Christy v. Whitmore

Seeyers, J. In addition to the usual formal allegations, the petition states that the plaintiff and one Johnson were the owners of certain described real estate situated in Bonaparte township, in Yan Burén county; that, said township [61] being-in need of additional grounds for public burial purposes, tbe plaintiff and Johnson sold and conveyed to the trustees of said township, and their successors in office, the described real estate, for the purpose of a public cemetery, and for no other purpose; that said real estate was needed and was suitable and proper for such purpose, and adjoined the town of Bonaparte, and was valuable for building purposes, and was worth more than the price received therefor, and would not have been sold at the price received except for such public purpose, in which the plaintiff was interested on account of other property interests, and in securing a fit and .proper burial place for the dead; that the plaintiff is a taxpayer in said township, and the property was paid for with public money; that defendants have refused, although so requested, to allow the real estate so purchased to be used for .the purpose aforesaid. Wherefore a peremptory writ of mandamus was asked to compel the defendants to permit the said real estate to be used for the purpose aforesaid. The defendants answered the petition, and admitted that the trustees of said township proceeded to lay off the real estate into burial lots, for the purpose of disposing of the same as a cemetery, but that they were enjoined from so using it. And they further allege, for certain stated reasons, that the ground is not suitable for the said purpose. They deny that plaintiff has any such interest in the subject-matter as to entitle him to maintain the action, and say that they are invested with discretion in the premises, which cannot be controlled. No lots have been sold by the defendants for burial purposes and the real estate has not been used as a cemetery, and the defendants do not propose to use it for such purpose. The statute provides that “ the township trustees are hereby empowered to condemn or purchase, and pay for out of the general fund, and enter upon and take, any lands within the territorial limits of such township for the use of cemeteries. * ’ * * They shall have the power to control any such cemeteries, or appoint trustees for the same, or sell it to [62] any private corportion for cemetery purposes.” Sections 3 and 4, Olrap. 130, Acts Sixteenth General Assembly, (McClain’s statutes, 96.) . - It is further provided by the statute that where a duty is enjoined on a public officer, he may be compelled to perform such.duty by mandamus; but where such officer or tribunal is invested with a discretion, their discretion cannot be controlled. Code, § 3373. It is insisted that the land in question must be used for a cemetery, unless the evidence establishes that to so use it would create a nuisance. But we do not think this is the controlling consideration, but that, of necessity, the defendants must be invested with a discretion to so use it or not. If they become satisfied that the ground is unsuitable or inconvenient, they cannot be compelled to allow it to be so used. Until the ground has been actually so used, and deceased persons have been buried therein, the trustees have the absolute and unqualified right to exercise such discretion, and refuse to allow it to be used for such purpose. If it was a part of the consideration for the sale and purchase of the land that it should be so used, and the plaintiff has been pecuniarily damaged, it may be that he can recover such damages, or possibly he can, in a proper proceeding, have the conveyance set aside and the title reinvested in the grantors. The trustees cannot be compelled to purchase or condemn land for the purpose of a cemetery, and it is equally clear to our minds that, having done so, they cannot be compelled to use it for that purpose, if for any reason they deem it unsuitable and improper to do so. We deem it proper to say that the injunction was dissolved because the trustees declared that the land would not be so used, and also that the deed conveying the land to them is silent as to the purpose for which it was purchased. Affirmed.