Sale v. Pratt

Shaw C. J. delivered the opinion of the Court. It seems quite clear, in the present case, that the defendant had a right to appeal. It was trespass quare clausum before the Court of Common Pleas, and two several pleas were filed, alleging a right of way and a right to take sea-weed, in the-Zooms in quo. The cause was tried in the Court of Common Pleas, and either party had a general right of appeal from the judgment. Blood v. Kemp, 4 Pick. 169. Still the question recurs whether, having a right of appeal, the defendant did not waive it by filing exceptions in matters of law, pursuant to the statute. If the case was rightly brought up on exceptions, then dismissing the exceptions would not reinstate the cause in the Court of Common Pleas, so as to enable the defendant to appeal. That was done in the case of Ely v. Ball, 8 Pick. 352; but it was on the ground, that the exceptions had been improperly taken to an interlocutory order, no final judgment was entered in the action, and notwithstanding the exceptions, the cause was still pending in the Court of Common Pleas. Then the question depends on this ; whether a party having a right of appeal, may legally waive it, and allege exceptions to the decisions of the Court of Common Pleas in matters of law, and upon their allowance enter his action in this Court to be heard on the exceptions. It depends upon the construction of the St. 1820, c. 79. The 4th section gives the right of appeal. The 5th section provides, that it shall be lawful for any person — 194 — aggrieved by any opinion, direction or judgment of the Court of Common Pleas, in any matter of law, to allege exceptions to the same, which being reduced to writing, &c. and found conformable to the truth, shall be allowed and signed by the judge of that court. It then provides, that further proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas shall be stayed, the action shall be entered in the Supreme Judicial Court, &c. as in case of appeal, and the Supreme Judicial Court shall have cognizance thereof, and consider and determine the same action, in the same manner as where questions of law are reserved at trials at nisi prius in the same court, and may render judgment, and issue execution or grant a new trial, as law and justice shall require. It is very obvious, that when the exceptions are rightfully taken, and the cause rightfully brought up, it must suspend the right of appeal. It is a substitute for it, or rather a peculiar mode of appeal, and inconsistent with the right of appeal in common form. There is certainly nothing in the terms of the statute, which renders the right to file exceptions conditional, or dependent upon the fact, that the party has not a general right of appeal; and there is nothing from which such a restriction can be implied. Nor are we aware that there is any thing in the nature of the subject, which can lead to a belief, that the legislature intended any such restriction. A party may justly believe, that his case depends mainly upon questions of law, though the position of the cause is not such as to present them on demurrer. They may however be easily placed on the record in the form of ex ceptions. With these he may go at once to the Supreme Judicial Court, unincumbered with other questions in controversy, depending perhaps upon controverted facts, difficult of proof, though, in his opinion, capable of proof, with considerable difficulty and expense. The questions of law, embracing the merits of the case, are thus presented early and distinctly. If they are settled in his favor, he either has judgment, if the case is so situated as to admit of it, or he proceeds to a full tuai in this Court, with the benefit of the law settled in his favor. If the law is decided against him, it goes to the merits, it finishes the cause, without further delay or expense, and is much more — 195 — Beneficial to him, than to have the same decision in matter of law, after a long litigation. This case is quite distinguishable from that of a writ of error. In Champion v. Brooks, 9 Mass. R. 228, it was held, that a'writ of error would not lie, in a case where the plaintiff in error had had a general right of appeal, and had declined taking it. That decision was before the statute now under consideration, and the reasons, on which the decision was founded, do not apply to the case of bringing up a cause by exceptions, under the statute. One principal reason assigned was, that upon a writ of error, the Court can only affirm or reverse a judgment, and that in many cases where errors exist in the record, if brought up by appeal, amendments might be allowed in the declaration and other pleadings, new issues might be joined and tried, and errors in the first judgment corrected ; whereas on a writ of error all this useful discretionary power would be unavailing, and the only power of this Court would be to reverse the judgment. Another reason there assigned was, that where an appeal lay, the Court was not obliged to allow a bill of exceptions. But by the statute since passed, it is expressly declared to be the right of the party, to file exceptions, and it is made the duty of the presiding judge to allow and sign them. But the other, and by far the most important reason also fails. On a writ of error, if there be any error in the judgment the court of error can only reverse the judgment in whole or in part. But on exceptions allowed, and the cause brought up under the statute, if the exceptions are sustained, and the judgment found to be erroneous, the judgment is not merely reversed, but the parties then may