Jenne v. Piper
Jenne v. Piper
Opinion of the Court
On the trial, the plaintiff conceded that the defendant had a right of way of necessity across the premises, where the alleged trespass was committed. This concession relieved the defendant from the necessity of pleading it. He need not plead what he need not prove. He had no occasion to prove that he had a right of way across the premises when the plaintiff conceded that he had. The court had no occasion to admit, and admitted no testimony to establish that the defendant had such a right of way. The exceptions do not raise the point made by the counsel for the plaintiff that a right of way, or license must be specially pleaded when relied upon by the defendant to justify the alleged trespass. Such plea is only necessary when the defendant has to establish such a right of way; or license, by proof, to make out a justification. The exceptions show that no proof was offered by the defendant to establish that he had a right of way across the premises, but that the fact that he had it was conceded by the plaintiff. There is no foundation for the contention that there was error because the defendant must have pleaded a right of way, or license, to justify his walking across the plaintiff’s premises. The plaintiff conceded that he had that right. The only contention on the trial, made by the testimony offered, was with reference to the location of the defendant’s right of way. Where one has a right of way of necessity across premises owned or occupied by another, unless he waives it, the other has the right to fix the location of the way, provided it is reasonably convenient for the use of the one having it. The testimony of both parties, so far as shown by the exceptions, was to the point that the plaintiff had exercised this right, and located the right of way. The plaintiff’s testimony tended to show that he had located it on the east side of the tenement house, and the defendant’s testimony tended to show that the plaintiff had located it on the west side of the tenement house. This same way would accommodate other lots owned by the plaintiff’s wife
The court properly refused to allow the plaintiffs wife to testify. She could only do so in matters in which she acted in the premises, as the agent of the plaintiff. In offering her to testify in his behalf, the plaintiff did not offer to show that he ever authorized her to act in the matter for him, or ever recognized her as his agent in that matter. Being incompetent on the ground of public policy because of the marital relations existing between her and the plaintiff, except when she acted as his agent, the agency must first be shown to render her competent to testify in his behalf.
Judgment affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- H. N. Jenne v. S. H. Piper
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published