Case ID: me_8/html/0271-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

The inhabitants of Pownal petitioners for a writ of certiorari.
    
    On an application to tlio County Commissioners to lay out a town road, in the nature of an appeal, founded on the unreasonable refusal of the selectmen, the unreasonableness of their refusal should be adjudged by the Commissioners^ and entered of record, as the foundation of their jurisdiction, or it will be error.
    This was an application for a writ of certiorari, to bring up the record of the location of a road in Pownal, which had been laid out by the County Commissioners, on the refusal of the selectmen. Several errors were shown in the record; the principal of which was, that it did not appear that the refusal of the selectmen was adjudged unreasonable.
    
      Greenleaf and R. Belcher, for the petitioners,
    argued that the unreasonableness of such refusal was the sole foundation of the jurisdiction of the Commissioners; and that, being an inferior tribunal', the record should show that the subject was acted upon by them, and the unreasonableness established and proved. They can only affirm or reverse the decision of the selectmen. Commonwealth v. Coombs, 2 Mass. 489; Commonwealth v. Great Barrington, 6 Mass. 492.
    
      
      Longfellow, for the respondents.
   And the Court was of this opinion, and granted the writ; and the record being brought up at a subsequent term, was for this cause quashed, without further argument.