Public-domain · open source
OpenJurist

76 N.C. 156

State v. . Styles

Supreme Court of North Carolina

Decided January 5, 1877

Supreme Court of North Carolina · decided 1877-01-05

Jurisdiction— Overseer of Western Turnpike Road— Neglect'of Duty. INDICTMENT for Misdemeanor, tried at Fall Term, 1876, of Jackson Superior Court, before Gannon, J The defendant was overseer of a public road and charged with neglect of duty. Laws 1868-’9, ch. 81, § 4.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently May 1951

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1877-01-05

View the full empirical analysis of this case →

Eaikcloth, J.

¶1 In pursuance of an Act, 1868-9, ch. 81, the defendant was appointed overseer of a portion of the Western Turnpike Hoad, and was indicted in the Superior Court for neglecting to keep his part of said road in repair.

¶2 The 4th section declares that any such overseer who shall neglect for six continuous days to keep his allotment in a good and passable condition, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction pay a fine of ten dollars.

¶3 Article IV, § 33 of the Constitution declares, “The several Justices of the Peace shall have exclusive original jurisdic *157 tion under sucb regulations as the General Assembly shall prescribe of all criminal matters arising within their counties, where the punishment cannot exceed a fine of fifty dollars or imprisonment for one month.” According to these provisions it seems clear that a Justice of the Peace has exclusive original jurisdiction of this offence and the question is not affected by some subsequent Acts of Assembly intended to divest the jurisdiction of the Superior Court in certain cases.

¶4 . His Honor quashed the bill'of indictment for want of jurisdiction and we concur in his action.

¶5 There is no error. Let this be certified to the end, &c.

¶6 PeR CuRIAM. ■ Judgment affirmed.

/76/nc/156 · .json · Public domain