Case Name: Tiller v. Wilson
Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Tennessee
Decision Date: 1878-09
Citations: 69 Tenn. 392
Docket Number: 
Parties: Tiller v. Wilson.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tennessee Reports
Volume: 69
Pages: 392–393

Head Matter:
Tiller v. Wilson.
Bubning- Woods. Secs. 1703-4 of Gode contirued. A person seeing a fire on his own premises, likely to consume fences or other property, and cannot reasonably expect to subdue it otherwise than by firing against it, may do so without notice, and will not be subject to the penalty and damages prescribed in sec. 1704 of the Code.
FROM CAMPBELL.
Appeal in error from the Circuit Court of Campbell • county. Wm. Cttllom, Sp. J.
Henderson & Jotjrolman for Tiller.
Gibson for Wilson.

Opinion:
Ttjkney, J.,
delivered the opinion of the court.
The act of 1777, ch. 25, sec. 2, carried to the Code by secs. 1703-4, is intended to prevent acts of wantonness and sport, and to regulate and define the rights of land owners to set fire to their woods, when, in their opinion, it is necessary for any purpose, and does not obtain in an exigency demanding immediate action for the protection of property, as when a prudent man, seeing a fire on his premises likely to - consume fences or other property, and believing it will do' so unless checked, and cannot reasonably expect to subdue it otherwise than by firing against it, he may do so without subjecting himself to the penalty and damages denounced in the statute referred to.
Affirm the judgment.