Kelsey v. Burgess

Barnard, P. J. The road in question was not proven to have been laid out and entered of record as a highway. The plaintiff proved a good title to the land over which the alleged road passed. The road had been used by the public more or less until April, 1889, when the plaintiff built a fence across both ends of the road, but conforming to his boundary lines. The defendant, acting under the direction of the commissioners of highways, removed the fence, which is the trespass alleged in the complaint. The defendant proved a certificate or order of the commissioners ascertaining and describing the road as a highway. The court held the certificate conclusive upon the plaintiff that the locus in quo was a highway, and dismissed the complaint. The 170 commissioners acted under 1 Rev. St. p. 501, subd. 3. This subdivision requires the commissioners to ascertain, describe, and enter of record, roads-which had been laid out, but not sufficiently described, and also roads used for 20 years, but not recorded. The certificate given in evidence did not purport to be based upon a record; nor upon an adjudication by the commissioners-that there had been a user of 20 years without record. The commissioners have not adjudicated upon either branch of the statute, but simply order the-road to be ascertained, and “that said road is hereby ascertained and described.” The certificate did not, therefore, furnish of itself any defense for the trespass. There is no appeal from this order of the commissioners. People v. Judges, 24 Wend. 491; Wiggins v. Tallmadge, 11 Barb. 457. If the road had been used 20 years as a public highway that will be a defense for the removal of the fence. The court refused the plaintiff the right to-prove that the same had not been used as a highway, and was not a public highway, either by.use or dedication. If the certificate had adjudicated the road to have been used for 20 years, it was not conclusive. The land-owner had the right to have the fact passed upon by a jury. Wiggins v. Tallmadge, 11 Barb. 457. The judgment and order refusing new trial should therefore-be reversed, and a new trial granted, costs to abide event.