38 Wis. 549 | Wis. | 1875
The sole question in this case is, whether the power to grant licenses for the sale of intoxicating liquors within the limits of the village of Princeton is vested in the trustees of the village or in the board of supervisors of the town of Princeton. The learned counsel for the plaintiff in error contends that the power is vested in the town board, and that the circuit court was wrong in charging the jury that the town license constituted no defense to the prosecution. We are inclined to agree with him in this view of the law, and to hold that the right to grant the license belongs to the town. .
The village of Princeton, as at present constituted, was incorporated by ch. 184, P. & L. Laws of 1867. That act confers upon the authorities of the village certain limited and specified powers; but among these powers the right to grant licenses for the sale of liquors within the village limits is not enumerated, nor is that power incidental to any power conferred. By the 25th section of the charter, it is declared that all the territory constituting the village of Princeton “ is hereby reannexcd to the town of Princeton for general municipal purposes, and it shall constitute a part of said town as fully and as perfectly, in all respects, as before the passage of said former charter, and the inhabitants of said territory shall have and enjoy the common franchises and privileges and be subject to the authority and lawful control of said town.” Thus it will
By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and a new trial ordered.