Hartland v. Pomfret

11 Vt. 440 | Vt. | 1839

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Williams, C. J.

An examination of the pauper is required by the statute, and, if practicable, must be had, but it is not indispensable, and the form of the record prescribed by the statute implies that the examination has been had. The words are “after hearing the proofs and allegations, and examining the same," fyc. The other ground of objection to the proceedings of the justices, is of more importance. The complaint, warrant and service, are part of the record, and are referred to in the adjudication as on file, so that any question may be presented on the motion to dismiss, which appears from any part of the proceedings referred to. From these, it evidently appears that Reuben Paine was neither apprehended nor notified of the complaint, adjudication or warrant against him. It js obvious that this is required by the statute. Any order or adjudication, designed to affect any individual, and to which he must yield obedience, should bc-made only after actual notice. In the order of removal, it is first awarded that the pauper remove by a given, day, and, in default of his conu plying, the warrant issues to remove him, From the year 1801 to the year 1817, a person removed as a pauper was , . r ,. . ... subject to be whipped not exceeding ten stripes, ix he returned to reside in the town from which he was removed, without the permission of the selectmen. When the huskanc] anc[ wjfe ]jye together, an order cannot be made to remove her without removing him, but it is otherwise where he resides out of the state. It appears to us that the order in this case cannot be good, as to Reuben Paine, the husband, as he was not notified. The case of The King v. The Inhabitants of Binegar, 7 East’s R. 377, has been relied upon in support of this order of removal, but we think that case does not warrant the conclusion.

The question in that case did not arise directly on an order between the parish making the removal, and the parish to which the removal was made, but came up collaterally between other parties as to the effect of an order of removal. A complaint, examination and order of removal,had been made as to one John Savage and Betty, his wife, in which there was an adjudication, that they were settled in Midsomer Norton. The wife was examined, but it did not appear that the husband was. Afterwards the parish of Midsomer Norton removed the said Betty to the parish of Binegar, and proved that the said Savage and Betty were never legally married, and contended that the order, first mentioned, was illegal on the face of it. It was, however, held to be good, and, being good, was conclusive as to the parish of Midsomer Norton, that John Savage and Betty were married and that their settlement was in Midsomer Norton. On this, case, it is to be observed, that it does not appear but that Savag.e was notified of the complaint and order, and secondly, that by the English statute such notice is not required. It is laid down “ that a pauper ought to have notice, and be heard “ before he is removed, but it is not absolutely necessary, yet, “ if it can be done, it is fit it should be done.” 2 Bott’s poor laws, 767. Our statute requires that the pauper should be brought before the magistrates, before any order can be made, and this not having been done, the order as to Paine, the husband, was bad.

The next inquiry is, whether the order is good as to the wife. The settlement of the wife is the settlement of the husband, if he have any. When a wife separates from her husband, and intrudes into another parish, she may be removed to the place of her husband’s settlement, but she cannot be removed from him. To make such an order good, it must appear that the wife has so intruded. In this case it does not appear but that the husband was in Hartland, but, on the contrary, it appears that lie was residing there. The complaint describes him as residing in Hartland, and the adjudication is, that they, both husband and wife, came to reside in Hartland, although the officer could not find him so as to apprehend him for examination. We could not, therefore, with propriety, quash this order as to the husband, and affirm it. as to the wife, without the hazard of removing one from the habitation, as well as the settlement, of the other. „

The judgment of the county court, therefore, quashing the order of removal must be affirmed,