Gray v. Sheldon

[403] The opinion of the court was delivered by Redfield, J. The decision of this question depends upon the construction the court give to the statute authorizing the subdivision of towns into school districts. Towns are required to “ define and determine the limits of such school districts.” And a description of the same, and any alteration made therein, is required to be recorded in the town clerk’s office. From the language of this statute, it cannot be doubted the legislature intended that school districts should be defined by geographical limits; — otherwise, it would not amount to a subdivision of the town. If it were attempted to describe school districts by the names of the inhabitants, and as is frequently the case, the same person owned real estate in different sections of the town, it must lead to endless uncertainty and confusion. We believe such has been the contemporaneous construction of the earlier statutes upon this subject, which contained similar provisions. We are not aware that any different practical construction of the act to any considerable extent has obtained.— And as the contrary doctrine must leave the limits of school districts to be determined by oral testimony, we are not inclined to adopt it. After the subdivision of a town into school districts, and years of acquiscence, the division should be held sufficient, notwithstanding any formality in the vote or record. But when school districts have been long established within known boundaries, every reason would seem to require that those boundaries should not be changed except in conformity with the existing laws. The same rule of construction has been adopted in some of the neighboring states in relation to similar statutes. — 7 Pick. 106 — 13 do. 206 — 4 N. H. R. 478. The same doctrine was held by this court in the case of Dow vs. Smith, 7 Vt. R. 465, in relation to the mode of setting out the limits of a village. Whether the action should have been trespass or case, it is not necessary to be here decided. It is very certain that trespass is the most usual remedy, and by far the most appropriate form of action. For the abuse of legal process, case will lie ; but for any act. done under void process, the appropriate remedy is trespass. If this plaintiff had not been liable to taxation in district No. 14, the whole proceeding would have been coram nonjudice. But as wTe hold he was liable to be there taxed, the form of action is not material. The judgment of the county court is therefore reversed, and the plaintiff become non suit.