Inhabitants of Wayne & Fayette v. Commissioners of Kennebec
Inhabitants of Wayne & Fayette v. Commissioners of Kennebec
Opinion of the Court
— In the original proceedings there was an appeal taken from the decision of the County Commissioners, establishing the way referred to, under the provisions of c. 28, statute of 1847; to the District Court. A committee was appointed by said Court, which committee after due proceedings had, made a report affirming the doings of the Commissioners, establishing said way. This report was accepted by the District Court, and the judgment thereon certified to the County Commissioners. The duty of that board then became imperative. They must proceed to lay out the way according to the judgment of the appellate court.
There is no suggestion that the way thus established was not of common convenience and necessity. Upon the merits the parties were fully heard before two distinct tribunals, the County Commissioners, and the committee appointed by the District Court. The complaint now is, that in locating the way, the line indicated in the original petition was not followed, and therefore no jurisdiction was obtained by the Commissioners. The petitioners asked for a way to be located, “beginning in the village of North Wayne and passing up near the westerly margin of the pond lying north of said village, to near its upper end; thence near the westerly margin of the stream emptying into said pond, to the county road near Eayette mills.”
Between the termini of the route thus indicated, are, as appears from the diagram presented at the argument, two ponds; one being very small, and lying north of, and near to, North Wayne village; the other lying further north and being of much larger dimensions. The larger body of water, or pond, was obviously “ the pond” referred to in the petition.
The way, as located, commenced in North Wayne village and passed up on the easterly side of the small pond, and
We do not think there was such a departure in this case, from the route prayed for, as will authorize this Court, in the exercise of a discretionary power, to interfere for the purpose of ousting proceedings in which neither public nor private injury appears to have been sustained.
Petition dismissed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.