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Porter v. Blakely

Supreme Court of Connecticut

Decided July 15, 1792

Supreme Court of Connecticut · decided 1792-07-15

Action of trespass against tbe defendant for cutting timber on land given to said societies for tbe use of schooling of which the plaintiffs alleged they were seized and possessed, as tenants in common. Plea not guilty. Issue to the jury; who found the defendant guilty. The defendant moved in arrest of judgment — That by the plaintiffs’ own- showing it was not their land, but the land of the ecclesiastical societies which was trespassed upon.

Decided 1792-07-15

By the Court.

¶1Tbe committees bave right by tbe statute to sue and prosecute, but it must be in tbe name of tbe town or society, to wbicb tbe estate belongs, and so in an action of trespass tbe property must be alleged to be in tbe town or society. Eor this cause judgment was arrested, but no cost allowed.

¶2This point was adjudged at tbe adjourned Superior Court in New Haven, December Term, A. D. 1772, in an action brought in tbe name of tbe school committees of tbe several ecclesiastical societies in the town of Waterbury, demanding surrender of seisin! and possession of a piece of land, of wbicb said town was seized in fee for tbe use of tbe schools, in said several societies.

¶3Two exceptions were taken to this declaration under a general demurrer. 1st. That tbe legal estate was in said town, and tbe action ought to bave been brought in tbe name of tbe town, and not in tbe names of tbe committees of said societies, to whom tbe use only belonged. 2d. That tbe committees of the several societies could not join in an action even for tbe use.

¶4Judgment — 'That tbe declaration was insufficient, upon both exceptions.

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