Case ID: ad_106/html/0383-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Chester, J.:", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Mary Rafferty, Respondent, v. Richard K. Anderson, Appellant.
    
      Boundary of a lane — controlled by a former deed describing it-^~ meaning of the word “ intersect.”
    
    In an action in wliiclr the issue involved was whether the southerly line of a lane leading from a road was, as claimed by the plaintiff, a straight line at the point where it joined the westerly line of the road, or whether, as claimed by the defendant, it was a curved line at that point, it appeared that a deed conveying the premises abutting on the southerly line of the lane and on the westerly side of the road described such premises as beginning at a point in the center of the road “ where the said highway intersects the southerly boundary of the lane.” It also appeared, that a deed described the lane as a “ strip of land twenty-six feet wide, to be used for a right of .way only, commencing at the public highway.”
    
      Held, that the two deeds established the correctness of the plaintiff's contention, for the reason that if, as stated in the first-mentioned deed, the boundary line of the lane intersected the center of the highway the line could not join with a curve because if it did there would be no intersection, and for the further reason that if the lane widened out with-a curve where it entered the highway it would be more that twenty-six feet in width at that point instead of twenty-six feet as stated in the second deed;
    That the statement in the second deed controlled the width of the lane, not only at its commencement at the highway, but throughout its entire length, which was uniform.
    Appeal by the defendant, Richard K. Anderson, from a judgment of the Supreme Court in favor of the plaintiff, entered in the office of the clerk of the county of Saratoga on the 11th day of January, 190,5, upon the decision of the court, rendered after a trial before the court without a jury at the Saratoga Trial Term, granting damages for a trespass and restraining the continuance thereof.
    
      J. W. Atkinson, for the appellant.
    
      James F. Tracey and Benjamin W. Knower, for the respondent.
   Chester, J.:

The' action is to recover damages for an alleged trespass and to restrain the continuance thereof. The plaintiff and the defendant are adjoining owners of premises on the westerly side of the Fonda road in the town of Watérford. The northerly boundary line of the plaintiff’s premises is the southerly line of a lane or right óf way on defendant’s premises known as Anderson’s lane, leading westerly from such road. The claim of the defendant is that the southerly boundary line of the lane runs on a curve where it joins the westerly line of the road. The plaintiff, on the other hand, insists that such southerly line is a straight one leading to the center of the road. By the judgment appealed from the defendant is restrained from interfering with the fence erected by the plaintiff on the line claimed by her and from trespassing upon the premises inclosed thereby.

It seems to me plain that the" plaintiff’s contention is correct for two reasons: First. In the deed from the defendant to the plaintiff of the premises in question the point of beginning in the description is stated to be at a point in the center of the Fonda road “ where the sáid highway intersects the southerly boundary of the lane known as Anderson’s Lane.” If the boundary line of the lane intersects the center of the highway it must cross the westerly boundary line of such highway to reach a point in the center thereof. This precludes the idea of such boundaries joining upon the curvé insisted upon by the defendant, for if it did there would be no intersection. Second. The lane in question is described in the deed from Van Derkar, one of the predecessors of the parties in title, to Waldron, which is referred to in plaintiff’s deed, as a “ strip of land twenty-six feet wide, to be used for a right of way only, commencing at the public highway.” If the lane widens out with a curve upon each side where it commences at the highway, as shown on the defendant’s map, it has at that place a width-of sixty feet and for a considerable distance westerly therefrom it has a much greater width than is described in the deed under which it was laid out. This deed controls the width of the lane not only, at its commencement at the highway, but through its entire length, and that is a uniform width. ,.

While there is an apparent inadvertence in the findings in stating therein that the plaintiffs fence along, the line in question formed a right angle with the westerly line of the Fonda road instead of an obtuse angle, yet there is sufficient proof to support the finding in effect that the fence erected by the plaintiff was along the southerly boundary line of the lane as indicated by a line of old fence posts remaining at the time of defendant’s conveyance to the plaintiff and which is the line established by the decision as the correct southerly boundary of the lane.

The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.

Judgment unanimously affirmed, with coáts.