State v. Inhabitants of Madison , 59 Me. 538 ( 1871 )

Danforth, J.

This is an indictment for not repairing a highway therein described. It appears that in 1827, the legislature granted a charter for a toll-bridge “across the Kennebec river, between Anson and Madison,” and in 1828 and 1829 the bridge was built, in pursuance of said charter, from the Anson shore to an island. On the easterly side of this island is a channel of water claimed by defendants to be a part of the Kennebec river; but this is denied by the government. This question was submitted to the jury, and by a special verdict they have found that this easterly ■channel, at the time the charter was granted, was, and ever since has been, a part of the Kennebec river. No motion to set aside .this verdict has been filed, no exceptions to the ruling of the presiding judge, or requests for further or different instructions. Therefore the verdict, as far as it goes, is conclusive. Its effect upon the result is an open question. We are also satisfied from the report of the case that the island is within the town of Madison. When the bridge .was built under the charter, there was no way across the island and no bridge across the eastern channel sufficient to accommodate the public travel. The proprietors of the toll-bridge, claiming that they had fulfilled the obligations of their charter in building to the island, continued a way across the island, and built a better bridge over the eastern channel for the sole purpose, as they allege, of opening their bridge to the public travel and thereby making it effectual. In 1844, the treasurer of the bridge corporation, and others, petitioned for a town -way across the island ,and channel, which, on appeal to the county commissioners, was established as a town road in 1845. In 1846, on petition therefor, the county commissioners located a highway over the town way and corresponding thereto, and to tbe way originally built by the bridge proprietors, and continued the same “ through Madison and a part of Cornville and Skowhegan, as prayed for.” That part of the road thus located, which extends from the end of the larger bridge across the island and eastern channel, is the highway described in the indictment. The insufficiency of the bridge is admitted but the way is denied. The legal existence of this highway is the only question involved. Several objections are made in defense.

A want of authority on the part of the county commissioners is the first objection relied upon. This objection rests upon the allegation that it is an interference with the chartered rights of the bridge company. It may admit, perhaps, of a serious question whether this way is located within the limits of the bridge charter. Whether the language of the charter, authorizing a bridge “ across the Kennebec river, between the towns of Anson and Madison,” is not fully complied with, when the bridge is built from the Anson to the Madison shore, across that part of the Kennebec lying between the two towns. But it is unnecessary to decide this question. If the bridge company have rights under their charter they may waive them. That they have waived any such rights is sufficiently proved, if proof were necessary, from the facts found in the report, that the first way was located, in part at least, through the instrumentality of the treasurer of the corporation, and the same corporation caused this indictment and are now_ doing what they can to secure its prosecution to final judgment.

Another equally valid answer to this objection to the jurisdiction of the commissioners is, that it is not open to the defendant town. None can interpose a franchise except those who have rights under it. If the corporation does not choose to set it up, no others can. In this case it is not in a position to do so, as it is not legally a party, nor does it have any occasion to do so, as no party is claiming any rights belonging to the company. But it is said the charter imposes burdens as well as confers rights, and that these burdens cannot be waived or surrendered to the town. This may be and undoubtedly is so. But it is a question of jurisdiction Ave are discussing, and it is the rights of other parties that interfere with jurisdiction, and not their liabilities. If relieving parties from burdens, or changing them to others, prevented the exercise of legal ■authority, it is difficult to perceive how the commissioners could be sure of a right to act in any case. Perhaps in every location of a way, some one is relieved of a burden, and certain it is, liabilities are imposed which did not before exist. When a private way is made public, the burden of repairs is changed, and no reason is perceived why a toll-bridge, either in part or in 'whole, may not by the commissioners be converted into a highway, where the rights of those interested under the charter are not interposed, and the only objection made is that it throws the burden of repairs upon other persons or bodies. But in this case we cannot adjudicate upon the liabilities of the bridge corporation. They are not a party in any such sense as will make a judgment binding upon them. If the town or any other party claims that the bridge corporation are liable to repair, when that claim is presented, in the proper form, it can be adjudicated upon. But the only question now before the court is as to the liability of the town. If there is a legally established, highway there, the public have a right to have it in such a state of repair as to be “safe and convenient for travelers.” It may be that both the town and the bridge corporation are liable to repair; if so, the town may have a remedy in some other process. We are only to ascertain its liability under this, and we see no objection to it on the ground of a want .of authority on the part of the commissioners to lay out the road. Commonwealth v. Petersham, 4 Pick. 119.

