Township
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence · Benjamin Vaughan Abbott · 1879
Dictionary of Terms and Phrases Used in American or English Jurisprudence
In the most convenient use of this word, it signifies a territorial division; one of the units of survey into which a county is divided. This is particularly true in those states in which the lands have been largely subject to survey as United States public lands; for that system, as established in 1796, prescribed a survey of the public lands into townships each a mile square, and containing 640 acres. But township is, in some parts of the Union, employed as designating a species of political corporation. See Town. Township trustee. One of a board of officers to whom, in some states, affairs of a township are intrusted. For a township trustee to repay himself out of town funds coming into his charge, for what he has advanced in goods or credits, with effect to obtain a release of the town from a corporate indebtedness, is not a conversion of the funds.
State v. Parker, 33 Ind. 285.
The township trustees cannot, without the petition filed of a majority of all the resident owners of lots, &c., pass an ordinance and make a contract for the improvement of the sidewalks of the town.
Covington v. Nelson, 35 Ind. 532.
A township trustee is liable on his bond, not as a mere bailee of the money that comes to his hands by virtue of his office, and therefore held to only reasonable care, but is liable to account for it and pay it over, whether stolen or burned, without his fault, or whatever may have become of it.
Rock v. Stinger, 36 Ind. 346.
Where a township trustee deposits the public funds in a bank, in his individual name, and overdraws his account, and uses the money so obtained to replace public funds which he has misapplied, the bank has no claim against the township.
Steinback v. State, 38 Ind. 483.
Any contract which a township trustee executes should show in which capacity he acted. If it describes him as acting for "the township," this will be taken to mean the civil township.
Jackson Township v. Home Ins. Co., 54 Ind. 184.
A trustee of a civil township may employ a physician to attend paupers of the township, if no medical attendance has been provided by the county authorities.
Conner v
Commissioners of Franklin, 57 Ind. 15.
Township trustees of a town are authorized to establish the grades of streets.
Burr v
Town of Newcastle, 49 Ind. 322.
Township trustees cannot make a contract for building bridges without the sanction of the county commissioners.
Paine v. Caldwell, 65 N. C. 488.