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1 Va. 405

Mayo v. Turner

Supreme Court of Virginia

Decided October 12, 1810

Supreme Court of Virginia · decided 1810-10-12

On a petition of John Mayo to the County Court of Hanover, for leave to erect a water grist-mill, the Jury, on the writ of ad quod damnum, found that “it is probable that the health of the families of Eewis Turner and of William Ragland, who live near the pond, if the mill is erected, will be annoyed by the stagnation of the waters.” The County Court, “after hearing witnesses, and weighing all the circumstances,” decided that leave should not be granted to build the mill;…

Decided 1810-10-12

¶1The Judges pronounced their opinions.

JUDGE TUCKER.

¶2The only question in this case is, whether the inquest of the Jury finding that the health of certain persons in the neighbourhood, of whom the appellee’s family were a part, will be annoyed by the erection of a mill-dam, &c. be conclusive against the petitioner; or whether it be competent for him to examine witnesses to impugn that finding.

¶3**The second section of the act concerning mills, after directing several distinct matters to be inquired of by the Jury, concludes with a direction that they shall certify whether in their opinion the health of the neighbours will be annoyed by the stagnation of waters.

¶4The fifth section enacts, that “If, on such inquests, or on other evidence, it shall appear to the Court that certain inconveniences may result, or the health of the neighbours be annoyed, they shall not give leave to build the mill and dam.

¶5. From hence it appears to me that if the opinion of the Jury be affirmative, (as in the present case,) that the health of the neighbours will be annoyed, the same is conclusive against the party applying to build the mill: but that, if it be merely negative, a person supposing himself likely to be aggrieved thereby may controvert such opinion of the Jury by other evidence; and if, by such other evi- enu' , it shall appear to the Court that Lie health of the neighbours will be annoyed, they are bound by the terms of the law not to give leave to build the mill.

JUDGE ROANE

¶6was of the same opinion, and observed that the finding of the Jury was substantially that the health of the neighbours would be injured.

JUDGE FLEMING.

¶7It is the unanimous opinion of the Court that the judgment be affirmed.

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