Pearce v. Board of Trustees
Pearce v. Board of Trustees
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
The trustees of the town of Lancaster, by the provision of the town charter, have power to remove or cause to be removed any nuisance within the town, and, it seems, by virtue of that section of the act of incorporation, enacted an ordinance subjecting to a fine the owner of any unruly or dangerous animal who permits it to go at large in the town. Having enacted this law it was perhaps the duty of the town marshal to have removed the goats, if in possession of facts sufficient to convict them of being vicious and unruly animals, or if the owner knew of their bad habits he could be made to answer in damages. The personal knowledge that each trustee of the town may have had of the bad reputation of these mischievous animals imposed no greater obligation on them than to look to their own personal safety, and this they seem to have done. Having enacted the ordinance they had performed their duty, and the neglect, if any, by the officer intrusted with the duty of taking charge of the unruly animals, cannot be made the foundation of an action by which the town can be held to respond in damages. It is the duty of the town authorities to keep the streets in repair and to have all obstructions removed that impede travel, or are dangerous to those passing. The
The judgment sustaining the demurrer is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.