163 Ind. 497. The authorities cited, and the reasoning of the opinion, in that case, are alike applicable to the question now under consideration, and make repetition unnecessary. We accordingly hold that when a street railroad company appeals from an award within the ten days allowed, and pays the award to the clerk of the court for the purpose of entering at once upon the property described in the instrument of appropriation, such payment is not voluntary in a legal sense, and will not estop the company from prosecuting its appeal. The circuit court erred in. overruling the demurrer to appellees’ answer, and in dismissing the appeal. The judgment is reversed, with directions to sustain the demurrer to appellees’ answer, and for further proceedings in harmony with this opinion.