110 Mass. 42 | Mass. | 1872
This is an action of tort for an assault and battery. The evidence tended to show that the defendant forcibly entered the'premises of the plaintiff for the purpose of removing certain manure which he claimed as his property; that the plaintiff, being present, forbade his entering and resisted it by seizing the heads of the defendant’s horses to prevent them from pro*
We are of opinion that these instructions were at least sufficiently favorable to the defendant. The cases cited by his counsel show that if he had an irrevocable license to enter he would not be liable in an action of trespass quare clausum for an entry, if he could make it without opposition or resistance; but the authorities are clear that if resisted, he had no right to enforce his claim by a breach of the peace. Sampson v. Henry, 13 Pick. 379. Commonwealth v. Haley, 4 Allen, 318. 3 Bl. Com. 4. If it be assumed, therefore, that the defendant had an irrevocable license to enter the plaintiff’s premises, yet upon being resisted it was his duty to desist from his attempt to enter, and resort to his legal remedies. He cannot justify a resort to personal violence to enforce his rights. Hxceptions overruled.
S. W. Bowerman, for the defendant.
M, Wilcox, for the plaintiff.