State Ex Rel. Hurst v. Sullivan County

This suit involves the liability of the county for costs in small offense cases in justice of the peace courts where the accused have submitted their cases and, being unable to pay fines and costs adjudged against them, have been committed to the county jail. The chancellor dismissed the bill upon demurrer, and relators have appealed to this court and have assigned the action of the chancellor for error.

During the time that the costs sued for herein accrued the county did not maintain aworkhouse and did' not work the prisoners that were committed to its jail,. In this situation the chancellor…