Parrot v. Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad
Parrot v. Cincinnati, Hamilton & Dayton Railroad
Opinion of the Court
This is an action on the case brought by the plaintiff against the defendant to recover damages for an injury claimed to be sustained by the plaintiff from the act of the defendant in constructing a railroad on a street in the city of Dayton, and running its cars thereon. To the second count of the plaintiff’s declaration the defendant demurred, and the question is : Does that count show any cause of action in the plaintiff?
The count avers that the plaintiff at and before the time of corn-881] mitting the grievances therein mentioned, was, and *still is, possessed of a dwelling-house and premises on a lot in the town of Dayton, that the lot adjoins, on one side, Jefferson, and on the other, Sixth street, which are common and public highways, dedicated to a free and common use as public streets; that plaintiff and family reside in said house; that he ought to have and enjoy the benefit of the free, safe, and unobstructed -use of said streets, to go to and from his house on foot, and with horses, wagons, and carriages; that he ought to be permitted to enjoy peaceably and
The defendant, by the demurrer, admits all these facts to be true, but claims that if true, the plaintiff had no cause of action.
We are asked to look into the charter of the company, and from that charter to determine several important questions, among which are the following : Does the charter authorize *the company [332 to make a railroad into or through the city of Dayton, the language being from Cincinnati to Dayton ? If the company have the authority to make the road into, or through the city of Dayton, can the State of Ohio, or the municipal corporation of Dayton, or both, authorize the company to occupy the streets with their railroad, especially without compensation to the property holders in the city ? Wo think these, and several other questions made in the argument of counsel, do not arise on this demurrer. We do not know from this count in the declaration, that the railroad mentioned is a part of the Cincinnati and Dayton railroad, or that it is anything more than a railroad from one part of the town to another. All wo do know is that the plaintiff says the defendant unlawfully and intentionally committed the grievances mentioned in the second count, and the defendant admits the truth of the charge as stated. Now, although wo do take notice of the charter as a public law, still we
We intentionally avoid expressing any opinion upon any question not before us upon the record.
It is claimed that there is duplicity in this second count, but this is not urged in the argument, and if it was, we think that objection could not be sustained.
The demurrer is overruled
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Thomas Parrot v. The Cincinnati, Hamilton and Dayton Railroad Company
- Status
- Published