Court Opinion

ID: 8255899
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-10-16 15:18:38.765966+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:42:59.476653
License: Public Domain

ERROR PROM THE DISTRICT COURT OP WASHINGTON COUNTY.The Defendants, in their answer, set forth in full the act of -the Legislature of the Territory of Minnesota, entitled “ An Act to incorporate the City of Stillwater in the County of Washington,” approved March 4,1854. [See Session Laws 1854, page 171.]The answer then sets forth the organization of the city gov-■p.rnment by virtue of said act, and recites the ordinance of the City Council creating the office of Marshal of said city, regulating his duties, &c.; also, the ordinance of said City Council •concerning nuisances, &c. — 'providing, among other things that if any person “ shall place, or cause to be erected or placed “ any buildings, lumber or other obstruction whatsoever, in or “upon any of the streets or landings of said city, or shall ■“ occupy, maintain or keep, or cause to be maintained, occu- “ pied or kept, any such building, lumber or other obstruction “ now erected or placed in or upon any of the streets or land- ■“ ings of said city, it shall be the duty of the Marshal to give “ notice to such person or persons to remove such nuisance “forthwith”; and further providing, that if such person or persons shall permit any such nuisance to remain, after twenty-four hours notice to remove the same, and if such “nuisance shall be manifestly dangerous or improper, or “shall interfere with the use and enjoyment of the streets and “landings •“ of said city, it shall be lawful for the Marshal to remove “ and abate such nuisance, either by removing the building ” *335<or other obstruction erected, placed or maintained in or upon said streets or landings, &c.;. and providing further for an assessment of the damages sustained by reason of such removal, &c. and giving the Marshal full power to call to his assistance in the execution of said ordinance any male inhabitant of said city, &c.The answer further denies all the allegations of said complaint, charging the Defendants with damages for injuries to said building, and denies that the same was injured in a greater amount than two hundred dollars, which was unavoidable and necessary in removing the same as aforesaid.The reply of the Plaintiff denies, upon information and belief, the passage of the Act to incorporate the City of Still-water recited in the answer, and alleges that no such act had ever been published pursuant to the provisions of Sections 2, 3 and 1, Chapter II. of the Revised Statutes of the Territory.But “ alleges that an act of said Legislative Assembly was “ published pursuant to the provisions and requirements of ■“ said sectionand quotes in full an act incorporating said City of Stillwater, without stating when the same was passed or approved, or when or where it was published.The reply further denies, upon information or belief, all the allegations in the complaint respecting the organization of said eity under the act recited in the answer, the ordinances of said city creating the office of Marshal and defining his duties, and *336the ordinance concerning nuisances, recited in said answer; and denies that said building was in or upon Main-street in said city, according to the recorded plot thereof, dated September 12,1848.Second. The reply states that the said building was erected prior to the 12th day of September, 1848, and denies that the plot of the City of Stillwater in the answer mentioned was ever certified by the Surveyor thereof, or that it was ever duly acknowledged or recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds in the proper county.The reply then sets out in full the formation of a “ Claim Association,” similar in all respects to the one set forth in the case of Brisbois vs. Sibley, et. al. [see cmte, page 230], which Association was formed for the purpose of seeming to the people of Stillwater the legal title to the lots which they respectively occupied. A person was appointed to bid off the lands, which were to be by him deeded to the respective owners thereof. A committee was appointed to adjust conflicting claims, &c. and it was made a part of their duty to have a survey made of the Town of Stillwater, so as to conform to the present surveys, fixing the bounds of the lots and blocks and numbering the same. John McKusick was appointed to bid off the lands at the land sales.That before the 11th day of September, 1848, one Harvey “Wilson made a smvey of the Town of Stillwater, which plot is the same referred to in the Defendants’ answer.