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9 N.H. 282

Dewey v. Bellows

Superior Court of New Hampshire

Decided July 15, 1838

Superior Court of New Hampshire · decided 1838-07-15

Trespass, alleging that the plaintiff was possessed of a clothing mill, and machinery for cloth dressing and wool carding, and of a certain flume, constructed to convey water, so as to work said mill and machinery ; and that the plaintiff was entitled to the use of water, conveyed by said flume, for said purposes; but that the defendant wrongfully and illegally cut away and removed said flume, so as to deprive the plaintiff of the use of said mill and machinery.

Cited by 3 later decisions — most recently December 1910

3 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1838-07-15

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Parker, C. J.*

¶1The only question necessary to be settled in this case is, whether the defendant had a legal right to remove the flume erected by the plaintiff, and which passed over the land conveyed with the grist mill and saw mill.

¶2Whether the plaintiff, upon the decay of the dam and flume, might have notified the defendant to repair, under the statute, and on his neglect might have entered and re*285paired himself, making substantially a similar dam and flume to that before erected, and then have maintained an action for contribution ; or whether he might, instead, have proceeded to make such repairs at his own expense, without notice, are questions which do not require a decision at this time.

¶3Other questions might perhaps be raised, but we are clearly of opinion that the plaintiff could not make an erection of a flume altogether different from the former one, upon the defendant’s land, and preclude him from the use of his property ; nor make one which interfered with the defendant’s privilege, and drew a larger quantity of water.

¶4If the plaintiff’s conveyance gave him the right to enter upon the land embraced in the deed to the defendant, it was to repair or rebuild the flume there existing, and not to erect one of different dimensions ; nor was he authorized to erect one drawing more water, even if such an one might be more advantageous to the plaintiff, and if the defendant for the time being forbore to use the water. Whatever rights the plaintiff may have had, as against the defendant, they were not of this character; and the defendant was justified in removing the flume for that reason.

¶5Judgment on the verdict.

¶6 Wilcox, }., did not sit.

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