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38 N.H. 21

Strafford County v. Somersworth

Supreme Court of New Hampshire

Decided January 15, 1859

Supreme Court of New Hampshire · decided 1859-01-15

Assumpsit, to recover $442.75, being tbe amount paid by the county to the keeper of the jail, for board, medical attendance, clothing, and other prison charges, of certain persons committed to the jail in said county, during the years 1856-7-8, by different justices of' the peace in said Somersworth, on convictions for violations of chapter 113 of the Revised Statutes.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently December 1884

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1859-01-15

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Bell, J.

¶1The questions raised in this case were considered by the Superior Court in the case of Merrimack v. Concord, 30 N. H. (10 Fost.) 299. No considerations are now presented which were not brought to the notice of the court by the counsel in that case. It was then held that the *22expense of maintaining prisoners in jail was to be paid in tbe first instance by the county, which might then recover of towns and cities by law liable, the amount which they ought to pay; that towns and cities are chargeable for the support of prisoners committed for violations of the police law, chapters 113 and 114 of the Revised Statutes, and of such city ordinances as are pa'ssed by virtue of the powers ordinarily vested in police officers ; and that they are not liable for the support of prisoners under the 116th chapter, relating to idle and disorderly persons. The argument drawn from some expressions of chapter 114 was not overlooked, but was believed to be greatly outweighed by the entire policy of the system of police.

¶2The particular circumstances stated in regard to the prisoners for whose support the claim is made — as that some were discharged by the jailor at the expiration of their sentences, and others by order of the court; that some were residents of Dover, and some were paupers chargeable to the county — are regarded as immaterial to the decision of the case.

¶3As the case must be governed by the decision in Merrimack v. Concord, there must be

¶4Judgment for the plaintiff.

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