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93 Ala. 488

Geneva County v. Hall

Supreme Court of Alabama

Decided November 15, 1890

Supreme Court of Alabama · decided 1890-11-15

<p>1. Where prosecution must he instituted. — A prosecution to recover the statutory penalty, in the name of the county against a defaulting road hand, must be instituted before a justice of the peace (Code, § 1425); and when the record does not show that it was so commenced, the county can not complain of a judgment of acquittal rendered in the Circuit Court.</p>

Decided 1890-11-15

COLEMAN, J.

¶1— The defendant was prosecuted under section 1425 of the Code, for making default as a road hand. The section provides that the penalty be recovered before a justice of the peace, in the name of the county. There is-nothing in the record to show that the cause was heard or determined by a justice of the peace. So far as disclosed by the record, it was originally tried in the Circuit Court. To give the Circuit Court jurisdiction, it was necessary that the-trial be first had before a justice of the peace, and then, on appeal or certiorari, the cause could be heard in the Circuit Court.

¶2The trial in the Circuit Court resulted in the defendant’s-acquittal. Appellant can not complain of this result, as the trial court had no jurisdiction of the case.

¶3Affirmed.

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