People ex rel. Higgins v. McAdam

Beach, J. Whether or not the relator has taken the proper remedy by this proceeding is the principal question presented for consideration. It is one of much difficulty arising from the indistinct boundary line between the unwarranted assumption of jurisdiction by an inferior tribunal and the decision of those matters involved in the proceedings over which the tribunal, confessedly, has jurisdiction. The former falls within the province of the writ of prohibition; the latter, if erroneous, is to be corrected on appeal. It is, in my opinion, this distinction which is established by numerous adjudications (3d Black. Com., 112; Appo agt. The People, 20 N. Y. R., 531; Thompson agt. Tracy, 60 N. Y. R., 31; The People ex rel. Wheeler agt. Cooper, Mayor, &c., 57 How., 416.) In The People agt. Russell (49 Barb., 351) the learned justice who made the decision entertained the opinion that [444] jurisdiction was “ settled by the nature of the proceeding.” I am forced, with great respect, to differ from that statement. If correct it would be difficult to imagine any case where an inferior court having general jurisdiction of the subject under certain conditions would become amenable to the writ, although the admitted facts in the case should show it not to be within those conditions. The answer would always be conclusive, in such view, that the remedy was by appeal. The learned judge writing the opinion in Appo agt. The People (supra) says: “ The necessity for the writ is the same where, in a matter of which the tribunal' has jurisdiction, it goes beyond its legitimate powers.” The distinction is again apparent in Thompson agt. Tracy (supra). The learned judge speaking of the province of the writ says: “ It cannot be made a drag net, by means of which all controverted and litigated questions between individual suitors may be brought into court and tried and determined.” This language surely does not include a case where the conceded facts would show a want of jurisdiction. In summary proceedings the allegation of payment is a defense to the landlord’s claim, and no one could suppose that, upon the concession of the fact, this court would issue the writ, for the disposition of that question is one of the needful attributes of the tribunal authorized to try the issue between the landlord and tenant. This, to my mind, is far different where the admitted facts take the litigation without the operation of the statute and, consequently, without the- jurisdiction of the court. In my opinion the case at bar belongs to the latter description. The demurrer to the return is sustained and the writ made absolute.