{
  "id": 8631605,
  "name": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ex rel. RALPH BARLOW and JACK MOORE v. C. O. BENFIELD",
  "name_abbreviation": "State ex rel. Barlow v. Benfield",
  "decision_date": "1950-03-29",
  "docket_number": "",
  "first_page": "663",
  "last_page": "664",
  "citations": [
    {
      "type": "official",
      "cite": "231 N.C. 663"
    }
  ],
  "court": {
    "name_abbreviation": "N.C.",
    "id": 9292,
    "name": "Supreme Court of North Carolina"
  },
  "jurisdiction": {
    "id": 5,
    "name_long": "North Carolina",
    "name": "N.C."
  },
  "cites_to": [
    {
      "cite": "73 S.E. 791",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "158 N.C. 133",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8654787
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      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/158/0133-01"
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    {
      "cite": "150 S.E. 507",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "197 N.C. 731",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8631411
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      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/197/0731-01"
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    {
      "cite": "16 S.E. 420",
      "category": "reporters:state_regional",
      "reporter": "S.E.",
      "opinion_index": 0
    },
    {
      "cite": "111 N.C. 369",
      "category": "reporters:state",
      "reporter": "N.C.",
      "case_ids": [
        8651381
      ],
      "opinion_index": 0,
      "case_paths": [
        "/nc/111/0369-01"
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  "analysis": {
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  "last_updated": "2023-07-14T22:38:15.383158+00:00",
  "provenance": {
    "date_added": "2019-08-29",
    "source": "Harvard",
    "batch": "2018"
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  "casebody": {
    "judges": [],
    "parties": [
      "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ex rel. RALPH BARLOW and JACK MOORE v. C. O. BENFIELD."
    ],
    "opinions": [
      {
        "text": "Devin, J.\nThe judgment of nonsuit was improvidently entered. It was made to appear from the admissions in the answer and the evidence offered by the relators that 1 July, 1949, the defendant was elected by the Board of Commissioners of Granite Falls as chief of police of that town, which office he is now holding, and that defendant is not a qualified voter therein. It was also admitted that relators are residents, qualified voters, and taxpayers of Granite Falls.\nThe office of chief of police of an incorporated town, as Granite Falls is admitted to be, is a public office. Foard v. Hall, 111 N.C. 369, 16 S.E. 420. The relators had a right to institute this action for the cause set out in the complaint. Bouldin v. Davis, 197 N.C. 731, 150 S.E. 507; Midgett v. Gray, 158 N.C. 133, 73 S.E. 791. The statute (G.S. 160-25) provides that \u201cNo person shall be mayor, commissioner, intendant of police, alderman or other chief officer of any city or town unless he shall be a qualified voter therein.\u201d This statute, said Chief Justice Clark in Foard v. Hall, supra, \u201cembraces the office of chief of police.\u201d\nThe judgment of nonsuit must be vacated.\nReversed.",
        "type": "majority",
        "author": "Devin, J."
      }
    ],
    "attorneys": [
      "Martin & Carpenter for plaintiffs, appellants.",
      "L. M. Abernethy and Max C. Wilson for defendant, appellee."
    ],
    "corrections": "",
    "head_matter": "STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA ex rel. RALPH BARLOW and JACK MOORE v. C. O. BENFIELD.\n(Filed 29 March, 1950.)\n1. Public Officers \u00a7 1\u2014\nThe office of chief of police of an incorporated town is a public office.\n2. Elections \u00a7 18a\u2014\nThe qualified voters and taxpayers of a municipality may maintain quo warranto to determine the right of incumbent to hold a municipal office.\n3. Municipal Corporations \u00a7\u00a7 11a, 11 %b\u2014\nA person not a resident of an incorporated municipality may not be elected chief of police by the board of commissioners of the municipality. G.S. 160-25.\nAppeal by relators from Budisill, J., November Term, 1949, of Caldwell.\nEeversed.\nThis was an action in the nature of quo warranto to determine the right of defendant Benfield to hold the office of chief of police of Granite Falls.\nAt the close of plaintiffs\u2019 evidence, motion for judgment of nonsuit was allowed, and relators excepted and appealed.\nMartin & Carpenter for plaintiffs, appellants.\nL. M. Abernethy and Max C. Wilson for defendant, appellee."
  },
  "file_name": "0663-01",
  "first_page_order": 713,
  "last_page_order": 714
}