Case Name: HEYDENFELDT, Appellant, v. HITCHCOCK, Respondent
Court: Supreme Court of California
Jurisdiction: California
Decision Date: 1860
Citations: 15 Cal. 514
Docket Number: 
Parties: HEYDENFELDT, Appellant, v. HITCHCOCK, Respondent.
Judges: 
Reporter: California Reports
Volume: 15
Pages: 514–515

Head Matter:
HEYDENFELDT, Appellant, v. HITCHCOCK, Respondent.
The Board of Commissioners of the old Sinking Fund of 1850, created by an ordinance of the city of San Francisco, had no power to sell the real estate of the city, the ordinance being void. But this decision has no application to the Board of Commissioners of the Funded Debt, organized after the dissolution of the first Board of the Sinking Fund Commissioners.
Smith v. Morse, (2 Cal. 524) holding the above ordinance void, affirmed.
Appeal from the Twelfth District.
Ejectment for a lot in San Francisco.
The case was tried before the Court below, by consent, and the facts, as agreed upon, presented substantially, the question whether Smith v. Morse (2 Cal. 524) should stand as law. Defendant had judgment. Plaintiff appeals.
Heydenfeldt, for Appellant.
J. B. Townsend, for Respondent.

Opinion:
Baldwin, J. delivered the opinion of the Court
Cope, J. concurring.
The appellant claims the lot in question—a beach and water lot in San Francisco—by a sale and conveyance by the Commissioners of the old Sinking Fund of 1850. This Board was constituted by an ordinance of the city, and its powers and objects are set out in the case of Smith v. Morse, 2 Cal. 524. The validity and effect of the ordinance were passed upon in the case above cited, and it was there affirmed that the city had no power to authorize the Board to sell this land, and that the Legislature had not ratified or confirmed this ordinance. This want of power the Court deduced from a construction of the charter of the corporation. The arguments in the opinion, and those of the respondent's counsel, are very strong to show that the corporate authorities had no power to divest themselves of, and vest in this Board, the extensive and responsible powers and faculties which were attempted to be given by the ordinance. As the case of Smith v. Morse expressly holds that these acts are void, we do not feel justified, under the circumstances, in disturbing the decision. This view is decisive of the plaintiff's case, for he rests for title upon the deed from the Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.
This decision has no application to the Board of Commissioners of the Funded Debt, organized after the dissolution of the first Board of the Sinking Fund Commissioners.
Judgment affirmed.