Blood v. Manchester Electric Light Co.
Supreme Court of New Hampshire
Bill in Equity, by taxpayers of the city of Manchester, to set aside a contract made May 23, 1893, by the city councils of the city with the Manchester Electric Light Company for lighting the streets of the city for a period of ten years, on the ground that the councils did not have power to make a contract for such period, and that the contract is void because of fraudulent conduct of members of the city councils and of the agents of the company in making it.
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Bill in Equity, by taxpayers of the city of Manchester, to set aside a contract made May 23, 1893, by the city councils of the city with the Manchester Electric Light Company for lighting the streets of the city for a period of ten years, on the ground that the councils did not have power to make a contract for such period, and that the contract is void because of fraudulent conduct of members of the city councils and of the agents of the company in making it. The facts constituting the alleged fraud are not set forth. The defendants demurred.
1Opinion of the CourtChase, J.
In this state, taxpayers have a right to resort to equity to restrain a municipal corporation and its officers from appropriating money raised by taxation to illegal or unauthorized uses. Brown v. Marsh, 21 N. H. 81; Merrill v. Plainfield, 45 N. H. 126; Gates v. Hancock, 45 N. H. 528; Greenland v. Weeks, 49 N. H. 472, 480; Brown v. Reding, 50 N. H. 336, 348; Brown v. Concord, 56 N. H. 375. The remedy is direct, convenient, and adequate, and falls within the rule which, entitles parties to the-best practical remedy for the redress of their wrongs. The object of such a suit is to enforce a…
2Cases cited8 opinions
- Fletcher v. PeckSupreme Court of the United States · 1810
- People ex rel. Board of Park Commissioners v. Common CouncilMichigan Supreme Court · 1873
- City of Valparaiso v. GardnerIndiana Supreme Court · 1884
- City of Indianapolis v. Indianapolis Gas-Light & Coke Co.Indiana Supreme Court · 1879
- Gale v. Village of KalamazooMichigan Supreme Court · 1871
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3Cited by12 opinions
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- Belisle v. BelisleSupreme Court of New Hampshire · 1937
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