Court Opinion

ID: 7941934
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-08 23:15:53.566936+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:33:45.754577
License: Public Domain

Grant, J.
This is an action of ejectment brought by the city, claiming the title in fee to a piece of land marked “Public Park” upon a plat of Boughton’s addition to St. *214Josepb. The plat was made by Kate Boughton. and her husband in September, 1890. Mrs. Boughton died. The land marked “Public Park,” in question, was sold as a part of her estate, and purchased by the defendant. The court, for various reasons, directed a verdict for the defendant.
The statute (section 3372, 1 Comp. Laws) requires that, before such plat can be recorded, or copies made therefrom, the person making the same shall forward the original plat to the auditor general, who shall approve of the same whenever, such plat shall conform, in his opinion, to the requirements of the act, and shall return the plat to the person who forwarded it, with his approval indorsed thereon. The original plat contained this indorsement: “August 26th, ’90. Henry H. Aplin, by Henry Humphrey.” In making the copies which the statute requires, the words “Examined and approved” were written over this indorsement upon the copies.
This record, even if authorized to be made by Mr. Humphrey in the name of Mr. Aplin, is not an approval of the plat. The mere signature cannot constitute an approval. Not only is no authority shown for the signature of Henry H. Aplin “by Henry Humphrey,” but there is nothing to show the signature is official. Henry Humphrey was a clerk in the office at the time, as appears by the auditor general’s reports; but no power is by statute given to him to pass an approval in the name of the auditor general, even if we could take judicial notice that he was at the time an employé of that office. The authority to approve was conferred upon the auditor general alone, and not upon any clerk. The officer so appointed must perform the duty. Mechem, Pub. Off. § 567. These provisions of the statute must be substantially, if not literally, complied with. 9 Am. & Eng, Enc. Law (2d Ed.), 35; 2 Dill. Mun. Corp. (4th Ed.) § 628.
The plat dedicates ‘ ‘ the streets and alleys as shown on said plat to the use of the public. ” It says nothing whatever about a public park.
There are other defects and other questions raised, but *215it is unnecessary to refer to them, as the above are sufficient to justify the finding of the circuit judge.
Judgment affirmed.