Galloway v. Bonesteel

Oole, O. J. This is an action of trespass. The facts upon which the question of law arises are briefly these: Before 1810 one Charles Johnson, the owner in fee of a lot in the city of Fond du Lac, erected a brick building on the south 45 feet and 10 inches of the same, abutting on Main street, which building was known as “ Opera Hall Block.” The first story of the building was divided into two stores; the north store, now owned by the defendant, being 20 feet and 10 inches wide, including the walls; the south store, owned by the plaintiffs, being 25 feet wide, and including a stairway at the extreme south end to a hall in the second story. This hall occupies the whole space or room above the stores, and was finished by Johnson as and for a hall for public meetings, entertainments, and amusements, and has been used, down to the commencement of the suit, for such purposes. The only entrance provided for reaching the hall is this stairway in the south store. The south store was conveyed by the representative of Charles Johnson to the plaintiffs’ remote grantors in 1873, without any express reservation in the deed of the right to use the stairway as a means of entrance to the hall. In 1875 the north store was conveyed to defendant. In the deeds “ an equal undivided one-half of all the fixtures, furniture, gas-pipe, meters and burners, scenery and stage machinery, and personal property belonging to or connected with Opera Hall,” was conveyed to the respective grantees. The trespass complained of is the entering upon and using the stairway at the south end of the plaintiff’s store, by the defendant, as a means of ingress and egress to the hall, which is owned by the parties in common. The controversy is as to the right of the defendant to [83] ■use the stairway for the purpose stated, under the circumstances. His counsel claims that he has that right, and he refers to the legal proposition laid down in Dillman v. Hoffman, 38 Wis. 559, in support of his position. That proposition is: “When one part of an estate is dependent of necessity for enjoyment on some use, in the nature of an easement, in another part, and the owner conveys either part, without express provision on the subject, all the authorities agree that the part so dependent, thence called the c dominant estate,’ carries or reserves with it an easement of such necessary use in the other part, thence called the ‘ servient estate.’ ” Page 5?2. In the above case the chief justice remarks that this rule has long been applied to implied reservations as well as implied grants; and he justly says in the opinion that there is great conflict of authority whether the rule as to an implied reservation, where the so-called dominant estate is retained by the grantor, is as liberal as it is in favor of an implied grant where such estate is conveyed. But without entering into any discussion of that question now, we think, upon the facts of this case, a reservation by implication to the defendant of the right to use the stairway as an entrance to the hall must be presumed to exist, so long as the hall shall be used, as it is at present, for a place for public meetings and entertainments. This right rests upon the ordinary principle of law of an easement of necessity for the enjoyment of the hall for that purpose. The reservation of such a right does not rest upon the ground of “ absolute physical necessity, but of reasonable necessity, as distinguished from mere convenience ; ” for the learned circuit court found that no other entrance from Main street to the hall could be built without destroying the front of the store below and the adaptability of the room above for public meetings. This finding is fully sustained by the evidence. The case therefore comes within the rule that “ when one. part of an estate is [84] dependent of necessity for enjoyment on some use, in the nature of an easement, in another part, and the owner conveys either part, without express provision on the subject, the part so dependent carries or reserves with it an easement of such necessary use in the other part.” Dillman v. Hoffman, supra; Jarstadt v. Smith, 51 Wis. 96. The evidence clearly shows that the hall was originally finished for a place of public meetings. The stairway was constructed as the only entrance to it before either of the stores was conveyed by the owner. This stairway was of course open and visible to the purchaser. Besides, the clause in the deed, in each chain of title to which we have referred, shows beyond all controversy that the understanding or expectation of the parties was that the hall should be used for public meetings and entertainments; for an undivided half of all fixtures, furniture, scenery, and stage machinery connected with the hall was conveyed to each grantee. This shows the intention of the parties; that they understood that the hall was to be used as a common hall for public meetings, and that the stairway was to afford a common entrance to it. Consequently, so long as the hall shall be used for.such purposes, the defendant has the right to the use of the stairway. A reservation of such a right will be implied under the circumstances. This view of the law is well supported by many cases cited by counsel, as well as others found in the books, and accords with reason and common justice; for it is obvious that the stairway, if not absolutely necessary, is reasonably necessary for the convenient enjoyment of the room as a hall. If any other entrance should be provided, it would materially alter the architectural design of the building, and almost destroy the advantages of the- hall for the purpose it was originally designed. The easement may be said to be one of necessity under the circumstances, and apparent to the purchaser when the south store was sold by the representative of the [85] original owner. An implied reservation mnst therefore be presumed. Tbe court below held that tbe defendant bas a right of way over tbe stairway leading to tbe ball. In that view we fully concur. But tbe court further held, as a conclusion of law, that tbe plaintiffs have no right to partition tbe ball by erecting a wall or partition so as to .divide tbe room and cut off tbe defendant’s store from tbe entrance. As to tbe correctness of this conclusion we shall express no opinion, for tbe sinjple reason that it'is not involved in tbe issues in tbe case. Tbe plaintiffs’ counsel strongly pressed us to pass upon tbe question whether bis clients have or have not the right of walling up tbe ball along tbe boundary line, through its center, thus destroying its use as a ball for public meetings. He says this question is distinct -and independent of that as to tbe right of way; that the defendant may well have tbe right of way, but no right to insist on tbe upper part of tbe building always being used as a public ball and to prevent a wall or other construction in it that would destroy it as a ball. But, as we have said, we shall express no opinion upon this point, but purposely leave it open for future consideration should tbe parties see fit to litigate it. We affirm tbe judgment dismissing tbe complaint, on the distinct ground that tbe defendant committed no trespass in using tbe stairway as an entrance to tbe ball. No other question is intended to be passed upon or decided. Tbe judgment of tbe circuit court, with this qualification, is affirmed. By the Goxvrt.— Ordered accordingly.