Incorporation of Narberth
Incorporation of Narberth
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
It is rightly conceded by the appellants that “ the general inexpediency of incorporation ”—alleged to have been shown by depositions taken for and against the same but not brought up with the record—is not a proper subject for consideration on this appeal. It is claimed, however, that the record proper presents such errors as justify the interposition of this court and require a reversal of the decree.
The first section of the act of April 1, 1834, P. L. 163, in connection with its supplements, empowers the several courts of quarter sessions, by and with the concurrence of the grand
The act of April 1, 1863, provides that if “ the boundaries fixed by the petitioners shall embrace lands exclusively used for the purposes of farming, and not properly belonging to the town or village,” the proper court shall have power, at the request of the party aggrieved, “ to change and modify such boundaries so as to exclude ” such lauds therefrom. In this ease, the power thus conferred was invoked and was properly exercised by the court below.
It thus appears that the questions of compliance with the prescribed conditions, and the propriety of granting the prayer of the petitioners, etc., together with all questions of fact pertaining thereto or relating to the situation of the territory included within the limits of the proposed borough, etc., are committed to the arbitrament of the grand jury, who after a full investigation of the case are required to report their eonelusions to the quarter sessions. That court in its revision of the judgment of the grand jury is clothed with large discretionary power. It is clearly the province of the grand jury,— subject to the revisional authority and discretionary power of the quarter sessions in the premises,—to determine all ques
The first eight specifications of error are to the refusal of the court below to sustain appellants’ exceptions to the findings of the grand jury, recited therein respectively. The questions of fact involved in these exceptions must have been considered by the grand jury and determined by them in favor of the appellees. They were afterwards reviewed by the court and the findings of the grand jury were confirmed. As to all questions of fact, necessarily involved therein, this confirmation was evidently intended to be conclusive; and there is nothing in the record to make this case an exception to the general rule. If the action of the court in dismissing the exceptions needs any vindication, it will be found in the opinions sent up with the record. In his supplementary opinion, the learned president of the quarter sessions, referring to the eighth exception, says : “ The owners of property along the line of the turnpike may prefer a change or modification of the boundaries that will exclude them from the borough but we cannot see our way clear to
Decree affirmed and appeal dismissed with costs to he paid by appellants ; and it is further ordered that tbe record be remitted for such further proceedings as may be necessary to carry the decree into effect:
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Incorporation of The Borough of Narberth. Appeal of J. Pemberton Ellis and Others
- Cited By
- 8 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Borough.—Incorporation—Depositions—Record—Appeal. The general expediency oí incorporation shown by depositions for and against the same, but not brought up with the record, is not a proper subject for consideration on appeal to the Supreme Court. Boroughs — Incorporation—Grand jury—Acts of April 1, 1834, and April 1, 1863. Under the acts of April 1, 1834, P. L. 163, and April 1, 1863, P. L. 63, it is the province of the grand jury, subject to the revisional authority and discretionary power of the court of quarter sessions as to the exclusion of farm lauds, to determine all questions of fact and expediency that are necessary to a valid decree of incorporation of a borough. Boroughs—Incorporation—Review of decree by Supreme Court—Practice, S. C. The Supreme Court will not disturb a decree incorporating a borough, unless illegality in the proceedings is made manifest by the record, or abuse of discretion on the part of the court below is distinctly charged and clearly established. The Supreme Court will not reverse a decree incorporating a borough because on every side of the borough, except one, the whole width of bounding roads was included within the borough, while the remaining side bounded by a turnpike did not include the turnpike road.