United States v. Conrad Schwarz

United States v. Conrad Schwarz. The obstruction of a way laid out for the accommodation of the owners of certain lots, by the original proprietor thereof, and not as a common highway, is not properly the subject of indictment; and the circumstance that the public might pass over a road, does not make it a public road, although laid off and dedicated by the original owner of the land as a public road, and ever since used as such. There can be no public road in the county of Washington, D. C., out of the cities and towns, unless it be recorded as such in this Court or the Levy Court. Conrad Schwarz was indicted for obstructing a public highway. Mr. Key, for the defendant, contended that it was only a private way for the accommodation of those who purchased lots of General Forrest. There can be no highway in Maryland unless it it be of record, and to be repaired by the county ; and he cited the Maryland Act of 1785, c. 49, respecting private ways ; 3 Har. & Johns. 436, and the Maryland Act of 1704, c. 21, for the marking and recording of public roads. Mr. Swann, for the United States, contra, cited The King v. Lloyd, 1 Campbell, 260; Daniel v. North, 11. East, 375, and 1 Hawk. 366. Several deeds were produced, and read to the jury, from General Forrest to sundry persons bounded by this road, calling it a public road as laid out by Archibald Orme. The Court (Thruston, J., contra,,) instructed the jury at the prayer of the defendant’s counsel, that if they should be satisfied by the evidence, that the road was laid out or reserved by General Forrest, in selling out the lots of his land, as a road for the accommodation of the lot-holders under his sales, and not as a common highway, then the obstructing of the road is not properly the subject of indictment. And further, that if they should be satisfied by the evidence, that the road was intended and laid out by General Forrest for the accommodation of the lot-holders who purchased under him, then the circumstance that the public might pass over it, does not make it a public road. Mr. Sioann, then prayed the Court to instruct the jury, that if they should be of opinion that it was laid off and dedicated by U. Forrest, the original owner of the lands through which the said road passed, as a public road, and has been, ever since, .used as such, then it would be competent for the jury to consider it a public road and common highway. [MAJORITY — (Theuston, J., contra,)] But the Court (Theuston, J., contra,) refused to give that instruction ; but instructed the jury that there could be no public road in this county, out of the cities and towns, unless it be recorded as such in* this Court or the Levy Court. See the Maryland Act of 1704, c. 21. Verdict for the defendant.