{ "id": 8724496, "name": "Clark v. State", "name_abbreviation": "Clark v. State", "decision_date": "1888-05", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "570", "last_page": "574", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "50 Ark. 570" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "37 Ark., 122", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1870950 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/37/0122-01" ] }, { "cite": "43 Ark., 284", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1894457 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/43/0284-01" ] }, { "cite": "50 Ark., 65", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8720044 ], "weight": 2, "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/50/0065-01" ] }, { "cite": "57 N. Y., 657", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "N.Y.", "case_ids": [ 5135824 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ny/57/0657-01" ] }, { "cite": "28 Ala., 385", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ala.", "case_ids": [ 8496266 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ala/28/0385-01" ] }, { "cite": "37 Mich., 4", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Mich.", "case_ids": [ 1341584 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/mich/37/0004-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 503, "char_count": 7901, "ocr_confidence": 0.526, "pagerank": { "raw": 2.4822090722706284e-07, "percentile": 0.8076629177994548 }, "sha256": "2992eff2be3118d38cb7a7506641385847332476914acafc392124e4b86a08f3", "simhash": "1:46049d522963f31b", "word_count": 1436 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:56:08.326499+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Clark v. State." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Battle, J.\nSo much of the statute as defines the offense-of which appellants were accused, reads as follows: \u201cIf any person \u25a0 * * * * shall pull down or break the fence, or leave open the gate of the farm, plantation or other inclosed ground of another, the party so offending shall be guilty of a misdemeanor,\u201d etc. It is contended that appellants are not guilty of this offense, even if the fence pulled down was on Hobbs\u2019 land, because they pulled it down believing it was-on the land of Clark, and under a claim of right. If it be conceded that a guilty knowledge or intent is necessary to-\u25a0constitute the offense charged, this contention raises a question as to how far or under what circumstances a mistake of fact will excuse an act made punishable by statute.\nCarefulness,\u201d says Mr, Bishop, \u201cis one of the duties of life; and, consequently, a man may be responsible for mistaken facts, because ,he did not use proper caution, or make due inquiry; so that acts, performed under a mistake of fact thus produced ar$, punishable.\u201d \u201cAll admit,\u201d says he, \u201c that a man has no right to act while his mind is in a state of \u2018ignorance.\u2019\u201d If, through carelessness, negligence, or indifference, he fails to use obvious means at his command to inform himself, he is, as a general rule, not excused from what he does through a mistake of fact. Bishop on Statutory Crimes, secs. 664, note 6 to sec. 1022; Com. v. Mash, 7 Metv., 472; Bishop\u2019s Criminal Law, 1 Vol., sec. 324, 301, 310; Wharton\u2019s Criminal Law, I Vol., (9th Ed.), sec. 89, and authorities cited ; Bonker v. People, 37 Mich., 4.\nThis cause was submitted to the court sitting as a jury. No declarations of law were asked or made. The court found appellants guilty. The only question here is, was the evidence adduced in the trial sufficient to sustain the finding of the court?\nThe evidence was sufficient to sustain the court in finding that the fence pulled down was on the land of Hobbs. It had been standing where it was when pulled down for twenty years, and the joint survey of both surveyors who fixed the line showed it was on, Hobbs\u2019 land; and Hobbs was in possession. The evidence clearly shows it was not a partition fence, and had never been regarded as such, and that Clark had never claimed it. In 1867 a lane was opened along the line between the Clark and Hobbs lands under an agreement between the owners of the lands on both sides of the line that each would give ten feet on his side. It seems, although it is not positively stated, that a lane was given under the agreement, and fences were made on both sides of the knelt was'used by .all parties concernedj under the agreement,, ever since that, time and until it was obstructed by Clark, a period of about twenty years. For three years Hobbs occupied [Clark\u2019s land.as a tenant. During that time Clark\u2019s fence on his side of the lane disappeared, but Hobbs\u2019 was-.kept up. Hobbs made gates at each end of the lane to project Clark\u2019s land while he was cultivating it, and kept them up until he left, when he took them down and exposed Clark\u2019s land \u201c to the open public streets and range.