Case Name: In the Matter of the Application of Nicholas J. Powers, Appellant, for a Writ of Mandamus against Hans Dahl, as Clerk of Rensselaer County, Respondent
Court: New York Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1916-10-24
Citations: 219 N.Y. 578
Docket Number: 
Parties: In the Matter of the Application of Nicholas J. Powers, Appellant, for a Writ of Mandamus against Hans Dahl, as Clerk of Rensselaer County, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: New York Reports
Volume: 219
Pages: 578–579

Head Matter:
In the Matter of the Application of Nicholas J. Powers, Appellant, for a Writ of Mandamus against Hans Dahl, as Clerk of Rensselaer County, Respondent.
Matter 'of Powers v. Dahl, 173 App. Div. 501, reversed.
(Argued October 9, 1916;
decided October 24, 1916.)
Appeal from an order of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court in the third judicial department, entered July 10, 1916, which affirmed an order of Special Term denying a motion for a peremptory writ of mandamus to compel the reinstatement of the petitioner as custodian of records in the Rensselaer county clerk’s office, on the ground that he was illegally removed therefrom without a hearing upon due notice upon stated charges, contrary to section 22 of the Civil Service Law, the applicant being an honorably discharged soldier, having served in the army of the United States during the war with Spain. The defense is that the position was a personal and confidential one, and that the applicant’s tenure ended by operation of law.
Michael D. Nolan and Edward L. Nugent for appellant.
Herbert F. Roy for respondent.

Opinion:
Order reversed, with costs in all courts, on the dissenting opinion of Cochrane, J., below, and peremptory writ of mandamus granted.
Concur: Willard Bartlett, Ch. J., Chase, Collin, Hogan and Cardozo, JJ. Dissent, on opinion of Woodward, J., below: Hiscock and Cuddeback, JJ.