Case Name: THE STATE, EX REL. MARY TREADWELL, v. PETER J. POWLESS, OVERSEER OF THE POOR OF HOBOKEN
Court: New Jersey Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: New Jersey
Decision Date: 1874-06
Citations: 37 N.J.L. 145
Docket Number: 
Parties: THE STATE, EX REL. MARY TREADWELL, v. PETER J. POWLESS, OVERSEER OF THE POOR OF HOBOKEN.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Jersey Law Reports
Volume: 37
Pages: 145–145

Head Matter:
THE STATE, EX REL. MARY TREADWELL, v. PETER J. POWLESS, OVERSEER OF THE POOR OF HOBOKEN.
An overseer of the poor has a discretion in refusing to make complaint under the supplement to the vagrant act (Nix. Dig. 1008,) to compel a husband to provide for his family, where there is no reasonable ground to believe, on fair inquiry by the overseer, that the application is a proper one.
On application for mandamus.
Argued before Justices Belle, Dalrimple and Depue.
For the relator, J. W. Vroom.
For the overseer, J. C. Besson.

Opinion:
The opinion of the court was delivered by
Belle, J.
The overseer has a discretion in refusing to make complaint, under the supplement to the vagrant act, (Nix. Dig. 1008,) to compel a husband to provide for his family, where there is no reasonable ground to believe, on fair inquiry by the overseer, that the application is a proper one. In this case the facts show that his discretion was fairly exercised, and the motion for a mandamus is denied.