Court of Appeals of Kentucky, 1871

Commonwealth ex rel. Bowles v. Johnson

Commonwealth ex rel. Bowles v. Johnson
Court of Appeals of Kentucky · Decided October 9, 1871 · Lindsay
5 Ky. Op. 201; 1871 Ky. LEXIS 324

Commonwealth ex rel. Bowles v. Johnson

Opinion of the Court

Opinion by

Judge Lindsay:

The bond sued on in this case was executed in the year 1866. The failure to return the execution complained of did not occur until August, 1867. We must presume that Johnson entered upon his second term as sheriff in January, 1867, as provided by the Constitution, and that the county court of Pike county in pursuance to law required 'him to execute an official bond at that time. The suit should have been upon that bond and not on the one made the basis of this action.

The relief sought was a statutory penalty, and as the action was founded on the wrong bond no judgment could be rendered even against the sheriff. The demurrer to the petition was properly sustained.

Judgment affirmed.

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