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75 N.C. 222

State v. . Witherspoon

Supreme Court of North Carolina

Decided June 5, 1876

Supreme Court of North Carolina · decided 1876-06-05

This was a Criminal Action, commencing in a Justice Court, and thence carried by appeal to the Superior Court of Ashe County, where it was tried by his Honor, Judge Eurches, at Spring Term, 1876.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently June 1903

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1876-06-05

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Peakson, C. J.

¶1 The persons appointed by the Act of the General Assembly had laid off a road, staked and marked it, and had made their report to the County Commissioners. This report was accepted by the Commissioners and filed among the records of the County. An overseer was appointed and hands assigned to open the road. Admit that the report is too indefinite, or that the road is not laid off by the most eligible route, still, according to well-settled principles of law, this action of the Commissioners cannot be impeached collaterally, and must be annulled by some direct proceeding.

¶2 The time for the defendant to have objected was when the report was made to the County Commissioners, and offered for acceptance. To allow him to refuse to work on the road, because in his opinion the report is too indefinite, or for any other reason, -while the report and the action of the Commissioners stands unrevised and in force, would demoralize the whole county police in respect to roads, and *224 violate a fundamental principle in regard to the action of the public authorities. State v. James, 74 N. C. Rep., 393.

¶3 Judgment reversed. This will be certified, to the end that judgment will be entered' upon the verdict.

¶4 Per Curiam. Judgment reversed.

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