People ex rel. Shand v. Tighe

The charter of Brooklyn empowers the common council to enact ordinances to regulate and license a *608variety of occupations, places and things, including “ common shows and dogs.” Claiming to act in pursuance of and within this power to legislate thus • conferred upon it by the state legislature, the common council many years ago passed an ordinance that if any dog shall “ attack a person ” at any place except on the premises of his owner, upon a complaint being made to the mayor, or a police justice, he shall inquire into the complaint, “ and if satisfied of its truth, and that such dog is…