Home COMMONWEALTH vs. ROBERT STEVENS.

361 Mass. 868

March 15, 1972

Stevens was acquitted on a charge of receiving stolen property but found guilty of unlawfully carrying a pistol (G. L. c. 269, Section 10, as amended through St. 1969, c. 799, Sections 14, 15, 16). The case is here under G. L. c. 278, Sections 33A-33G. The judge denied a motion to suppress a pistol found under the back seat of Stevens's automobile, when the vehicle was searched pursuant to a warrant issued after Stevens's arrest. The affidavit submitted by a police officer as basis for the search warrant alleged only the following facts: Stevens had been seen about 6:30 A.M. on July 31, 1970, stopping his vehicle near a store at 406 Kempton Street, New Bedford. He stepped from his automobile, and permitted or assisted two men who came from the store to place rifles (number not indicated) in the vehicle's trunk. The affidavit did not specifically point out to the clerk who issued the search warrant any criminal aspect of these matters. There had been rioting in New Bedford in July, 1970 (of which we took judicial notice in Matter of Pappas, 358 Mass. 604, 607, cert. granted 402 U.S. 942). This background was not mentioned in the affidavit, although evidence about it was introduced at the hearing on the motion to suppress. Even taking into account matters of which the clerk could reasonably take judicial notice (e.g. the general location of riots and disorders then in progress in New Bedford) far less information was presented to him as a basis for issuing a search warrant than was included in the application considered in Commonwealth v. Moran, 353 Mass. 166, 168-169. The affidavit, in the opinion of a majority of the court, was too general and inconclusive to satisfy the statutory rule (G. L. c. 276, Sections 2A, 2B and 2C, each as amended), discussed in Commonwealth v. Monosson, 351 Mass. 327, 330, particularly in asserting facts having a tendency to show the described conduct to be criminal.

Judgment reversed.

Verdict set aside.

Home ANTONIO JOAQUIM DE ARAUJO BRITO & others vs. TOWN OF PROVINCETOWN & another.

361 Mass. 868

March 16, 1972

This is an appeal from a final decree dismissing a bill in equity by which the plaintiff's seek injunctive and declaratory relief in connection with the town's construction of a public comfort station on land southerly and to the rear of their adjoining lots and buildings fronting on the southerly side of Commercial Street in Provincetown. The trial judge made a report of material facts found by him, and the evidence is reported. For the nature and extent of appellate review of findings on such a record, see Hosken, Inc. v. Hingham Management Corp. 328 Mass. 588, 589. We summarize the grounds on which the plaintiffs rely and the judge's action thereon. (1) They question the need for the station despite the town meeting vote authorizing its construction. The judge found that "the [existing] public toilet facilities . . . are inadequate [and] that . . . the proposed comfort station is necessary, required and desirable to serve the needs of the public at large." (2) They contend that the station will constitute a health nuisance by reason of odors, water pollution and the "hordes of people" it will attract. The plans and specifications for the station have the required approval of State

Page 869

and town health authorities none of whom are made parties to the suit. The judge found that "without resort to speculation or conjecture" he could not "assume nor . . . conclude that the use of this facility will be injurious, noxious or offensive to the neighborhood by reason of the emission of odors, fumes or other cause, or that it shall constitute a nuisance." (3) They allege in effect that they have acquired title by adverse possession of the land where the station is to be constructed. The judge found and ruled that they "have not sustained the burden of proving by fair preponderance that the location of the comfort station is upon land owned by them or in which they have an interest." These three grounds were fully litigated and were decided against the plaintiffs. The judge's findings thereon are supported by the evidence and are not plainly wrong. His rulings of law were correct. Under its zoning by-law the town was required to obtain a special permit from its board of appeals to build the station. The board granted such a permit which it mistakenly called a "variance." The plaintiffs attempt to question the validity of the permit for alleged failure of the board to comply with statutory requirements as to notice and procedure. General Laws c. 40A, Section 21, as amended through St. 1960, c. 365, provides a special remedy to persons "aggrieved by a decision of the board of appeals," and it further provides that "[t]he foregoing remedy shall be exclusive," See Lincoln v. Board of Appeals of Framingham, 346 Mass. 418, 420. The remedy in the present case is an appeal to the Superior Court by a bill in equity in which "all the members of the board of appeals shall be named as parties . . . [defendant]." The plaintiffs named no members of the board as parties defendant, and they are therefore not entitled to question the validity of the permit. Because the final decree did not declare the rights of the parties on the issues litigated, it is reversed. Vasilakis v. Haverhill, 339 Mass. 97, 101. Hannan v. Enterprise Publishing Co. 341 Mass. 363, 365. A new decree is to be entered declaring that the proposed comfort station is reasonably necessary, that it will not constitute a nuisance, that the land where the station is to be built belongs to the town of Provincetown, and that the validity of the special permit granted by the board of appeals is not at issue in this case.