4 U.S. 266
4 Dall. 266
1 L.Ed. 827
The Mayor, &c.
v.
Mason.
Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.
March Term, 1803
THIS was a certiorari, to remove the proceedings from the Mayor, into this Court; to which he made the following return under seal:
'The Mayor, Aldermen and Citizens
v.
'Elizabeth Mason.
November 19, 1800.
Huckstring.
Amicable action.
'The defendant appeared before me by consent, and was charged on the oath of Barney Cart, and the affirmation of W. Johnston, clerks of the High-street market, in her presence, with being a person, who follows the business of a huckster, and selling provisions, &c. at second hand. And that the defendant did this day offer for sale, within the limits of the said market, butter, veal, pork, fowls, eggs, and nuts, contrary to an ordinance in that case made and provided. I, therefore, adjudge, that the defendant pay a fine of 1l. 17s. 6d. and costs 2s. 6.''
To this return a great variety of exceptions were filed; but the argument and decision proceeded, principally, upon the following:
1st. It is not stated, at what place the defendant followed the business of a huckster.
2d. It is not stated, in what city High-street market is situated.
3d. It is not stand, against which clause of the ordinance the defendant had offended.
4th. It is not stated, that the defendant was convicted, though judgment is rendered against her.
The exceptions were supported by M'Kean and Porter; who cited, 1 Burn. 409. 142. Ordin. 29 March 1798, s. 16. Bosc. 12. 1 Burn. 411. 5 State Laws, 265. 1 Burn. 413. 3 Mod. 159. 2 Burr. 1163. 4 Burr. 2063. 5 T. Rep. 253. 2 Burr. 1176. Hullock. 19. 200, 201. Bull. N. P. 333. Gilb. C. P. 225. 234, 5. Salk. 378. 2 Hawk. 250. 1 Stra. 316. 2 Stra. 1120.
Dickerson (the solicitor for the corporation) endeavoured to answer the exceptions; and cited 1 Stra. 316. 10 Co. 125. 1 Bac. Abr.
But, by the COURT:
Some of the objections are insurmountable. In the first place, it is not sufficient to state the evidence; but the magistrate must go on to declare, that the offence was committed, and the defendant thereof convicted. Here, neither the offence, nor the conviction, are to be found in the proceedings. In the next place, we have no statement where the defendant carried on the business of huckster; and it might be where it was no offence to do so; or where the corporation had no jurisdiction to punish it as an offence. The proceedings are, therefore, manifestly erroneous, and must be set aside.
An exception, that the words 'of Philadelphia' had been omitted, in the corporate title, was waived. There were several other cases, depending on the decision in this case.
Last modified: October 1, 2009