Ham v. Silvernail

14 N.Y. Sup. Ct. 33

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: February 15, 1876
• Status: Published

Opinion

Pratt, J.:

The action is upon an official bond given by Silvernail as commissioner of highways of the town of Pine Plains, with the other defendants as his sureties.

The condition of the bond, which is in the usual form, is that Silvernail shall faithfully discharge his duties as such commissioner, and, within ten days after the expiration of his term of office, pay over to his successor what moneys may be remaining in his hands as such commissioner.

In 1870, one Enghkie applied to the commissioners of highways of said town, of which Silvernail was one, to have a highway laid out through certain improved lands.

The necessity for the highway was certified to by a juiy of twelve men, residents of the town, representing themselves as freeholders, but one of them, it now appears, was not' in fact a freeholder.

Before proceeding to lay out the highway, the commissioners exacted from the applicant an undertaking on his part that'he would pay all damages which should be sustained by reason of -the highway passing through the improved lands of one Clark.

The highway was regularly laid out, and the damages resulting therefrom duly assessed. The applicant, Enghkie, thereupon, in fulfillment of his agreement, paid .the commissioners the sum oi ninety-five dollars, being the amount of damages assessed to the owner of said Clark lands, and the commissioners gave him -a receipt therefor, signed by them as such commissioners.

That sum Silvernail retained more than ten days after the expiration of his term of office, and refused, upon demand, to pay the same over to his successor. Hence this action.

The facts are agreed upon by stipulation substantially as above stated.

The defense is placed upon two grounds:

Fii’st. That inasmuch as one of the persons certifying to the necessity of the highway was not a freeholder, the proceedings were irregular and void. Second. That the commissioners had no right to require any such undertaking as that given by Enghkie; that the same was void, and therefore the money paid by him in pursuance thereof was not received by Silvernail as commissioner. It is a sufficient answer to the first point made by the 'defendants that the commissioners of highways, in proceeding to lay out the highway, determined that the necessity therefor had been duly certified by twelve reputable freeholders, such determination was in the nature of an adjudication which can onty be reviewed in a direct proceeding for that purpose. (Porter v. Purdy, 29 N. Y., 106.)

Tire money in controversy was paid to Silvernail as commissioner of highways by Enghkie in fulfillment of an agreement made by the latter with Silvernail as snch commissioner.

Silvernail assumed the right to make the agreement and receive the money; he gave a receipt therefor under his official hand. It would be strange indeed, if he could be permitted to pocket the money and refuse to render any account thereof, by alleging that-he acted without authority. It is probably true that he could not have enforced the performance of the agreement if Enghkie had resisted; but he did not resist. He voluntarily paid the money, and therefore cannot claim to have it refunded; and if Silvernail can now be permitted to shield himself by alleging the illegality of his own acts, he will be able to profit by his misconduct. The precedent thus established would be most dangerous. That such a defense cannot prevail seems to be settled by People ex rel. Martin v. Brown (55 N. Y., 180). (See, also, cases there cited.)

The conclusive answer to the defendant’s position is that the legality of the agreement with Englikie is not in controversy ; the agreement has been performed. Silvernail did in fact receive the money in question as commissioner, and he acknowledged its receipt as such.

It does not lie in his mouth to repudiate his solemn official acts for his individual benefit.

He should have paid over the money, which he received by virtue of his official position, according to the tenor of his bond, and having refused to do so, he and his sureties became liable to an action.

Talcott, J., concurred. Barnard, P. J., not sitting.

Judgment affirmed, with costs.