People on rel. Hanrahan v. Board of Police

By the Court.*—Mullin, J. Before proceeding to examine the questions presented by the counsel for the respective parties, it becomes necessary to ascertain what the practice is in [155] cases of issues upon the return to an alternative mandamus, in order to determine whether, upon the papers before us, the relator can be heard as upon a motion for a peremptory writ, or upon a motion for a new trial by reason of errors committed on the trial. It is provided by 3 Rev. Stat., 5 ed., 898, § 15, that “ when a return shall be made to a writ of mandamus, the party prosecuting it may demur or plead to all or any of the material facts contained in the said return, to which the person making such return shall reply, take issue, or demur, and the like proceedings shall be had therein for the determination thereof, as might have been had if the person prosecuting such writ had brought his action on the case for a false return.” . Section 17 provides that, “ in case a verdict shall be found for the person suing such writ, or if judgment be given for him on demurrer or by default, he shall recover damages and costs, in like manner as he might have done in such action on the case as aforesaid, and a peremptory mandamus shall be granted to him without delay.” Section 471 of the Code of Procedure exempts proceedings on mandamus from the operation of the second part of the Code, and provides that “when an action shall be brought in consequence of such proceeding, such action shall be conducted in conformity to said act.” The trial of the issues in this case were conducted in conformity to the provisions of the Code, unless the form of the verdict is in violation of its provisions. The jury .find a general verdict in favor of the defendant. It is said that the jury should have found upon each of the issues separately, and that a general finding on them all was improper. A general verdict is defined by section 260 of the Code of Procedure, as follows: “ A general verdict is that by which the jury pronounce upon all or any of the issues, either in favor of the plaintiff or defendant. A special verdict is that by which the jury find the facts only, leaving the judgment to the court.” By section 261 it is declared that “ in every action for the recovery of money only, or specific real property, the jury, in their discretion, may render a general or special verdict. In all other cases, the court may direct the jury to find a special verdict in writing upon all or. any of the issues; and in all cases may instruct them, if they render a general verdict, to find upon [156] particular questions of fact to be stated in writing, and may-direct a finding thereon.” It follows from these provisions, first, that the jury had the right to render a general verdict in the case; and second, that the verdict rendered was a general one, and therefore regular. If we were to treat the issues in this case as feigned issues sent down for trial pursuant to section 71 of the Code, the general provisions above cited apply, and a general verdict may be rendered. Such a verdict upon such an issue is a finding in favor of the relator or the defendant, that each of the issues are found in favor of the party in whose behalf the general verdict is found. And there is no difficulty in giving effect to such a verdict. The decision in the case of Martin, decided at the last term, is not in conflict with the foregoing propositions. In that case the relator was nonsuited. The jury were not permitted to pass upon the issues of fact, and the relator was wholly deprived of the opportunity to satisfy the jury, and through them the court, that the matters on which the defendant relies as an excuse for not obeying the order of the court are not true. In this case both parties have been fully heard, and the jury, in the exercise of their discretion, have rendered a verdict on all the issues submitted. There is clearly no mistrial, nor is there any difficulty in giving effect to the verdict. We must treat the application to the special term, from whose decision this appeal is taken, as a motion on the verdict and proceedings for a peremptory writ. A motion for a new trial on the facts must be heard in the first instance at the special term, and cannot be made in the first instance in the general term. (Howard's Code, §§ 264, 265, and notes.) ISTo such motion has been made in this case, and of course no question arising on the facts can be heard here. It was competent for the judge, before whom the trial was had, to direct the exceptions taken on the trial to be heard in the first instance at the general term. That order was made, but in this case the relator has not presented any question arising on the exceptions. And we must, under these circumstances, treat this proceeding as an appeal from an order denying the relator’s motion for a peremptory mandamus. [157] We are now brought to the merits. Notwithstanding all the issues of fact have been found by the jury against the relator in this ease, he nevertheless insists that he is entitled to a peremptory writ. The defendants’ counsel insists in the first place, that the general term having held after argument, upon a motion to strike out the issues, that they should be submitted to the jury, is equivalent to a decision that if such issues should be found in favor of the defendants, they would be a legal bar to the writ. There is some force in this argument. Yet I am of the opinion the court does not, and, as a general rule, ought not to hold itself bound by such a decision, so that it is not at liberty to grant or refuse the writ as it shall deem just and proper on the coming in of the verdict upon the issues of fact. In case of a feigned issue, it would not be contended that the decision that such an issue be found, is binding on the court, so that if the verdict should be with the defendants, it was precluded from giving relief to the relator. I consider that this is a much stronger case for the application of the rule contended for than feigned issues, yet even in this case, the court when it denied the motion to strike out, did not mean to preclude itself from thereafter considering the question as to the force and effect of the findings on the issues of fact. We have been referred to the People a. Finger (24 Barb., 341), as a decision of this question. But it is expressly stated by Justice Harris, that this question had not been argued before him, and it was not necessary to a decision of the case. The opinion of the learned justice, although entitled to our highest respect, is not binding upon us, and we think the practice suggested by him would unnecessarily restrict the power of the court to afford parties relief in cases of mandamus. The issues tried in this case, and on which a verdict was found in favor of the defendants, were, I. Whether the relator had received or had any valid appointment, warrant, or authority, as a member of the police force. H. Whether the relator, upon the organization of the Board of Police under the act of 15th April, 1857, withdrew from the police force established by said act, and disclaimed holding office or doing duty as a member of the police force. HI. Whether the relator took office under the ordinance [158] passed by the Common Council set forth in the case, and acted under said ordinance until the 3d of July, 1857. IV. Whether the relator, since the passage of the act of April, 1857, for his private gain and profit, entered into other employments in no wise connected with, but inconsistent with his duties as a member of the police force, and received large profits therefor. All these issues, except the third, were in the case of Gorman, and found by the jury in favor of the defendants. This court having, at the, last term, held that these facts constitute no defence, we must hold in this case that, notwithstanding the finding of the issues in the defendants’ favor, a peremptory mandamus must issue. The finding of the third issue in this case in favor of the defendants, does not, in the opinion of a majority of the court, change the result, and we must, therefore, hold that the order appealed.from must be reversed and a peremptory mandamus issue. It is due to myself to say that my views, as to the force of the facts found, are not changed; but the question being decided by a majority of the court in the cases heretofore argued, I am bound to give effect to the law as thus settled. Let an order be entered that a peremptory mandamus issue. Footnotes [*] Present, Clerke, P. J., Mullin and Leonard, JJ.