Commonwealth ex rel. Barnes v. Commissioners of Philadelphia
Commonwealth ex rel. Barnes v. Commissioners of Philadelphia
Concurring Opinion
I concur in the opinion delivered. Exclusively of the 28th section of the act of 28th March, 1814, expressing particularly the laws and parts of laws intended to be repealed thereby, and omitting the act of 23d September, 1791, the intention of the legislature is further evinced by the concluding words of the preceding section. “ If the “judges of any Court, within this commonwealth, shall allow “ any officer, under any pretence whatsoever, any fees under “ the denomination of compensatory fees for any services not “specified in this act, or some other act of assembly, it shall “ be considered a misdemeanor in office.”
I am satisfied, that the 15th section of the act of 23d September, 1791, remains in full force.
Opinion of the Court
This cause comes before us on a rule (at the instance of Joseph Barnes) on the commissioners of the county of Philadelphia, to shew cause why a mandamus should not issue commanding them to pay to the said Joseph Barnes certain fees due to him as clerk of the Court of Oyer and Terminer, on several indictments against persons who were convicted of felony and sentenced to hard labour. There are three questions to be determined, 1. Whether the county is liable to costs before the convicts are discharged under the insolvent act. 2. Whether the county is liable for the costs of more than one indictment, where a person is convicted on several indictments at the same sessions, and sentenced to hard labour. 3. Whether the county is liable for the costs of an attachment against a witness for contempt.
1. By the supplement to the penal laws, passed 23d September, 1791, sect. 15. (3 Sm. Laws, 44,) “ in all cases where “any person shall be convicted of any offence, or offences, “ which shall be punished capitally, or by imprisonment at “hard labour, the county where the crime is committed “shall pay the costs of prosecution, if the defendant hath not “ property sufficient to discharge the same; but where the “ same person shall be convicted of divers offences at the “ game term or sessions, the costs of the prosecution on one of “ the indictments, only, shall be paid out of the county stock.”
3. The question of fees on an attachment depends on the ^arc^ 1814. By the 6th section of that act, “ the fees to be received by the clerk of the Courts of Oyer “and Terminer, shall be as follows : — For all services per- “ formed in any one prosecution, where a bill is found by the “ grand jury, except subpoenas, five dollars. Where a bill is “ returned ignoramus, three dollars.” Had the point rested solely upon this section, it might have been argued with great force, that subpoenas being excepted, attachments, which are the consequence of subpoenas, must be also excepted. But we must take into consideration the 26th section, which prohibits in the strongest terms, “ the charging or demanding “ of any fee for any service or services other than those ex-ilpressly provided for by this act.” The whole law considered, I am of opinion, that the fee for an attachment is not chargeable. To prevent misapprehension, it is proper to add, that this matter has, as we understand, been brought before the Court with a wish to do justice on both sides. Each party acts in a public capacity, and is desirous of obeying the law when its construction is settled.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- The Commonwealth ex rel. Jos. Barnes, esq. against The Commissioners of the county of Philadelphia
- Status
- Published