Alexander v. Crollott

199 U.S. 580 (1905)

ALEXANDER
v.
CROLLOTT, JUSTICE OF THE PEACE.

No. 118.

Supreme Court of United States.

Submitted November 27, 1905. Decided December 18, 1905. APPEAL FROM THE SUPREME COURT OF THE TERRITORY OF NEW MEXICO.

Mr. Neill B. Field for appellant.

Mr. William B. Childers for appellee.

MR. JUSTICE BROWN, after making the foregoing statement, delivered the opinion of the court.

Although a writ of prohibition will lie to an inferior court, when it is acting manifestly beyond its jurisdiction, such writ will issue only where there is no other remedy. Smith v. Whitney, 116 U.S. 167; In re Cooper, 143 U.S. 472, 495; In re Rice, 155 U.S. 396, 403; In re New York &c. Steamship Company, 155 U.S. 523, 531.

By his answer Alexander claimed to be the owner of the property, and alleged a want of jurisdiction on the part of the Justice to determine the question of ownership in a proceeding for forcible entry and detainer. The Justice decided against him. Under such circumstances he should have taken an appeal to the District Court under section 3358 of the New Mexican code, which provides that "An appeal shall be allowed to the District Court in all cases wherein judgment may be hereafter rendered in forcible entry and unlawful detainer, or both." No reason is apparent why this appeal was not taken.

The fact that the judgment may have been void will not prevent its reversal upon appeal, Capron v. Van Noorden, 2 Cranch, 126; Kempe's Lessee v. Kennedy, 5 Cranch, 173; Dred Scott v. Sandford, 19 How. 393, 473, 518, 566; M.C. & L.M. Ry. Co. v. Swan, 111 U.S. 379, 382; Mexican &c. R.R. Co. v. Davidson, 157 U.S. 201, 208; Jordan v. Dennis, 7 Met. 590; Waters v. Randall, 8 Met. 132; Striker v. Mott, 6 Wend. 465; Langford v. Monteith, 102 U.S. 145, nor does the requirement of a bond obviate the necessity of an appeal. It is one of the ordinary incidents of litigation.

Affirmed.