State v. Inhabitants of Madison

63 Me. 546 | Me. | 1874

Dickerson, J.

The party obliged by law to repair a public highway or toll bridge is liable criminally for neglecting to perform this duty, and civilly for damages caused by such neglect. The liability in botli these respects depends, substantially, upon the same facts; in general an indictment lies where an action for damages lies in such cases, and vice versa. Davis s. Bangor, 42 Maine, 522; Howard v. North Bridgewater, 16 Pick., 190.

The most important question presented for our consideration is, whether the town of Madison is liable to indictment for not repairing that part of the bridge which is within its limits. ■ In determining this question we shall consider the liability to indictment, and the liability for damages, as depending substantially upon the same facts. The proprietors of the Norridgewoelc Palls Bridge were incorporated in 1827, accepted their charter, built the bridge, took toll, rebuilt the bridge several times, and kept it in repair till 1844. In 1847 the county commissioners located a highway over the place where the bridge now stands. A writ of certiorari to quash their doings was granted in 1847, but was never issued. The record shows that the commissioners had jurisdiction in the premises. It is familiar law that where the record shows that the county commissioners, in locating a highway, had no jurisdiction, their doings may be impeached collaterally. Small v. Pennell, 31 Maine, 267; Goodwin v. Co. Commissioners, 60 Maine, 332 ; Scarborough v. Co. Commissioners, 41 Maine, 605.

It is, also, equally well settled that when, it appears from their record that they had jurisdiction, but committed some error in their proceedings, such error can only be taken advantage of on a writ of certiorari. Goodwin v. Inhabitants of Hallowell, 12 Maine, 276; Inhabitants of Pownal, pet'rs for cert. v. Co. Commissioners, 8 Maine, 271.

The mere granting of a writ of certiorari is not tantamount to issuing the writ, and quashing the proceedings thereon. No judgment to quash the proceedings of the commissioners was rendered by grant of leave for the writ to issue. Hon constat that judgment to quash would have been rendered if the writ had been issued. A writ of certiorari, like any other writ, is subject to be quashed for cause shown. The highway in question, therefore, must be regarded as a valid and subsisting highway.

If the town of Madison is liable, it is made so by R. S., 1857, c. 18, §§ 61, 37. These two provisions are harmoDio.us, and counterparts of the same enactment. The liability to indictment under § 37, attaches to “those liable to repair,” and the liability for damages provided iu § 61, is predicated “of the county, town or persons obliged by law to repair.” The question to be determined is, whether the town of. Madison is “liable” to repair the highway over the bridge in question. If it is, it is also “liable” to indictment for neglecting that duty; if it is not “liable” to repair it is not “liable” to indictment, either under the statute or by the criminal law.

The changes in the legislation upon this subject are quite significant. Towns are not now, as formerly, “bound by law,” or made “liable,” in express terms, to repair highways, town ways and bridges within tlieir limits. The statute of Massachusetts, of which our statute of 1821 was a transcript, made them thus liable “when other sufficient provision was not made therefor,” thus making their liability a qualified one. The statute of 1841, on the contrary, made the liability of towns, in terms, absolute. While those statutes restricted liability to indictment to municipalities, the statute of 1857, § 37, had a broader application, and extended such liability to “those liable to repair,” generally. Under that statute, railroads, bridges, and turnpike corporations, and private persons were subject to indictment, when “liable to repair,” as well as towns and plantations; in this respect all parties “liable to repair” stood upon the same footing.

In considering the authorities therefore upon this subject, it becomes necessary to examine the statutes under which the cases arose. The case of Sawyer v. The Inhabitants of Worthfield, 7 Cush., 490, so much relied upon by the counsel for the defendants, originated under the statute of Massachusetts making towns liable, “when no other sufficient provision was made for repairs.” The distinction between that case and the one at bar is the difference between a qualified and a general liability. So the case of State v. Gorham, 37 Maine, 461, came up under our statute of 1841, making towns positively liable. While that case, for this reason, is not directly in point, the reasoning of the court applies, with equal force, in the case under consideration. “The safety and convenience of those who travel upon our public ways,” observes Rice, J., in that case, “have ever been primary objects in the estimation of the legislature. The introduction of railroads and the frequency with which they cross public ways, as well under bridges, as at grade, has greatly increased the hazards of ordinary traveling. It is important that the most certain, prompt and efficient means should be provided against those new and increasing causes of inconvenience and danger to travelers. Towns have the general supervision of highways. By holding them primarily responsible a very much more convenient and certain remedy is afforded the public than could be had against private individuals or corporations.”

The court further remarks in that case that this construction of that statute does not discharge railroad corporations, or other parties, required by law to maintain and repair bridges or highways, from their liability to do so, and that towns have a remedy against such parties by mandamus, or by action on the ease.

A highway was laid out and established where the bridge in question stands. The bridge was rebuilt and kept in repair for several years by the town of Madison. That town is under the same legal liability to repair that highway that it is other highways within its h'mits.

It was not necessary to allege in the indictment the authority by which the highway was laid out. Therefore, the clause in the indictment, “as laid out by the town of Madison,” may be regarded as surplusage. The general allegation that the highway was situated in the town of Madison, and was duly and legally laid out and established, is sufficient to authorize the admission of evidence of its location by the county commissioners, or by that town, as the presiding justice ruled.

Nor do we think it was necessary to set forth the width of the highway in the indictment. It has not been usual, we think, to do this in this State, whatever may have been the practice in England. The length, direction and.termini of the highway are distinctly alleged in the indictment. The defendants were thus sufficiently informed what highway was meant. An additional allegation of the width of the highway was not necessary to enable them to prepare their defence. It was incumbent on the State to show that the defects alleged existed within the limits of the highway, whether its width was alleged in the indictment or not. Failing in this the prosecution could not be sustained. The objection interposed by the defendants upon this branch of the case may have been pertinent to the sufficiency, but not to the competency, of the evidence offered. There was, therefore, no error in overruling this objection, and admitting the record evidence, offered to show the location of the highway both by the town of Madison and the county commissioners.

The highway described in the indictment was legally located and established in the town of Madison, and it was the duty of that town to keep it “safe and convenient for travelers.” The jury have found that the town neglected to discharge this duty, and we see no reason why their verdict should not stand.

Exceptions overruled.

Appleton, C. J., Walton, Barrows, Danforts and Virgin, JJ., concurred.