Court Opinion

ID: 7276720
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-25 20:00:26.570614+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:18:53.512453
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Morris
delivered the opinion of the Court:
This cause, like that of Taylor v. District of Columbia, just decided [ante, 392], comes to us from the police court on writ of error. Information was filed in that court against the plaintiff in error for that, on July 21, 1904, he did unnecessarily obstruct the free passageway of B street northwest with a wagon and farm produce; and the testimony was only that on behalf of the District of Columbia to the effect, “that on the day named in the information in the said cause the defendant occupied a space on B street north, in the city of Washington, District of Columbia, about midway of said street, and a short distance west of Ninth street west, in said city, with a wagon and country produce for the sale of said produce, leaving on each side of said wagon and produce a space in the said street about 10 feet in width between the said wagon and produce and the heads of the horses attached to wagon backed up against the curb on each of the north and south sides of the said B street.”
The case was argued with that of Taylor v. District of Columbia, as supposed to involve the same question of law, namely, the authority of the Commissioners of the District to make the police regulation discussed in that case. If it involves the same question the decision in both cases will necessarily be the same.
*406But it is proper to say that this ease involves no such question, and no question whatever, other than that of unlawful occupation and obstruction of the public street and the creation therein of a palpable nuisance. Whatever might be the law in regard to the occupation of the two sides of the street, comprising the sidewalk and the carriage way outside of the curb to the distance of 15 feet, there can be no question whatever as to the illegality of an obstructive occupation of the middle of the street between these spaces; which for the free passage and the legitimate purposes of the market people themselves, if for no other purpose, is required to be kept free from obstruction.
The action of the plaintiff in error was a nuisance pure and simple, and he was very properly held for it. The case requires no serious consideration by us.
The judgment appealed from will be affirmed with costs.

Affirmed.