141 Mich. 455 | Mich. | 1905
The defendants were convicted on June 24, 1904, in the recorder’s court of the city of Detroit, of obstructing Thirteenth street, south of Stanley avenue, an alleged public street in said city, under the provisions of a city ordinance. Sentence having been entered upon such conviction, defendants have brought the judgment and record to this court for review upon writ of certiorari.
Defendants in their brief limit the “discussion” to three items, as follows: (1) Respondents in good faith claim title to the property in question. (2) No actual highway existed at the place in question. (3) The city never accepted as a street the parcel or property in question.
It is well settled that the title to lands cannot be tried in proceedings like the present. People v. Stott, 90 Mich. 343, and cases cited. In order to oust the court of jurisdiction, it is, however, essential that there should be a bona fide contention either as to the existence of the highway or the title of the lands where the alleged obstructions are located. The rule is well stated by Chief Justice Christiancy, in Roberts v. Highway Com’rs of Cottrellville, 25 Mich. 23, as follows:
“And whenever the contest shall appear before the jury to be, really and in good faith, a question of the existence of the highway claimed, or a question involving the title to real estate, rather than a question of encroachment upon a highway admitted to exist, or the existence of which is not in good faith seriously contested, or so clearly shown as to admit of no real and bona fide contest, the whole proceeding should be dismissed by the jury as beyond their jurisdiction in such a proceeding.”
Furthermore, the defendants recognized the public character of the street by their own solemn act. In January, 1903, the defendants presented a petition to the common council asking for the vacation of Thirteenth street south of Stanley avenue, which was referred to the committee on street openings, who reported on March 10th in favor of granting the prayer of the petition upon certain condir tions, and a resolution was introduced to that effect. On March 24th the resolution was put on its passage, and
It remains to consider whether Thirteenth street, south of Stanley avenue, was an actual highway in the sense that its obstruction interrupted travel which otherwise would have taken place. Chief Justice Campbell, delivering the opinion of the court in Beecher v. People, 38 Mich. 289, said:
“ The object of the power granted to the city to prevent obstructions to various easements of a public character is not to settle the title, which cannot be tried by a municipal court under city ordinances. Horn v. People, 26 Mich. 221; Roberts v. Highway Com’rs of Cottrellville, 25 Mich. 23.
“Neither can any such interference in a summary proceeding be had, except where some way actually used has been interrupted in its user or enjoyment. A theoretical easement not actually used is not within the law. Tillman v. People, 12 Mich. 401; Jackson v. People, 9 Mich. 111.”
The testimony on the part of the people as to the actual use of this portion of the street was not very strong. At the time defendants constructed the fence across the street, they were the owners of the lots on both sides south of Stanley avenue to the railroad tracks, where a fence barred further progress; there being no crossing over the railroad right of way. The fence constructed by defendants had been in place for a year before complaint was made, and defendants gave evidence tending to show that the street was used south of Stanley avenue for their private purposes only. The court instructed the jury upon this subject as follows:
“ The Wolverine Company would have a right to build a fence across there, if there was no public highway there.*459 But it is immaterial whether or not it is used. If I give the city of Detroit a piece of land out here, and they run a street down here, and plow it up and grade it, and it is accepted, it is immaterial whether John Smith or Jones walked over it or not, unless there are some conditions nominated, and if they accept it they are bound to carry out those conditions, if, in law, they are good. If I give it to them, it becomes a part of that plat. If^ it is dedicated, it becomes a part of that plat that was introduced here, and that was accepted. It is for you to say whether or not it is a street.”
As applied to prosecutions for obstruction of highways under city ordinances, like the present, we think the charge was erroneous.
The judgment is reversed, and a new trial granted.