Case Name: Henry Curkendall v. The People
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1877-04-18
Citations: 36 Mich. 309
Docket Number: 
Parties: Henry Curkendall v. The People.
Judges: The other Justices concurred.
Reporter: Michigan Reports
Volume: 36
Pages: 309–310

Head Matter:
Henry Curkendall v. The People.
Curtilage: Dwelling house: Barn: Separated by public highway. A bam situated fifteen rods from the dwelling house, with a public highway passing between them, and a yard between the barn and the highway, is held not to be within the curtilage of such dwelling house.
Submitted on briefs April 10.
Decided April 18.
Error to Hillsdale Circuit.
M. B. Boon and B. P. Shepard, for plaintiff in error.
Otto Kirclmer, Attorney General, for the People.

Opinion:
Cooley, Ch. J:
Plaintiff in error was indicted for the statutory offense of feloniously setting fire to and burning a barn and adjoining shed of one Isaac Hagerman, in Amboy, the said barn and shed "being within the curtilage of the dwelling house of him," the said Hagerman.
The evidence showed that the barn was situated some fifteen rods from the house, with a public highway passing between them,' and a yard between the barn and the highway. In People v. Taylor, 2 Mich., 250, a barn one-third this distance from the dwelling house, but immediately connected with it by a lane, was held to be within the curtilage. But here, to say nothing of the distance, there was a distinct separation from the house by the highway; and the case cited cannot sustain the ruling.
The judgment must be reversed, and the prisoner discharged.
The other Justices concurred.