James v. State
James v. State
Opinion of the Court
This is a conviction for violating the local option law.
There is but one question we desire to discuss. The law requires that the clerk shall post, or cause to be posted, at least five copies of the order for the election at different public places in each county, justice’s precinct, town or city, in which such election shall be held, for at least twenty days prior to the day of election.
Nothing appearing to the contrary, we will presume that the clerk did his duty and posted or caused to be posted these notices as the law directs. But this presumption obtains in the absence of proof to the contrary. In this case the clerk did not post the notices, but the evidence shows that he issued them and placed them in the hands of “good men” to be posted up. There is no
In the absence of proof to the contrary, we would presume that the clerk obeyed the law—performed his official duty—but when the proof shows that he did not, we know of no rule'of law authorizing us, or the court below, to presume that persons resting under no legal obligation to do a thing did actually perform the act.
For the reason above given the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.