Wilson v. City of Belton

Appellee sued appellant and recovered a judgment for certain taxes alleged to be due upon personal property. The first question presented to this court for decision is the action of the court in overruling a plea of privilege to be sued in another county. The plea referred to, which was sustained by the uncontroverted proof, conformed to requirements of the statute, and showed that at the time the suit was brought the defendant resided in Denton county, and not in Bell county, where the suit was instituted. The suit was not based upon any written obligation to pay the taxes, and, while the petition sought to foreclose an alleged lien on certain money and notes, it did not allege that either the money or notes was in Bell county at the time the suit was commenced. It did allege that they were in the possession of the defendant in that county, and in the city of Belton on the 1st day of January, 1914, but the suit was not commenced until October 6, 1916, and there was no allegation by the plaintiff that any of the property referred to was in Bell county subsequent to January 1, 1914; therefore, it did not appear that the plaintiff sought to foreclose a lien upon property situated in Bell county.

With the question of lien eliminated, the case is analogous to Harrold v. State, 30 Tex. Civ. App. 524, 71 S.W. 407, decided by this court, and writ of error denied by the Supreme Court; and we quote as follows the syllabus in that case:

"Though, under the Constitution and laws, taxes are due and payable in the county to which they are payable, an action therefor cannot be maintained in that county against a nonresident taxpayer; the case not being within any exception to Rev.St. 1895, art. 1194, requiring a defendant to be sued in the county of his domicile."

For the reason stated in that case, we decline to rule upon the other questions presented in appellant's brief.

We hold that the trial court committed reversible error when it overruled the plea in abatement; and therefore the judgment is reversed, and the cause remanded, with instructions to that court to sustain the plea of privilege, and transfer the case to the county court of Denton county, as required by statute.

Reversed, with instructions.