Common'h v. New York Etc. R.

Supreme Court of Pennsylvania
Common'h v. New York Etc. R., 139 Pa. 457 (Pa. 1891)
Clark, Ett, Green, McCollum, Mitchell, Paxson, Steeeett, Sterj, Their, Williams

Common'h v. New York Etc. R.

Opinion of the Court

OPINION,

Me. Chief Justice Paxson :

This was a re-argument. When the case was first heard, a majority of the court were of the opinion that the question whether the manner in which the lands in controversy were held was a device to evade the act of April 26,1855, P. L. 329, should be passed upon by a jury. The judgment was accordingly reversed and the record sent down upon this single point: Commonwealth v. Railroad Co., 114 Pa. 340. In the meantime, another case between the same parties and involving precisely the same question, came up from Elk county. Upon a very careful consideration of it we came to the conclusion that we had erred in sending it to a jury, for the reason that the facts were all admitted, and it was for the court to pass upon their legal effect. All this fully appears in the opinion filed in that case: Commonwealth v. Railroad Co., 132 Pa. 591.

The judgment in the last case was for the defendants below, and was affirmed. We then ordered a re-argument of the case from Jefferson county, and it was heard at the present term of the court in the Eastern District. After a further consideration of the question, and the additional light furnished by *460the re-argument,, we adhere to the views expressed in Commonwealth v. Railroad Co., 132 Pa. 591. As the principles involved were fully discussed in that opinion, we do not think it necessary to go over the ground again. Everything was then said that we deemed essential, and further elaboration would be but repetition, and that is neither desirable nor profitable.

Judgment affirmed.

Mr. Justice Sterj&ett and Mr. Justice Clark. noted their dissent.

Reference

Full Case Name
COMMON'H v. NEW YORK ETC. R. CO.
Status
Published
Syllabus
1. The fact that a foreign railroad company, having no license to hold lands in Pennsylvania, is the owner of the entire capital stock of a mining company, incorporated in this state and authorized to hold lands, does not render liable to escheat lands held by the mining company to which the railroad company has neither legal nor equitable title. 2. Such a holding of stock, being-authorized by law, cannot constitute a “ device ” within the meaning of § 5, act of April 26, 1855, P. L. 329, prohibiting the holding of lands by certain corporations in violation of the provisions of said act: Commonwealth v. Railroad Co., 114 Pa. 340, reversed; Commonwealth v. Railroad Co., 132 Pa. 591, re-affirmed and applied.