Lamar v. McDaniel

Hall, Justice. This was a suit at the instance of the governor of the State of Georgia against Henry J. Lamar and his co-defendant, Bryan, brought to forfeit their control to the management of the reservation at the Indian Spring. It was instituted under a resolution of the General Assembly, approved September 23d, 1883. This resolution was based upon information conveyed by the report of the attorney-general of the State, that “the lessee or agent” of the State in charge of the Indian Spring reserve had violated [550] the law under which that reserve was put in his charge, by “subletting” the same; and that the “.sub-lessee,” had failed to perform the duty required by the act under which the original agent or lessee went into possession. The object of the suit, which was against the original agent and the party claiming possession under him, was to forfeit their claims and recover possession of the property for the State, or to rescind the agreement under which Lamar and his" transferee claimed the right in question. On the trial of the case, it was insisted that it was the duty of the defendants, the original agent and the party holding under him, to provide and keep open at all times and in reasonably good condition, roads or paths of ample width, admitting easy approach for the public to and from the spring to the public highway; and if it was necessary in order to provide this accommodation for the public, to construct bridges over the adjacent stream, then it was their duty to build and keep in safe condition such public paths o'r roads, of ample width and easy approach, to and from the spring to the public thoroughfare. And so the court charged the j ury, and refused to charge, on defendants’ written request, that Lamar was not bound to furnish bridges to the spring outside of the reserve; and further, that he was not bound to remove or ameliorate any dangerous places outside of the reserve. The court charged as above set forth, and refused to charge as requested. To this charge and refusal to charge, exception is taken in the 4th and 5th grounds of the motion for new trial. 1. We think that the charge as given and the refusal to charge as requested was error. Lamar held possession under a legislative act, approved 19th March, 1869, entitled an act to authorize improvements to be made on the reserve at the Indian Spring, to protect the same from trespass, and for other purposes therein mentioned. The preamble to the act recites that Lamar was in at the time of its passage, under a purchase from John G. Park, to whom the privilege had been granted by an act assented [551] to on the 30th of December, 1847; that Lamar was desirous of making, under certain conditions, other and additional improvements on the reserve, for the purpose of making the grounds more useful, attractive and pleasant, and the spring a more agreeable watering place. The first section of the act authorized him to construct and have made at his own expense such improvements, structures and enclosures as he might desire, upon the ten acres reserved and belonging to the State at and around Indian Spring, and to plant such trees, shrubbery or growth, to make such roads, promenades, walks, flower-gardens on such portions of ground as he might select as best adapted for the purpose; provided the free use of the water at the spring by any person should not be prevented; and the roads or paths of ample width, admitting an easy approach to and from the spring, should at all times be kept open for public use, and also a sufficient place immediately around the spring for the use and accommodation of visitors. The second section of the act granted to him, “his heirs and representatives,” the right and privilege of using the grounds on the reserve that had been or might be improved or embellished by him or them for and during the term of thirty years, and of repairing, adding to and keeping in order any such improvements as he or they during the said term might construct or have made thereon. The last proviso in the third section of the act declared that he should not be prevented from building ice-houses, summer-houses, buildings for hobby-horses, houses for plays or amusements not forbidden by law, sheds for the accommodation and amusement of visitors, houses for bakery, ice-cream, sweetmeats, and a bridge or bridges across the streams adjacent to the spring. A former proviso of this section prohibited the erection of a hotel or other similar building to be let for rent. The section declares that for the purpose of protecting said spring and reserve from trespass by persons intruding thereon and destroying timbers or otherwise, the said Henry J. [552] Lamar be, and he is hereby, appointed agent on behalf of the State to prevent the same; and that if he shall neglect or decline at any time properly to attend thereto, the governor, for the time being, shall appoint some other suitable person such agent, with authority for the full performance of such agency. This act licenses Lamar, his heirs and representatives, to make certain improvements, and to enjoy certain privileges, upon condition that he shall perform certain duties and render to the State such services as are therein specified. Among other things, it was his duty to keep open roads or paths on the reserve of ample width to admit an easy approach to and from the spring for the use and accommodation of the public. The terms of the act limit his power to make roads, promenades, walks, etc. to the ten acres reserved and belonging to the State at and around the spring, as also other buildings enumerated in the various sections of the act, together with a bridge or bridges across the stream adjacent to the spring. The erection of these bridges are privileges conferred, and not duties imposed. His obligations to the State in that respect were performed, if roads and bridges of ample width to afford an easy approach to and from the spring were at all times kept open for the public use on the reserve. He was not compelled, in our judgment, to go beyond the boundaries of the reserve to open and keep in repair the roads and paths between the boundaries and the public highway for the accommodation of those visiting the spring, nor was he under obligation to erect bridges across contiguous streams outside of the reserve to facilitate access to the spring. He had the privilege of doing this, and it was optional with him to exercise that privilege or to let it alone. So we think there was error in refusing to give the charge embodied in the fifth ground, and in giving that embodied in the fourth ground of the amended motion for a new trial. And on this ground alone we reverse the judgment. [553] 2. We think there was no error in refusing to continue this case, for the reason that the showing made for continuance was defective, in that it failed to state that the showing was not made for delay only, or that the defendants expected to have the benefit of the services of counsel, absent from sickness, at the next term of the court. The question as to the ruling about disclaimer of title need not now be considered, as there will be another hearing of the case, when it can be passed upon in all its aspects and bearings. Whether the governor can still exercise the right of removing Lamar from his agency and appointing another agent, or whether the transfer of possession and control by Lamar to Bryan is a violation of the contract, we do not determine. We see no objection to the legislature’s transferring this right of removal from the executive to the courts, and are of opinion that the latter question should be passed upon by the court and jury under the facts which may be developed on the trial. Judgment reversed.