Ransom v. Boal
Cases that cite this one
5 later published cases cite this decision.
- Collis v. Board of Park Commissioners (Iowa 1949)
- Carson v. State (Iowa 1949)
- Little River Bank & Trust Co. v. Johnson (Fla. 1932)
- Peoria Tractor Corp. v. Mason (Iowa 1921)
- Crawford v. Mobile & Girard Railroad (Ga. 1881)
This list shows which later cases cite this one. It does not say how they treated it, and no review of that has been done. Not a substitute for Shepard’s or KeyCite — verify before relying.
Opinion of the Court
The only question presented by this record .for our determination is, whether a public square of a city is liable to sale on execution against the city for •its general indebtedness. The question is neither new nor difficult.
The cities of our state hold the titles to the streets, alleys and public squares in trust for the public; and, upon principle, such trust property can no more be sold to satisfy the debts of the city than can any other trust property be sold to satisfy the individual debts of any other trustee. The property so held by the city can only be used for the purposes to which it was dedicated. It cannot be sold to satisfy its debts. This was' directly so held in The City of Alton v. Illinois Trust Co., 12 Ill. 38. Nor can the legislature authorize an appropriation of the property to any other than the trust purposes. Warren v. Mayor of Lyons, 23 Iowa, 351, and authorities there cited. It is not a question of exemption from execution sale under the statute.
Affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.