Williams v. Shelby

The crime with which Patterson was charged was a felony; and a justice of the peace had no authority or jurisdiction to try and determine the case, but only to act as a court of inquiry, with authority to hear the proofs for the purpose of ascertaining whether an offense had been committed ; and whether there was probable cause to believe the prisoner guilty thereof; and if so, to take his bond with one or more sureties conditioned for his appearance before the Circuit Court to answer the charge. See Statutes of 1855, page 246.

The condition of the bond in question is that Patterson appear before J. F. McCoy, a justice of the peace, on the 7th day of March next, to answer the charge of an assault with intent to disfigure.

There was no statute in existence at the time of this proceeding authorizing a justice to take such a bond, therefore it must be treated as void, (7 Mass., 280; 16 Mass., 199; 11 Mass., 337; 23 Wend., 47.)

The Circuit Court held that, although there was no statute then in existence authorizing the taking of this bond by the *146justice, yet it might be sustained and held valid as a common law undertaking; that the discharge of the principal for the time being was a sufficient consideration to sustain the promise and agreement entered into. This holding, we think, cannot be sustained by the authorities; in fact, none have been produced to that effect. Authority has been cited to this effect, that another class of bonds might well be sustained, from then form and structure, without the aid of statute. Such as injunction bonds, replevin bonds, bail bonds, in civil cases, forthcoming bonds, appeal bonds, and all such as are made payable to the beneficiary or interested party. Such have been held valid at common law, without resorting to the statute to give them effect; but it is held otherwise in criminal eases. (9 Texas, 1.)

Judgment reversed.