Case Name: Goddard against M'Kean
Court: Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: Pennsylvania
Decision Date: 1837-07
Citations: 6 Watts 337
Docket Number: 
Parties: Goddard against M’Kean.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Volume: 6
Pages: 337–337

Head Matter:
Goddard against M’Kean.
A justice of the peace has not jurisdiction of an action founded upon a note given in consideration of a right to dig a mill-race and conduct water across the plaintiff’s land.
ERROR to the common pleas of Bradford county.
Ezra Goddard against Jehial M’Kean and Luther Goddard. This action originally brought before a justice of the peace, was founded on the following note, signed by the defendants.
“Due Ezra Goddard, or béarer, for Value received, ten thousand feet of merchantable white pine boards, one inch thick, by the 1st day of April, if we should get our mill in operation by that time.”
April 22d, 1828.
The plaintiff having called a witness to prove that the mill was put in operation, upon his cross-examination it appeared, that the note was given by the defendants to the plaintiff, for the sale of the privilege of taking water out of a dam, and conducting the same by a mill-race across the land claimed by the plaintiff.
The defendants then requested the court to dismiss the action, on the gromrd that it originated before a justice, who had no jurisdiction of the subject.
The cotut (Herrick, president) sustained the motion.
Elwell, for plaintiff in error,
cited Penns. Blackslone 391, 6.
Williston, contra,
cited 3 Rawle 325; 3 Penns. Rep. 388; 2 Watts 135; 5 Watts 482.

Opinion:
Per Curiam.
By the plaintiff's own showing, the title to real estate was liable to come in question, and it is therefore clear, the justice had not jurisdiction.
Judgment affirmed.