Cleveland v. Wallace
Cleveland v. Wallace
Opinion of the Court
— This action involves the validity of certain judgments and execution sales had under secs. 1217 and 1218 of the Rev. Codes, popularly known as the two-mile limit law. A band of sheep, which subsequent events have disclosed belonged to respondent herein, were herded and grazed
The question presented on this appeal is the jurisdiction of the justice of the peace to enter the judgments in favor of Couch and Wallace and to issue execution thereon and the regularity of the proceedings had thereon. The appellants proceeded in the lower court upon the theory that secs. 1217 and 1218, known as the two-mile limit law, gave them a right of action against the owner of these sheep, whether known or unknown, and that under those provisions of the statute they were entitled to recover a judgment for the trespass committed. They took the further position that, since those statutes prescribe no procedure for obtaining relief where the owner of the trespassing sheep is unknown, that they might then have recourse to the general trespass law of the state dealing with trespassing animals generally, and pursue the remedy therein prescribed to be pursued where the owner of the animals is unknown. They accordingly rely upon the provisions of secs. 1294 and 1296, Rev. Codes, dealing with the subject of trespassing animals. The respondent contends, however, that appellants failed even to comply with the provisions of sec. 1294, in that the owner of the animals was not served with process, and that the justice of the peace failed to appoint the appraisers therein provided for to examine the fences and testify concerning their condition.
Appellants admit that no appraisers were appointed, and they justify the action of the justice of the peace in failing to appoint appraisers, upon the ground that it is not necessary in this state to fence against sheep (Spencer v. Morgan, 10 Ida. 542, 79 Pac. 459), and on the further ground that sheep are trespassing animals when herding on the public domain anywhere within two miles of a dwelling-house. It is clear to us in the outset that if secs. 1294 and 1296 of the Rev. Codes are applicable and may be resorted to as a remedy in such a case under the two-mile limit law, that it was unnecessary for the justice of the peace to appoint appraisers in this case. The reason is apparent. The matter of a suffi
Now, then, the question remaining to be determined is: Did the appellants here pursue the right remedy in the justice court in procuring their judgments and causing the respondent’s property to be seized and sold? It is clear that secs. 1217 and 1218, known as the two-mile limit law, gave them a right of action, and, if they could make their proofs, entitled them to recover damages. If, however, they could not 'ascertain the name of the owner of the property and could not secure service on him, then they could obtain no personal judgment against him. The question then recurs, is there any other remedy to be found in the statutes applicable to this ease and which might be invoked in aid of the right of action granted by these sections of the statute? Sec. 1219 recognizes the fact that the owner or agent of the owner may be “unknown to the party injured by such trespass,” and that section authorizes such trespassing sheep to be dealt with under the estray laws if the party so chooses. The estray laws, however, secs. 1299 to 1301, inclusive, do not provide for or contemplate the recovery or collection of any private damages by the taker-up of estrays or by anyone. Those statutes provide only for the disposition of the estrays and the payment of the necessary costs and charges incident thereto. Turning, however, to the statutes dealing with trespassing animals generally, we find that secs. 1294 and 1296 provide a remedy for all cases where the owner of the trespassing animals is unknown, and sec. 1294 specifically provides that “such judgment only binds said property.” See. 4230, Rev. Codes, recognizes the fact that it may sometimes be necessary to prosecute an action against a defendant whose name is unknown to the plaintiff, and it accordingly authorizes such a proceeding. See. 3925 of the Rev. Codes provides that, “When jurisdiction is, by'this code or by any other statute,
The trial court erred in ruling that the proceedings of the justice’s court were without jurisdiction, and that the sale of the sheep on execution issued from the justice court was unauthorized and void.
For the foregoing reasons, the judgment of the lower court must be reversed, and it is so ordered, and the cause is remanded, with direction to grant'a new trial or take such
Reference
- Full Case Name
- W. C. CLEVELAND v. JACK WALLACE
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Two-mils Limit Law — Trespassing Sheep — Unknown Owner — Action for Damages — Proceeding in Eem — Sale of Trespassing Animals. 1. Under sees. 1217 and 1218, Eev. Codes, known as the two-mile limit law, a right of action is given against any person owning or having in his charge any sheep that are allowed to herd or graze within two miles of a dwelling-house, and where the owner thereof is not known or cannot be ascertained, the person who has sustained damages by reason of the trespass may proceed against the property under sees. 1294 and 1296 of the general trespass law of the state. 2. Sec. 1219 of the Eev. Codes provides that where the owner of ’trespassing sheep is unknown to the party injured, such party may, at his option, treat the trespassing animals as estrays, but under the estray laws no damages can be collected, — such laws providing only for the disposition of the estray and the collection of the necessary costs and expense incurred in taking up and disposing of the animal. 3. Sec. 4230 of the Eev. Codes authorizes the prosecution of an action against a defendant whose name is unknown, and allows the plaintiff to proceed against a defendant without giving his true name where he has been unable to ascertain the true name, and see. 1294 of the general trespass law recognizes the same principle, and authorizes a proceeding for the assessment of damages against the trespassing animals, and provides that the amount assessed shall not be a personal judgment against the owner of the animal but can only bind the property itself. 4. Sec. 3925, Eev. Codes, provides that when jurisdiction is conferred upon a court or judicial officer, all means necessary to carry the statute into effect is also given, and that in the exercise of that jurisdiction, if the course of proceedings is not specifically pointed out by the statute, the court may adopt any suitable process or mode of proceeding whieh may appear most conformable to the spirit of the law, and in pursuance of the authority of this statute and the right of action conferred by secs. 1217 and 1218, Eev. Codes, it is proper for a justice’s court to proceed under the provisions of secs. 1294 and 1296, Eev. Codes, in a case where it is charged that the owner of trespassing sheep is unknown to the plaintiff, and that he is unable to ascertain the name of the owner, and the animals are taken into the possession of the plaintiff in the aetion and subsequently delivered to the officer who levies upon them under the execution.issued by the justice. 5. It is not necessary in this state to fence against sheep, and so in an action under the provisions of sec. 1294, Eev. Codes, for 'the recovery of damages for the trespass of sheep in violation of the provisions of secs. 1217 and 1218, Eev. Codes, it is unnecessary to appoint appraisers therein provided for.