Clement v. Durgin

| Me. | May 15, 1827

The opinion of the court was delivered in the following June. term, at Augusta, by

Weston J.

With regard to the objection to the competency of James Osgood, on the ground of interest, it appears that the witness owned on one side, and the respondent on the other, each to the thread of the stream, over which the dam was extended. They were not therefore owners of the dam in common; but each of a part in severalty. A verdict for or against the respondent, could • not be used for or against the witness in a complaint or action. The respondent might possess, by purchase or otherwise, the right, so far as he was concerned, to flow without payment of damages, which might not extend to or protect the witness. Their interest being several and not joint, neither would have a remedy against the other for contribution, where the party injured complained against them severally. Whether by the nature of their occupancy, they might not have been joined as respondents in the same complaint, is not a question before us. This process has no effect to remove the dam; therefore the witness is in no danger on that ground ; and we are satisfied, as the case is now presented, that the witness had no such interest, as would exclude him as incompetent.

A question was raised at the trial, and is reserved for our consideration, whether a deposition taken under a commission, by a person who represents himself as a judge of the St. Lawrence Court of Common Pleas in the State of New-York, which was objected to by the counsel for the complainant, could be received, wifliout proof of the official character of the judge. . By ch. 85 of the revised laws, prescribing the mode of taking depositions, sec. 6, which in this particular is a re-enactment of the old law, it is provided that all depositions taken out of this State, before any justice of the peace, public notary, or other person legally empowered to take depositions in the State or county where such depositions shall be taken and certified, may be admitted as evidence in any civil action, or rejected, at the discretion of the court. I'n the exercise of this discretion, prior to the promulgation of the existing rule of this court, on the subject of commissions, if the deposition appeared to have been taken with formality and solemnity, having án official authentication, presenting upon the face of it no ground of suspicion, it was usually received as evidence. But the rule before alluded to, having afforded every facility for the issuing of commissions to take dep isltious out of the State, upon application to either of the judges or to the clerk, and the court being disposed to regard with more favor such as are taken under commission, by interrogatories and cross interrogatories, prescribed by the rule as a more satisfactory mode of eliciting truth, have therein declared that in all cases of depositions taken out of the State, without commission, it shall be incumbent on the party producing such deposition, to prove that it was taken and certified by a person legally empowered thereto; thereby plainly implying that no such evidence would be required in the case of depositions taken under commission. And we can perceive no well founded objection to the receiving of the official certificate of the judge or magistrate in these cases, as prima fade evidence of his authority. Upon a suggestion of fraud or collusion, supported by affidavit, or otherwise, to the satisfaction of iho court, they would either reject the deposition , or afford opportunity to ascertain more perfectly the official character of the person by whom it might be certified, and the circumstances under which it may have been taken. As there is no objection to the execution of the com ¿fission in question on the face of it; and no proof or suggestion that there is any tiling false in the caption ; the objection to its being received was, in our opinion, properly overruled.

It is further insisted, that the issue tried between these parties, could oidy be proved on the part of the respondent by deed, or oilier instrument in writing; and not by parol proof, which was received by the judge, although objected to by the counsel for the complainant. This objection is founded upon the statute of frauds; upon the ground that the right to flow, without payment of damages, is rai interest in land. But we regard it as rather in the nature of a license to do certain acts in, or upon, the land of another, of which parol proof has always been deemed admissible; as, to cut trees upon, or to pass over the land of another, or to build a fence or a bridge thereon. In these, and many other cases of the like kind, proof of a parol license from iho owner, would be a good defence ib au action of trespass, brought by Mm for the doing of these acts. Such a license is in its nature revocable; unless the party, to whom it is given, has been thereby led to incur expense; in which case it is not revocable; at least without tendering an indemnity.

In Taylor v. Waters, 7 Taunt. 374, the plaintiff averred that the proprietor of the opera house, or King’s theatre, in the Hay-market, had granted him six silver tickets of admission to the same, for the space of twenty-one years, which he had not been permitted to enjoy. Among other objections made to the action, it was insisted that this was an interest in land, which could not be granted, but by written instrument. Gibbs C. J. in delivering tire opinion of the court, after adverting to a series of decisions, says “ these eases abundantly prove that a license to enjoy a beneficial privilege on land, may be granted without deed, and, notwithstanding the statute of frauds, without writing.” And he further deduces from the authorities, that such a license cannot be countermanded, after it has been acted upon.

Winter v. Brockwell, 8 East. 309, was an action of the case for a nuisance, in erecting a sky-light over the area above the plaintiff’s window, by means of which the light and air were excluded ; but it being proved by parol, that this was done with the express approbation of the plaintiff, who also, gave permission to have part of the frame work nailed against his wall, it was held by the court, notwithstanding it appears in a note to the case that the statute of frauds was objected, that the defence was well sustained; upon the ground, either that a license of this kind is not revocable, until the expenses incurred by the party licensed are refunded; or that a license, once executed, is no longer countermandable; for which lord Ellenborough cites Webb v. Paternoster, Palmer, 74. Wood v. Lake, Sayer 3, cited in 1. Phil. Evid. 354, Crosby v. Wadsworth, 6 East. 602, and Ricker & al. v. Kelly & al. 1. Greenl, 117, are also authorities to show that this is not a case within the statute of frauds.

The right to flow, subject to the claim of the party injured for damages, is given by statute. These damages, the party may waive or relinquish by parol. He thereby gives the other party no new interest in, or right over, his lands; but he foregoes a right to damages, which he might have enforced by complaint, in the nature of a personal action. Suppose it be desirable to a neighborhood that a fulling mill, or a grist mill, should be erected at a suitable place upon a stream, the owner of which is not inclined to make the erection, from an apprehension that it may not prove sufficiently profitable to remunerate the expense. As an inducement, the owner of land, which may be flowed by raising a suitable and necessary head of water for this purpose, engages by parol to set up no claim for damages. The owner thereupon proceeds to build a mill and dam, on the faith of this engagement. He is subsequently called upon by complaint, by the owner of the land, to answer in damages, for causing the water to flow back upon his grounds. The respondent proves, by parol, that he did so, by the licen.se and permission of the complainant. We cannot doubt that this would be a good defence. He claims no interest in the land of the complainant ; but he justifies a certain act done in relation to it, which, without the license of the owner, would have been unwarrantable. The license givcu might have been countermanded, before it had been acted upon; as if a party promise to give money, no action lies upon it; but having given it, he cannot recover it back. He cannot reclaim what he has given away. So in this case, having given the license, and it having been acted upon, he cannot enforce an action or complaint for damages. Judgment on the verdict.