have a new trial in this Court, with all the benefits of amendment and other proceedings as if the cause were brought up in the ordinary course of appeal. The judicial decisions do not throw much light upon the construction of this statute. The case mainly relied upon-,' by the defendant, was that of Piper v. Willard, 10 Pick. 34. The judgment there passed without opposition, and without inquiry ; and it seemed to be taken for granted, that if an appeal lay, exceptions could not be filed ; and the only case cited was that of Richards v. Allen, 8 Pick. 405. In the casé of Piper v. Willard, the trustee had filed exceptions, instead of — 196 — appealing. The case of Richards v. Allen established the point, that in such case the trustee might appeal, and nothing more. The point now under consideration, was not made the subject of inquiry. June 28th. In Purple v. Clark, 5 Pick. 206, it was decided, that since the statute of 1820, which gives a right of appeal in personal actions, only where. an issue has been joined, when an order has been passed by the Court of Common Pleas, dismissing an action .for want of an indorser, the plaintiff has no right of appeal ; but it was also decided, that this order was a direction in matter of law, to which he might have alleged exceptions, and thus brought the action up to this Court. It was also decided, that these two provisions, for allowing appeals, and for alleging exceptions, having embraced the whole subject matter of appeals, as allowed by the old statute of 1782, had, by implication, reapealed that statute, so that the whole matter of the right of appeal depended on the terms and the construction of the statute of 1820, the clause in relation to alleging exceptions. The Court, remarking upon this statute, say it was in tended to cover all cases, which should be determined by the Court of Common Pleas, in which,- for any cause, there was no right of appeal, or where the party alleging exceptions might choose to waive his right of appeal, and rest his case solely on the matter of law, decided against him. This implies very clearly, that he has his election. It is not very strong, as an authority, but it shows how the statute was then considered by an eminent judge. On the whole the Court are of opinion, that an option is given to a party, to allege exceptions, and bring his case to this'Cóurt- for adjudication on the matters of law, although he had -at the same time a right of appeal which he might have taken if he had preferred so to do. The case is rightly before the. Court and cannot be dismissed for want of jurisdiction, as moved-for. - - After this decision the case was argued upon the exceptions. -'S-haw-C.'J. At the trial, the defendant, to support his plea of a grant, relied upon proving, that the inhabitants of Chelsea had long been used to take sea-weed from the beach, and ex — 197 — pected to show from the length of time and the extent of this usage, that it would support the plea of a lost grant; and several persons, inhabitants of the town, were offered as witnesses, who were rejected. Without deciding, whether the inhabitants of Chelsea were incompetent on the ground of interest, the Court are of opinion, that the evidence was rightly rejected, on the ground that it had no tendency to prove the issue tendered by the defendant. The evidence offered was, the testimony of witnesses to prove that sundry inhabitants of Chelsea had, from a very early period, been used to take seaweed from this beach, to enrich and fertilize their lands. The grant pleaded was, of a right and privilege to the town of Chelsea, as an ancient corporation, to the use of all the inhabitants thereof, to take sea-weed ; and this was the fact to be proved. Now however strongly the fact, that certain individuals, however numerous, had been in the habit of taking sea-weed from this beach for their own use, might tend to show a grant to themselves, or their ancestors, either as a personal privilege or as a privilege to them in right of their being owners and occupiers of particular estates, it would have no tendency to prove a grant to the town as a corporation. This evidence therefore was rightly rejected. The other point is one of great interest and importance to those who own estates upon the sea-shore ; but we think it was settled by the case of Barker v. Bates, 13 Pick. 255. The exception to the instruction of the judge of the Court of Common Pleas is founded upon the supposition, that the right of property of one bounding upon the sea or salt water to low water mark, if not over one hundred rods, where the tide ebbs and flows, is limited to lands lying upon creeks, coves and arms of the sea, and does not apply to places bounding on the open sea. But the Court are of opinion, that as well by the terms of the Old Colony ordinance, as by the ancient usage and practice of the Colony, Province and State, the right of property to low water mark, or one hundred rods, extends to all places where the tide ebbs and flows, including as well the shores of the open sea, as those of creeks and coves. The language of the Old Colony ordinance is, in all creeks, coves and other places, about and upon salt water, where the sea ebbs — 198 — aud flows. The object was to fix and establish a great principle, changing, to some extent, the ancient law of the realm in this respect ; and all the reasons, which apply to creeks and coves, apply to the shores of the sea ; the words are broad enough to include them ; and this, we think, is supported by ancient usage. Exceptions overruled and judgment of Court of Common Pleas affirmed.