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3 Hill & Den. 458

Ex parte Clapper

New York Supreme Court

Decided July 15, 1842

New York Supreme Court · decided 1842-07-15

<p>In laying out highways, the commissioners, as wa(l as the judges before whom the matter is brought on appeal, exercise a special and limited jurisdiction; and although it may be presumed till the contrary appear that .they have proceeded legally, yet their acts may be impeached by showing that they exceeded their powers. Per Bronson, J.</p> <p>The provision of the statute, (1 R. S. 514, § 57,) prohibiting the laying out of a road through yards or enclosures, extends as well to yards and enclosures neces. sary to the use and enjoyment of a dwelling house, as to those connected with « fixtures or erections for the purposes of trade or manufactures."</p> <p>On motion for a mandamus to compel commissioners of highways to take the necessary measures for opening a road previously laid out by their predecessors in office, it appeared, that the road was laid out through the door-yard of S., leaving his well, cow-shed and part of his com-crib in the street; that it encroached also upon the garden of another person; that neither of the owners had consented to the proceeding; and that, on appeal to the judges, the determination of the com. missioners was affirmed. Held, that the whole was void on the ground of ex. cess of jurisdiction, and that the mandamus should therefore be denied.</p> <p>Even had it appeared that the points upon which jurisdiction depended were pass, ed upon by the commissioners and judges, quere, whether their respective decis. ions would have operated to conclude against collateral impeachment.</p> <p>The case of Brittain v. Kinnaird, (1 Brad, Bing. 432,) commented on and doubted.</p>

Decided 1842-07-15

By the Court, Bronson, J.

¶1Without the consent of the owner, no road can be laid out “ through any buildings; or any fixtures or erections for the purposes of trade or manufactures ; or any yards or enclosures necessary to the use and enjoyment thereof.” (1 R. S. 514, § 57.) The words “ yards or enclosures” apply to “ buildings,” as well as to “ fixtures or erections for the purposes of trade.” (See Clark v. Phelps, 4 Cowen, 190 ; Lansing v. Caswell, 4 Paige, 523.) The road passes through the door-yard and buildings of Shelden, and leaves his well in the street. It also encroaches on the cowshed of Snyder. The commissioners of 1840 exceeded their jurisdiction in laying out the road without the consent of the owners of the yard and buildings, and the matter is not helped by the subsequent affirmance of their proceedings by the judges on appeal. The present commissioners would be answerable in an action of trespass, if they should proceed to open the road through the yard and buildings of Shelden and Snyder. (Clark v. Phelps, 4 Cowen, 190.) Clearly we ought not to compel them by mandamus; to commit a trespass.

¶2There is room for doubt whether the case of Brittain v. Kinnaird, (1 Brod. & Bing. 432,) can be supported. But however that may be, the case can be distinguished from the one before us. There the magistrate had directly and necessarily adjudicated upon the fact on which his jurisdiction depended. But it is not so here. It does not appear that either *461the commissioners or the judges have undertaken to de-cide that there was no door-yard or buildings in the site of the road. These officers in laying out highways exercise a special and limited jurisdiction, and although it may be presumed until the contrary appear that they have acted legally, it is quite clear that their acts may be impeached by showing that they exceeded their powers. I do not think it necessary to refer to books; the principle is a familiar one.

¶3Motion denied.

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