*337That such, survey was afterwards accepted by said committee, and that the claim of this Plaintiff was settled by them, •as follows: “ That the said Plaintiff should be entitled to re- “ ceive a deed of his lot on which he then resided, according “ to the town plot of Stillwater, as surveyed and plotted by H. “ Wilson, August 28, 1848; and the said committee, on said “ day, further resolved that inasmuch as the house in which '“ said Plaintiff resides is in the street, that the same remain “ where it now stands until it is removed at the public ex- “ pense.”To the second subdivision of said reply, — Because it is impossible to understand or know what is intended by that portion of said reply, — no reason being given, or apparent, for inserting it: the question in the cause being, wh&re the building was when it was removed, and not when it was erected or placed there.To the third subdivision of said reply, — Because the same is matter of evidence and is improperly inserted in a pleading ; .and because the same only amounts to an admission of the truth of the facts alleged in the answer, to wit: that the town *338plot was surveyed, acknowledged and recorded, and that the building referred to was in the street and continued there until removed; and because the same is contradictory.A motion was made at the same time, on behalf of the Defendants, to strike out certain portions of the Plaintiff’s reply.The District Court sustained the demurrer, and allowed the motion, with leave to amend; and afterwards, judgment was rendered against the Plaintiff for costs.Points and authorities relied upon by the Plaintiff in Error:First. The demurrer cannot be sustained, because there are incurable defects of substance in the answer. 1 Code Reg. R. 8. 238; 1 Code Reg. 342; Van Santvoord’s PI. g. 367; 3 Cowen, 96; Rewell’s Pr. vol. 1, g. 539, 40 et gariem. The answer is bad in the following particulars:1. The Act of Incorporation of the City of Stillwater is a general law, requiring, under the Revised Statutes, to be published before it can become operative, which publication should have been averred. Vide Rev. Stat. see. 2, Ghag. 2, gg. 33,34; 1 Kent’s Com. vól. 1, g. 506; JBuvier’s Lam. Pie. vol. 1, g. 347Cimil Code Laws, arrt. 420; Pierce vs. Kemball, 9 Qreenl.. 54; Bac. Air. vol. 9, g. 231; 7 Mass. 9; 5 Mass. 266; il. 329; 8 Sheg. Me. Reg. 58.The provision of the Revised Statute referred to is not repealed by the words of the Act. Bac. Air. vol. 9, g. 228; Rex vs. Idle, 2 Barn, db Co. 149; Golden vs. Buck, 15 Fast.; Bac. Air. vol. 9, g. 257; 15 East. 322.Second. The Defendants’ justifying the commission of the acts complained of under and by virtue of a special and limited jurisdiction must aver that every requirement of the Act of Incorporation has been complied with, which they have not done in their answer. Tha/y&r vs. Stea/rns, 1 Picio. 112; Weller vs. Ballette, 11 Mass. 480; Saxton vs. Firms, 14 Mass. 320; Ayre vs. Young et. dl. 13 Mass. 320; 4 il. 232; 5 Wend. 170; Cable vs. Cooger, 15 J. R. 122, Oginion.TM/rd. The Act being a general law, the allegation that it has never been published raises a material issue. [ Vide Revised Statute before cited.]*339Fou/rth. The Act of Incorporation being a private act as the Defendants insist, then the matter covered by the demurrer is irrelevant and redundant and can only be reached by motion. Smith vs. Qre&nim,, 2 Scmdf. 8. C. B. 702; 3 Scmford, 743; 3 Code Bep. 206; 6 M. P. B. 475 ; 4 TI. P. B. 68; ib. 24; V. Scmtooord PI. 284, 426, 371, 400, 408; 4 Scmdf. 8. C. B. 660.Fifth. The matter embraced by the second count of the demurrer is irrelevant and redundant, and the authorities just cited indicate that such matter can only be reached by motion.Sixth. The third count of the demurrer cannot be sustained, because, admitting it to be matter of evidence, it is not demurrable. I Code Bep. Ff. S. p. 270.3. Allegations contradictory can only be reached by motion under authorities cited; no contradiction is apparent upon the face of the matter demurred to; and _Seventh. Either count of the demurrer being disallowed the whole must fail. Authorities above died; 1 C. B. FT. 8. 397; V. S. PI. 367, 353, &e.[The points and authorities of Defendants in Error are not on file.]The judgment of the District Court- was affirmed with costs.