Another objection urged is, that the highway in question was discontinued by operation of law, not having been opened within six years from the time allowed. By a decision of this court this objection was held valid so far as it relates to that part of the location which lies in Cornville. State v. Inhabitants of Cornville, 43 Maine, 427.

This decision, however, does not refer to any part of the way outside of that town. The case finds that the highway in Madison, including that part described in tlie indictment, “ was laid out chiefly over town roads, that had long been traveled as such.” The road in question was included in the limits of one of the highway surveyors of Madison, as early as the spring of 1840, and was then opened and traveled. This presents the question whether the opening of a specific part of a highway, within six years from the time allowed, prevents the discontinuance of that part, when another portion of the same location has not been opened and is discontinued.

In Baker v. Runnels, 12 Maine, 237, Weston, C. J., says, “ It may be presumed that this long neglect on the part of the town, without complaint, is full evidence that such road was not required by the public convenience, notwithstanding the adjudication of the court.” In Harkness v. Waldo County Commissioners, 26 Maine, 353, it was held that “ the county commissioners by adjudging that the way prayed for is of common convenience and necessity, adjudge each portion of it to be so.”

It follows that so much of the road as has been opened lias been adjudged to be of common convenience and necessity. This is confirmed by its being opened and traveled, and is not disproved by the fact that another part of the same location has not been opened. The way in question, then, is not within the reason and spirit of the statute. Nor does it necessarily come within a fair construction of its language.

By R. S. 1841, c. 25, § 42, in force when this way was located, “ Any highway . . . laid out by the county commissioners, and not opened within six years from the time allowed . . . shall be deemed discontinued.” This language has not been materially changed in the subsequent revisions. The commissioners are authorized to lay out a highway within the limits of one town. They may locate a portion of a road petitioned for, and when so located, it is as much a road and a whole road as though all the prayer of the petition had been granted. So the way in question, when located and opened, was a road and not a part of one, and there would seem to be as much propriety, if the parts cannot be separated, in saying that the whole was opened and not discontinued, as in saying that the whole road Avas not opened and ivas discontinued. A fair construction of the statute requires that such parts of a location as hare been opened and traveled so as to be properly called a road or highway, should not be deemed discontinued. This view is confirmed by the fact that the statute does not make void the location. That is still valid, and this provision is only one form of discontinuing a way no longer needed. Why may not a portion of the location be discontinued- in this manner as well as in other prescribed modes.

Another objection raised is an error in the records of the commissioners. It does appear that the return of the doings of the commissioners was not recorded as early as it should have been. In Cornville v. County Commissioners, 33 Maine, 237, this was held to be a fatal error when presented by a proper process. But it has become well settled that the records of the county commissioners cannot be impeached collaterally, and must be considered binding until quashed by certiorari. It is, however, claimed that this record has been quashed, and for proof certified copies of the records of this court from Somerset county have been annexed to the argument of the counsel for defendant. This is not properly a part of the case, but no objection is made to its admission by opposing counsel, while it is contended that it does not show that the record has been quashed. On examination, it appears that the court granted a writ of certiorari, while it does not appear that the writ did or did not issue. This would seem to be necessary before the defective record could be legally quashed. Still the counsel asserts, unqualifiedly, that the record has been quashed. We are not willing to believe that any counsellor of this court would make such an assertion without at least good grounds for believing it true. We therefore think, as it may be vital to his case, he should have an opportunity to show it.

On the other hand, the counsel for the prosecution claims that the town having repaired the way in question for more than twenty years, under this record, it is now bound by prescription to repair, and hence is liable to this indictment. This point was not only not raised at the trial, but the report shows that it was disclaimed by counsel. This, too, may be vital to the case, but we cannot consider this point certainly until the other side has an opportunity to be heard upon it. The report should, therefore, be discharged, and the case stand for trial upon these last two points.

Report discharged.

Appleton, C. J.; WaltoN, Dickerson, and Tapley, JJ., concurred.