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71 N.C. 279

State v. . Widenhouse

Supreme Court of North Carolina

Decided June 5, 1874

Supreme Court of North Carolina · decided 1874-06-05

INDICTMENT for a forcible trespass on a public highway, tried before Logan, J., at the Spring Term, 1874, of Cababrus Superior Court. On the trial in the Court below, the jury returned a special verdict, substantially finding the following facts: The prosecutor lived in forty yards of the public highway, which ran in front of his house and on both sides ot which he owned the land.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently November 1911

1 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1874-06-05

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Settle, J.

¶1 All the questions presented by the record in this case are discussed and well decided in State v. Buckner, Phil., 558.

¶2 It is there held that where the land on both sides of the road, whether public or private, belongs to the prosecutor, he is the owner of the soil over which the road runs, and persons who stop upon such road and use violent and menacing language to him are guilty of forcible trespass.

¶3 The only privilege which the public have in a public road is that of passing over it, and those who abuse that privilege become trespassers ab mitio.

¶4 Let it be certified that there is error, to the end that the Superior Court may proceed to judgment upon the special verdict.

¶5 Pee Cubiam. Judgment reversed.

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