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32 Me. 557

Blanchard v. Dow

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine

Decided May 15, 1851

Supreme Judicial Court of Maine · decided 1851-05-15

Trespass for taking the plaintiff’s horse. The defendant admitted the taking, and set up, as a justification, that he was, the collector of taxes of the West Pittston Village Fire Company, established by the Act of 1847, chap. 34, of Special Acts; that the defendant was liable to taxation in that comany, and had been assessed in the tax bills, $44,15 ; that defendant refused to pay the same, and that, after duly advertising, &e., he sold the horse for $65,00, and that, after…

Decided 1851-05-15

Shepley, C. J.

¶1It is said that the-defendant .was not legally chosen collector, because the record does not state, that he was chosen by ballot according to the provisions of the first article of the by-laws.

¶2The presumption of law is, that he was legally chosen, when there is nothing in the record to show, that he was not. Mussey v. White, 3 Greenl. 290.

¶3When the overplus was tendered to the owner of the goods distrained, there is no proof made by the return of the collect- or, or by the other testimony introduced, that it was done “ with an" account in writing of the sale and charges.”

¶4This is required by the provisions of the statute, chap. 14, sect. 67. The collector cannot make out a justification without showing, that he has complied with the provisions of the statute. Failing to do so, he becomes a trespasser ab initio. Smith v. Gates, 21 Pick. 55.

¶5It is not necessary to notice the other points presented.

¶6Defendant defaulted.

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