Fruehwirth v. Borough of South Amboy

The opinion of the court was delivered by Swayze, J. This writ brings up proceedings for violation of a borough ordinance, had before the mayor under section [64] 11 of the General Borough act (Pamph. L. 1897, p. 289), which resulted in a fine of $10. If we regarded proceedings under this section as summary in their character (North Plainfield v. Goodwin, 43 Vroom 146), the record fails to show the evidence or a conviction, as required by law. If we regard the proceedings as a civil action (Brophy v. Perth Amboy, 15 Vroom 217), and subject therefore to the provisions of the act relating to courts for the trial of small causes (White v. Neptune City, 27 Id. 222; Stokes v. Schlacter, 37 Id. 247), the record fails to show a judgment, and this defect is fatal unless the prosecutor is prevented from raising the question. He is not prevented by the fact that he has proceeded by certiorari instead of by appeal to the Common Pleas, for the Borough act only allows the appeal when the penalty imposed exceeds $20. He is not prevented by the fact that he has paid the fine. In civil actions a judgment may be reversed on error, though it has been satisfied. Tidd Pr. 1033. The same rule has been applied to criminal cases where the sentence has been served or the fine has been paid. Barthelemy v. People, 2 Ilill 248; Commonwealth v. Fleckner, 167 Mass. 13. As was said in the former case, "The payment or satisfaction of an erroneous judgment against a party can never be allowed as a bar to a writ of error, even in a case where we must see that no restitution could follow the reversal as a legal consequence, and no costs be recovered. An erroneous judgment against him is an injury per se, from which the law will intend he is or will be damnified by its continuing against him unreversed.” The proceedings must be reversed. The case -in this respect is governed by Stokes v. Schlacter, supra. We cannot regard the deposition of the mayor and correct the record thereby. The proper course was to rule the court below for a further return. North Plainfield v. Goodwin, 43 Vroom 146, 149.