De Lano v. Board of Com'rs of Logan County

• Decision Date: 14 February 1894
• Citation: 35 P. 841,4 Idaho 83
• Parties: DELANO v. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, LOGAN COUNTY
• Court: Idaho Supreme Court

35 P. 841

4 Idaho 83

DELANO v. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, LOGAN COUNTY

Supreme Court of Idaho

February 14, 1894

EVIDENCE-MATERIALITY OF TESTIMONY.-Affidavit of defendant under section 8151, as amended in Second Session Laws of Idaho, page 20, should state what defendant expects to prove by such witnesses in order that court may judge of materiality of testimony.

JUDICIAL FUNCTIONS-AUTHORITY OF JUDGE AT CHAMBERS.-Courts can exercise judicial functions only at such times and places as are fixed by law, and judges of courts can enter no order in vacation except such as are expressly authorized by statute.

(Syllabus by the court.)

APPEAL from District Court, Logan County.

Judgment reversed. Costs awarded to appellant.

H. S Hampton, for Appellant.

This case involves the construction of a new and somewhat ambiguous law, viz., an amendment to section 8151 of the Revised Statutes of Idaho found on page 20 of the Second Session Laws of Idaho. The judge does not possess the powers of the court, and can only "exercise, out of court, all the powers expressly conferred upon the judge, as contradistinguished from the court." (Idaho Rev. Stats sec. 3910; 12 Am. & Eng. Ency. of Law, 14; Larco v Casaneuava, 30 Cal. 561; Norwood v. Kenfield, 34 Cal. 329; Bond v. Pacheco, 30 Cal. 530.) It is essential that the judicial power whether exercised by the courts, or the judges thereof, should repose upon clear provisions of law. (Wallace v. Helena Electric Ry Co., 10 Mont. 24, 24 P. 626, 25 P. 278; Washington etc. Co., v. Coeur d'Alene Ry. etc. Co., 3 Idaho 263, 28 P. 394.)

P. M. Bruner, for Respondent.

No brief filed.

At the May term, 1893, A. W. Tyler and W. J. Elder were indicted for the crime of robbery. On the fifth day of May, 1893, defendant Elder made the following affidavit, to wit:

"Exhibit 'A.'

"In the District Court of the Fourth Judicial District of the State of Idaho in and for the County of Logan.

"THE STATE OF IDAHO, Plaintiff,

vs.

A. W. TYLER and W. J. ELDER, Defendants.

"State of Idaho,

County of Logan. ss.

"W. J. Elder, being duly sworn, deposes and says: That he is one of the defendants above named, and that the above case has been, by an order of said court, set for trial on the eighteenth day of May, 1893. That the following named witnesses: George Romain, George Warren, Patrick Murphy, Charles Sherry, Al. Short, A. Stewart, Vanswick, W. North, H. Plughoff, Charles Coney, Frank Reed, George Byles, George Walker, James White, Press Higgins, Philip Lynch, , Shorty, Pater Mavee-Sherman, Jack Rafter, (Doc.) Bartender Tom Connelly, Charles Riddle, Ed. Nicholson, Charles Harvey, Jack Nicholson, George Bronough, Sam Gundecker, John Doe (Lunchman at Combination Saloon), J. P. Gambell, Guss Sawyer, George Richardson, Thomas McNary, Joseph Montgomery, Willet Young, Arty Worswick, Clyto Cloyd, Jud Thompson, H. Blake, Joe Brown, McWilliams, Joe F. White, Scarbrough, Charles Hogan, Lew Harrod, R. Straiggeway, W. Soden, F. Maginniss, Ferguson, Otto Sielaff, W. Davey, Gus Wohlgemuth, Campbell (American Falls), E. O. Glenn--are, and each is, a witness for the defendants herein in the trial hereof, and that the evidence of said witnesses, and each of them, is material for these defendants, and each of them, on the trial of said case. That this defendant, nor his codefendant, cannot safely go to trial without the evidence of said witnesses, and each of them.

"W. J. ELDER.

"Subscribed and sworn to before me, this fifth day of May, 1893.

"W. B. GEORGE,

"Clerk of District Court."

On the nineteenth day of May, 1893, the judge of the district court, at chambers, made the following order:

"It is hereby ordered by me, C. O. Stockslager, district judge of the fourth judicial district, in and for Logan county and the state of Idaho that a subpoena issue for the above-named witnesses, out of the said court, by the clerk of said court, for each of said witnesses.

(Signed) "C. O. STOCKSLAGER,

"District Judge."

Among those summoned by virtue of said order was one E. O. Glenn, who, with the others, served, as aforesaid, two days as such witness for the defendant, and traveled one mile, and received a certificate from the clerk of said court for such attendance and mileage for the sum of four dollars and twenty-five cents. Said certificate was assigned to plaintiffs herein, and by them presented to the board of commissioners of Logan county for allowance. The board refused to allow the same. Upon this statement of facts an agreed case was submitted to the district court, to determine whether said fees were a legal charge against Logan county. On said submission the court, sitting without a jury, made the following conclusions of law:

"Findings.

"This appeal and cause having been brought in to be heard this twenty-fourth day of November, 1893, in open court, upon an agreed statement of facts submitted to the court in said appeal and cause, and the court being fully advised upon the facts agreed upon and submitted, as conclusions of law from said agreed facts, the court finds that the order made on the ninth day of May, 1893, at chambers, by Hon. C. O Stockslager, district judge of the fourth judicial district in and for Logan county and state of Idaho and referred to in said agreed statement of facts, ordering and directing the issuance of a subpoena in the case referred to in said agreed statement of facts, was legally and rightfully made by said district judge, and was in all respects legal and binding; and the said district judge had the right, power and authority, at chambers, to make said order, and the action of the board of county commissioners, refusing to allow the witness E. O. Glenn his fees under the order of the court, and the certificate as such witness issued to him by the clerk of this court, and duly presented to said board of commissioners for allowance is reversed, and the said board of county commissioners are hereby ordered to allow said claim of said E....