Louisville & Nashville R. R. v. Faulkner
Louisville & Nashville R. R. v. Faulkner
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the Court.
Faulkner sued the plaintiff in error, in tresspass on the case, and recovered $200 damages. The injury charged is for entering upon the grounds of which he ivas renter for the year, for the construction of the road, and destroying his vegetables, houses, fences, &c.
The owner of the freehold can only proceed under the charter, and not by any other mode. But a termer is not embraced by the charter, and perhaps has no redress against a corporation of this description, for any injury he may sustain by the rightful entry upon his possessions, and necessary occupation of the same for the purposes of the charter.
The right of the State to appropriate private property to public use, is communicated to these corporations, and they may, in its rightful exercise, enter upon the lands of others in the construction of their roads, lawfully, and without liability as trespassers. So it could have entered upon Faulkner with impunity, unless by contract that right was lost. It was certainly competent for this artificial person to bind itself, by contract, as well as any other person. Its acknowledged right to enter upon this land, could be waived or postponed by contract. And in the present case this was done. The corporation bought of Anderson, and as a stipulation in that written contract, Faulkner was to retain the pos
It was no defence to show that the title was out of Anderson, and in Maxey, or any one else. It was enough to show that Anderson had the possession, rightfully, by his tenant, and that the defendant acknowledged his right and contracted with him for it making the reservation stated, in favor of the plaintiff.
There is no error, and the judgment is affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Louisville and Nashville R. R. Co. v. James F. Faulkner
- Status
- Published