Court Opinion

ID: 3551447
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-05 23:03:59.981828+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T14:23:26.019904
License: Public Domain

"No town shall be liable for the support of any person unless he, or the person under whom he derives his settlement, shall have wholly gained a settlement therein during the ten years preceding the last date of application for support." Laws 1903, c. 106. The paupers had no settlement except that derived through the husband and father, Moses Ayotte. It is conceded his settlement in Concord was not wholly gained during the ten years preceding the time when the support sued for was furnished. The paupers, therefore, at the time the aid was furnished, had no settlement in Concord and were county charges. Lancaster v. County, 74 N.H. 439; P. S., c. 84, s. 1. July 1, 1914, they applied for aid which has since then been continuously furnished them. The plaintiff argues that July 1, 1914, was the last date of application for aid and that the true construction of the statute is that the city of Concord, being then liable to support the paupers, continues liable as long as support is furnished under such application. But the fact stated is that the application, July 1, 1914, was the first not the last application for aid. April 1, 1916, Concord denied further liability. If the paupers thereafter made formal application for the assistance subsequently furnished between June 19 and September 19, the defendant is not liable upon the plaintiff's construction of the statute. It was the duty of the overseers of the poor of Tilton to relieve and maintain all persons in the town unable to support themselves. P. S., c. 84, s. 1. No special request was required if assistance was necessary. Rumney v. Keyes, 7 N.H. 571, 577. "Where relief is actually furnished a person in distress, it is presumed to be done at the request of him who had it, and no special request or application need be shown." Moultonborough v. Tuftonborough, 43 N.H. 316, 320. That the supplies furnished in the summer of 1916 were furnished in good faith because then requested or applied for or because the situation at the time implied such request or application, was the foundation of the plaintiff's case. Moultonborough v. Tuftonborough, supra. As to *Page 428 
the necessity for the aid and the good faith of the town officials no facts are agreed. If it is assumed the aid was furnished in good faith because then needed and expressly or impliedly applied for, there can be no recovery because at the date of the application the paupers had no settlement in Concord. If the facts are otherwise and the aid was furnished because applied for two years before without existing necessity, there could be no recovery even if the recipients had a settlement in Concord. Each item of pauper support legally furnished is presumed to be furnished upon application then made.
Judgment for the defendant.
All concurred.