Case Name: The People ex rel. James Martin vs. The Board of Police of the Metropolitan Police District
Court: New York Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New York
Decision Date: 1861-11-18
Citations: 35 Barb. 550
Docket Number: 
Parties: The People ex rel. James Martin vs. The Board of Police of the Metropolitan Police District.
Judges: 
Reporter: Barbour's Supreme Court Reports
Volume: 35
Pages: 550–554

Head Matter:
The People ex rel. James Martin vs. The Board of Police of the Metropolitan Police District.
Where, on an application for a mandamus to compel the Board of Police of the Metropolitan Police District to restore the relator to the office of patrolman of the police force, &c., issues were joined, and on the trial thereof the court nonsuited the relator, on the ground that his acceptance of an appointment of inspector in the custom house, and taking the oath of office, was a resignation, by implication, of the office of policeman; but the duty of finding what the facts were had been wholly omitted, and there was no evidence before the court to show, and no fact found, upon which it could be ascertained, whether the judgment of nonsuit was right or wrong, it was held that the case must he sent back to the circuit for a re-trial.
Held, also, that if it was true that the relator accepted another office, and entered on the performance of new duties, under the general government, which would prevent him from performing his duties as a policeman, and that he did so before the board of police refused to permit him to exercise the powers and duties of a policeman, under their authority, Ms application for a mandamus would be denied whenever such facts were proved.
THIS was an application for a mandamus to compel the board of police to restore the relator to the office of patrolman of the police force, and permit him to exercise the same, and to take the profits and salary thereof. Issues were joined, upon the return of the respondents, which were tried at the circuit. The court nonsuited the relator, with costs, on the ground that his acceptance of an appointment of inspector in the custom house, and taking the oath of office, was a resignation, by implication, of the office of policeman. The counsel for the relator excepted to the decision of the court. • The court ordered the exceptions to he heard in the first instance at a general term, and that judgment in the •mea.ntimft he suspended. A motion for a peremptory mandamus was thereupon made, upon the verdict thus rendered.
Beebe, Dean & Donchue, for the relator.
Brown, Hall & Vanderpoel, for the respondents.

Opinion:
Leonard, J.
In this case issues have been joined, and the court at the trial nonsuited the relator, who took an exception to the decision. There is no evidence before the court, and no fact found upon which it can be ascertained, whether the judge who made the decision was right or wrong. There is a memorandum in the case that the court nonsuited the relator on the ground that his acceptance of an appointment of inspector in the custom house, and taking the oath of office, was a resignation, by implication, of the office of policeman.
The issues were brought before the circuit for the purpose of finding what the facts were, but this duty has' been wholly omitted. In my opinion the case must be sent back to the circuit for trial.
If it be true that the relator accepted another office, and entered on the performance of new duties, under the general government, which would prevent him from performing his duties as a policeman, and that he did so before the board of police refused to permit him to exercise the powers and duties of a policeman under their authority, then, in my opinion, his application will be denied whenever such facts are proved.
He was not bound to refuse other employment, and remain idle, in case the board of police unlawfully refused to permit him to perform his duties as a policeman under them.
If he is otherwise entitled to be restored to office, he may still, when the impediment is removed, resign his office under the general government, and resume his duties as a member of the new police.