Phillips v. Oystee

| Iowa | Jul 28, 1871

Beck, J.

l. fences: f lawful fence, An issue was presented to the jury as to the sufficiency of defendant’s fence, und^r the statute prescribing the character of a structure which shall be considered a lawful fence, the plaintiff claiming that such a fence must be of the height of four feet and six inches, while defendant insists that a fence or structure of less height may be lawful, when it is equal in strength and security to the inclosures to the fence prescribed by the statute, which fact is to be determined by the fence viewers.

The defendant introduced evidence to prove the character and materials of which his fence is constructed, and then offered to prove by each of the township trustees (the fence viewers) who had, at the request of defendant, officially examined the fence, that “ it was of equal strength and security to the inclosure of the defendant in question, as a fence constructed of strong materials, put up in a good and substantial manner, with sufficiently small spaces between tbe materials composing said fence, and raised to tbe beigbt of four feet and six inches.” Upon objection of plaintiff tbe court refused to permit tbe introduction of tbe evidence.

Tbe court instructed tbe jury to the effect that a fence to be lawful must be of the height of four feet and six inches. Tbe questions arising upop these rulings of tbe court will only be considered.

I. Section 1544 of the Revision is in these words: “ Any fence, constructed of strong materials, put up in a good and substantial manner, with sufficiently small spaces between tbe materials composing said fence, and raised to tbe beigbt of four feet six inches, shall be considered a lawful fence, or such other construction or fence as may, in tbe opinion of tbe fence viewers, be of equal strength and security to tbe inclosure, shall in like manner be considered lawful.”

Tbe first clause of this section prescribes what shall be a lawful fence by tbe use of general directions rather than specific terms as to tbe material and manner of construction. Tbe beigbt of tbe fence is particularly mentioned. Tbe last clause provides that a fence, or construction of equal strength and security, shall be considered lawful. It is plain that tbe legislature intended tbe fence first described to be a standard of strength and security; that any other structure that would equal it in these qualities should be lawful. The requirements in tbe standard need not necessarily be found in tbe structure compared with it. If all tbe qualities of tbe fence are equal as to strength and security to tbe standard, it is lawful. This is equally applicable to beigbt as to other matters. Tbe statute does not provide that a structure, equal in strength and security, must be of tbe beigbt of tbe standard. We conclude, therefore, that any structure, whatever may be its beigbt, if it be of equal strength and security with the standard, is a lawful fence. Tbe spirit and tbe object of the law furnishes an unanswerable argument in support of this construction. The design of the law is to provide security to the inclosed fields of landowners. If a structure three feet high will furnish the security required by law, why require it to be built higher ? If a fence of a peculiar construction affords the -security contemplated by law, whatever may be its height, it must be concluded a lawful fence.

The view of the law, taken by the circuit court in the instructions, is therefore erroneous.

a.— evidence, II. Was the evidence of the fence viewers, offered by defendant, competent? The answer is readily found in the statute. If any structure, in the-opinion of the fence viewers, is equal in strength and security to the standard prescribed, it is a lawful fence. The law makes it the duty of these officers to examine fences concerning which there may be disputes in certain cases. The object of such examination is to determine the rights of parties. If the conclusion, the opinion which they form upon such an examination, is not competent evidence in an action wherein these rights are involved, then would these official determinations be of no avail. It is, doubtless, intended to have some force and effect, which cannot be given it unless it be proved. What effect this evidence should have, we do not determine, neither do we hold that it is conclusive as an official adjudication between the parties. That it is competent appears clear, and this is the point we now decide.

The evidence offered, in our opinion, was erroneously excluded. ' The judgment of the circuit court is

Reversed.