Love v. Town of West Orange

Per Curiam.

This was a rule to show cause for a mandamus. Instead of taking depositions on a notice pursuant to the rules and practice in such cases (Peer v. Bloxham, 82 N. J. L. 288), counsel seems to have consented tacitly, or expressly to submit their respective causes of fact to the court on ex parte affidavits; and this was done. It would probably have been better, in view of the present application, for the court to refuse to receive the case on that basis, because counsel now claims that the relator’s case was injured because the ex parte affidavits for defendant “befogged” the issue. The court, applying the fundamental rule that a writ of mandamus will not go unless the facts are settled and the law clear, discharged the rule.

We are unable to see how a re-argument can help the matter. As already pointed out, the existence of some sort of easement of drainage over relator’s lands in favor of the respondent is clear beyond peradventure. Eelator wishes a writ to enforce a permit for a specific building in a specific place over or adjoining the existing drain—whether this eon*853flicts with the easement is a question of mixed law and fact which, as we said before, cannot be settled in this proceeding. No re-argument can clear up this difficulty.

A re-argument is denied.