Kelly v. Commonwealth
Kelly v. Commonwealth
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This is an indictment for a nuisance, in obstructing a highway in the county of Mifflin, by running a fence
The obstruction of a highway is an offence at common law, which the act of Jipril, 1802, did not extinguish, but inflicted an additional punishment, for a distinct offence, viz: for not removing the nuisance on notice from the supervisors. The erection of a fence, is one thing, and the not removing it, on notice, another. And it was for the punishment of the latter, that the act of assembly was made. But it is inconceivable, that it was intended to do away the offence of a nuisance, in all cases where the offender had not neglected to remove it, on notice; because'inconvenience might be experienced, from the running of fences, or falling of trees across a road, before the supervisors came to the knowledge of it, and in such cases, the offenders ought not to escape punishment, although they removed the nuisance on notice from the supervisors. It is the opinion of the court, that the offence at common law remains, and the punishment inflicted by the act of assembly is cumulative, or rather, it is a punishment for a different offence.
The judgment of the Court of Quarter Sessions is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.