Case Name: Martha A. Williams et al. vs. H. B. Hathaway
Court: Supreme Court of Rhode Island
Jurisdiction: Rhode Island
Decision Date: 1898-05-18
Citations: 20 R.I. 534
Docket Number: 
Parties: Martha A. Williams et al. vs. H. B. Hathaway.
Judges: Present: Stiness and Tillinghast, JJ.
Reporter: Rhode Island Reports
Volume: 20
Pages: 534–535

Head Matter:
Martha A. Williams et al. vs. H. B. Hathaway.
PROVIDENCE
MAY 18, 1898.
Present: Stiness and Tillinghast, JJ.
A license to do an act which, without the license, would be a trespass, cannot be set up as a justification unless it is specially pleaded.
Where the plain till has testified that there was no license, the defendant may cross-examine on that point (without having pleaded a license), to show the fact in mitigation of damages. ■
Trespass guare clausum.
Heard on defendant’s petition for a new trial.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
The record shows that one of the plaintiffs, in an action of trespass guare clausum, testified in direct examination that the defendant entered without license or permission. The defendant was stopped in cross-examination upon this point, upon the ground that he had not pleaded a license.
A license to do an act, which would otherwise be a trespass, cannot be set up as a j ustification unless it is specially pleaded. 1 Chit. PL (16 Am. ed.) *540.
Without such plea judgment must be given for the plaintiff. But where the plaintiff has testified that there was no license, the court is of opinion that the defendant has the right to cross-examine on that point, and to show the fact in mitigation of damages; otherwise the plaintiff would have the benefit of his own testimony on that point and at the same time exclude a fact which would have a material bearing upon the character of the acts done. Brown v. Perkins, 1 Allen, 89.
George A. Littlefield, for plaintiff.
William A. Morgan, for defendant.
Upon this point the defendant's exceptions are sustained and a new trial granted.
Other exceptions overruled.