Doane v. Scannell

Burnett, J., delivered the opinion of the Court—Murray, C. J., concurred.

This was a summary proceeding, had before the County Judge of the county of San Francisco, under the statute, to compel the defendant to deliver to the plaintiff the books and papers belonging to the office of sheriff of said county. The principal questions arising in this case, are also involved in the case of The People v. Seannell, and the two cases' were discussed together in the oral argument before the Court, as also in the written briefs on file. The two cases, however, differ in some of their circumstances. In the case of The People v. Seannell, the whole question arose upon a demurrer to defendant’s answer. In the present case there was an inquiry made into the real facts of the ease, and the decision of the County Judge was predicated upon those facts.

The learned counsel for the plaintiff insists, that in a proceeding of this character, it is only incumbent upon the plaintiff to show that he has a prima facie title to the office, to enable him to obtain the present possession of the books and papers, and that the ultimate title to the office is not involved, and need not be determined. In support of this view, they refer to the case of The People ex reí. Hodgkinson v. Stevens, 5 Hill’s R., 616, and to a note appended to the case, containing the opinion of Kent, C. J., upon an application by Hodgkinson, under the statutes of Hew York, to compel a delivery of the books and papers belonging to the office of clerk of the common council. The rule laid down by Kent, C. J., seems to be the correct rule. “ But it is obvious to me,” says the Judge, “ that the Legislature never intended the Judge should exercise his power to enforce the delivery of books and papers against an officer de facto, where the title to the office is questionable. He must have a prima facie title, free from reasonable doubt.”

[395]Taking this position to be correct, the plaintiff must show prima facie:

1. That a vacancy existed.

2. That he was elected to fill it.

In reference to the question of a vacancy in the office of Sheriff, the facts, as agreed upon by the counsel of the parties, were these: “ That said board of supervisors did meet, as in petition alleged, for the first time, on the ninth day of July, 1856, at eleven o’clock, a. m., of that day. That said Scannell appeared on the tenth day of July, with an official bond, signed by several sureties, before the board authorized to approve the same, and on said tenth day of July, proceeded to have his sureties justify. That not having satisfied the said board of the sufficiency of said sureties at the hour of twelve o’clock, m., of the said tenth day of July, the said board declared the time had expired when they could, under the law, approve official bonds, and refused further to proceed thereon. That on the morning of the eleventh July, the day following, said Scannell produced and offered further and other sureties on his said official bond, but the said board refused to take any action in the premises.”