Buchanan v. Baker
Buchanan v. Baker
Opinion of the Court
The record presents the question whether or not the provision of the statute authorizing* an appeal from the order of the trustees vacating a road is confined to a review of proceedings as upon a petition in error only, or authorizes an appeal in the general sense.
The section of Revised Statutes, which provides for the vacation of a township road, is a portion of chapter 3 of title VII. It is as follows: “Section 4683. When a township road becomes useless, any one or more residents of the township may, after giving the notice required in section 4672, petition the trustees to vacate such road, and if the trustees are satisfied that the proper notice has been given, and no injustice will be done thereby, they shall, at their next regular meeting, declare the same vacated, and give notice thereof
Chapter 4 embraces sections 4687 to 4714, inclusive, and is entitled “Appeals in Road Cases.” The sections prior to 4697 relate in terms to appeals from proceedings before county commissioners. Subsequent sections, including 4697, relate to appeals on the part of those who claim damages, but this section is the only portion of the chapter which appears to provide in terms for appeal from the decision of the trustees of a township in a case where neither damages nor compensation is claimed. Thatsectionisasfollows: “Section4697. An appeal to the probate court, from the final decision of the trustees of the township, on any petition or report for a road, shall be allowed, and the court may order another view of the road and assessment of damages or make any other order which may be just and reasonable in the case, if the appellant enter into bond to the state, for the use of the township, in the sum of one hundred dollars, with sufficient surety, to the acceptance of the township treasurer, within fifteen days from the date of the decision of the trustees, conditioned for the payment of all costs and expenses arising-from such appeal, if the road be established, and the assessment of compensation and damages be not increased, by the proceedings had in the probate court, which appeal shall be entered with the probate judge within six days from the filing- of the bond with the township treasurer.”
It will be noted that the right of appeal is here
We are not concerned to inquire whether its order reversing the order of the trustees was or not erroneous, for, if the appeal took up the case on its merits, as we hold it did, the action referred to becomes unimportant.
Other questions are argued, but it is not necessary to consider them.
It follows that in reversing the order and judgment of the probate court the circuit court erred.
The judgments of the circuit and common pleas courts will be reversed, and that of the probate corny affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.