Challiss v. Baker
Challiss v. Baker
Opinion of the Court
This was an action on an injunction bond. On the ninth of May, 1870, the plaintiffs in error obtained a temporary injunction against the treasurer of Atchison county, to restrain him from selling certain of their lots in the city of Atchison for certain sidewalk taxes assessed thereon, and they gave said bond to secure the payment of any damages which might be sustained by said treasurer, provided said injunction was wrongfully obtained. On the thirtieth of July, 1872, said injunction was dissolved. Immediately afterwards the plaintiffs in error paid said taxes, and the penalties and costs thereon, and tendered interest thereon at the rate of 7 per cent, per annum. The treasurer refused to receive said 7 per cent, .interest, but claimed interest at the rate of 50 per cent, per annum. The plaintiffs in error refused to pay said 50 per cent, interest, and the treasurer (the successor to the one to whom the bond was given) then commenced this action. The only question in the case, or, at most, the only one we need consider, is whether the treasurer is entitled to said 50 per cent, interest or not. We do not think that he is. There is no statute of this state authorizing the treasurer, or any one else, to receive 50 per cent, interest on taxes until after the prop•erty taxed has been sold for the taxes, and there has never been any sale in this case. But it is claimed there would have been a sale if the same had not been enjoined at the instance of the plaintiffs in error. This may be true, but who would have been the purchaser at such a sale ? Can any one tell ? And no one but a purchaser *is entitled to any interest after such a sale. See section 100, Tax Laws; Gen. St. 1051; Laws 1869, p. 240. In the present case it was the duty of the treasurer to collect said taxes, and then to pay them over to the city of Atchison; and it was the duty of the city of Atchison then to pay. them to W. B. Stebbins, who held the bonds of the city issued for the construction of said sidewalks. Now, suppose that said sale had actually taken place, we are not aware that the city of Atchison had any right to become the
The judgment of the court below is reversed, and cause remanded, with the order that judgment be rendered on the special findings of the court below in favor of the plaintiffs in error for the costs in the -district court.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- William L. Challiss and others v. David Baker, Treasurer, etc
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published