Ham v. City of Salem

Under the St. of 1864, c. 268, for supplying the city of Salem with pure water, the respondents have taken certain lands of the petitioner, situated on the margin of Wen-ham Pond, and a jury has been summoned and has returned a verdict assessing his damages. Exceptions have been taken by the respondents to some of the rulings of the sheriff.

1. They contend that certain evidence which they offered wa? wrongfully excluded. They offered to prove that the fences which had inclosed thg land were not needed by them, but were put up temporarily and for the benefit of the petitioner; and that he was…