\u201d Clark then had the gates replaced, when Hobbs cut them down,, carried them away, and appropriated them to his own use-Clark then undertook to build a fence on his side of the line In order to do so he caused the county surveyor to run a line as the boundary between him and Hobbs, and directed appellant, Edmonson, to build the fence close to the line so-run, on his side of it. At the time he gave this direction he knew where the line he had caused to be run was, and . that it would be necessary for Edmonson to tear down a part of Hobbs\u2019 fence in order to build the fence as he was ordered to do. In complying with this direction Edmonson pulled down about seventy-five panels of Hobbs\u2019 fence, built a fence for Clark, and left Hobbs\u2019 farm \u201c open to the range.\u201d' The fence pulled or thrown down extended from one to six feet over the line surveyed, on Clark\u2019s side. Hobbs cut down a part of the fence made by Clark. Clark then caused the surveyor who ran a line in 1867 for the lane, and* the county surveyor, to make a joint survey of the boundary line; and it was ascertained by their survey that Clark had built his fence about eight feet on Hobb\u2019sland. Clark then, built his fence on the second line, believing it was the true line. No notice was given to Hobbs that either of the surveys would be made; and he was not bound by either of them. In acting as he did, Clark failed to use the obvious-means within his power to ascertain and fix the boundary line between him and Hobbs, but sought to establish it without the consent of Hobbs and without giving notice; and \u25a0closed a lane which had been opened and used under an agreement for about twenty years. He himself had recognized the lane arid acquiesced in the use of it as such until Hobbs cut his gates down. His acts were well calculated to bring about the evils the statute he was accused of violating was, doubtless, intended to prevent, that is, the disturbance \u25a0of the public peace arid the exposure of inclosed lands.\nWe think the evidence was sufficient to sustain the finding of the court. It is unnecessary, and we do not undertake t\u00f3 decide whether or not a guilty knowledge or intent is necessary to constitute the offense of which appellants were accused. Judgment affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Battle, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "Sol. F. Clark, for appellants.", "Blackwood & Williams, for the state." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Clark v. State.\nCriminal Law ; Tresspass: Pulling down fence.\nA defendant indicted for pulling down.a fence,-under sec. 1669 Mansf. Dig., which makes it a misdemeanor for one person \u201cto pull down or break the fence, or leave-open the gate of the farm, plantation or other inclosed ground, of another,\u201d cannot excuse the act by showing that it was committed through mistake as to the line between his own land and that on which the fence stood, when such mistake is the result of negligence on his part, in failing to use means obviously within his power,, to ascertain the true boundary.\nAPPEAL from Pulaski Circuit Court.\nJ. W. Martin, Judge.\nSol. F. Clark, for appellants.\nSection 1669 Mansf. Dig. has no reference to a case like this. It was was intended for marauders and transient persons-wbo recklessly commit the acts referred to, and who have no interest in the premises injured. It is expressly confined to riders, rangers and hunters.\nIt is not even a tresspass for an adjoining proprietor to enter upon the land of another for the purpose of building a division fence. 60 Barb., (N. Y.) 45; Moak\u2019s Underhill on Torts, 361; 3 Waits Ac. & Def., p. 238-9; 28 Ala., 385; 57 N. Y., 657. And to commit this offense a person must be a tresspasser. 3 Jones (N. (7.) Law, 375. Nor does the-statute apply to a case where the taking down of the fence was done under a claim of right. 5 Qratt, 657; 26 Penn. St., (2 Casey) 187.\nWhere a party by mistake builds a fence on another\u2019s land,, he does not lose his fence but may take it off in a reasonable time. 44 Jio., 368.\nThere is no proof that the fence taken down was on. Hobs\u2019 land.\nBlackwood & Williams, for the state.\nSection 1669 does not require the act to be wilful or malicious, and no malice was necessary to convict. The act is prohibited without reference to malice. Jeffries v. Hargis,. 50 Ark., 65; 43 Ark., 284; 36 Id., 151; 37 Id., 219; lb., 108.\nIt.is immaterial where the true line was. The fence had been there for 20 years. No legal survey can be made -without notice to adjoining owners. Mansf. Big., sec. 1171. This was not done. It was Clark\u2019s duty to know where the line was. Jeffries v. Hargis, 50 Ark., 65.\nThere is no pretense that this was a partition fence, so as to bring it within 37 Ark., 122. No man can go on another\u2019s land and, nolens nolens, build a partition fence. Mansf. Big., see. 3654. It must be on the line.\nThe cases cited by appellant are under statutes requiring the act to be done \u201cwilfully and knowingly,\u201d and \u201cmaliciously\u201d or voluntarily." }, "file_name": "0570-01", "first_page_order": 578, "last_page_order": 582 }