6 Wyo. 185 | Wyo. | 1896
George H. Gilland brought this action against the Union Pacific Railway Company to recover damages for negligently permitting "fires upon its right of way to spread into and upon certain lands alleged to be in the possession of the plaintiff, which fires consumed and destroyed plaintiff’s, grass growing on said lands; said injury is alleged to have occurred about the 20th day of October, 1891.' The damages were placed in the petition at the sum of five hundred dollars.
The answer of the defendant admitted that it was a corporation, and denied generally each other allegation of the petition.
A jury was impaneled to try the case. During the progress of the trial, plaintiff, being examined as a witness in his own behalf, and having testified that the lands upon which the grass was burned were in his possession at the time of the injury, was questioned upon cross-examination respecting the interest of another party in the lands and grass; and the entire controversy now arises upon the testimony of the plaintiff regarding that matter. He admitted in answer to several questions of defendant’s counsel that another, whose name was not disclosed, but who was referred to as a German in Nebraska, was jointly and equally interested with him in a portion of the pastures burned over. Upon being recalled in his own behalf, and requested to explain the matter further, he testified as follows:
‘ ‘I leased that tract of land there, and have the lease there for the tract itself; I entered into an agreement with*189 this German to let him keep his cattle in that pasture. ’ ’ Q. “That was the sum and substance of that. ” A. “Yes, sir.”
On cross-examination: “In that way he became a joint owner.” A. “He was interested in the pasture; I leased the pasture, and it was in my name. I entered into an .agreement to let him keep his cattle there.” Q. “He was to build a fence. ” A. ‘ ‘That was in the agreement. ’ ’
Re-direct: “He was to pasture his cattle there; and it was part of the consideration he was to build the fence.” A. “Yes, sir.” How much of a fence was thus built, or when, is not explained.
It is sufficiently disclosed by the evidence that the lands in question were wild, uncultivated prairie lands, and ■devoted to grazing, the grass being the natural growth of the soil.
On the one hand it is insisted that the testimony of plaintiff indubitably proves that a third party was jointly interested with the plaintiff and jointly in possession of the grass upon a portion of the lands; viz., all the pasture in section nineteen (19), and that he should have been joined as a party plaintiff, and not being so joined the plaintiff can not recover for the injury and destruction of the grass upon that section of land; while on the other hand it is urged that the true relation between the parties was not that of joint interest or co-tenancy, but that the •ownership and possession of the land and grass thereon was in the plaintiff, and the other party had a mere privilege, by permission of the plaintiff, to depasture his ■cattle thereon, and that this gave him no ownership in the .grass. It is not otherwise claimed, but is apparently conceded, and we think it must be, that the plaintiff also had the right to use and occupy the lands, enjoy the benefits of the grass, and depasture his own stock thereon. The other party had not been given any exclusive right, interest, or privilege in the lands or grass.
No testimony was elicited, or attempted to be, respecting the time of making the agreement between the plain
The somewhat meager facts, as distinguished from mere-conclusions or generality of statement, disclosed by the-record, is embarrassing, and tends to surround a determination of the questions involved with much difficulty.
Upon the conclusion of the evidence, the defendant requested the court to instruct the jury as follows:
‘ ‘ The plaintiff can not recover in this case for grass, owned by him jointly with another person, and you will leave out of the account all such grass as was owned by the plaintiff, and any other person or persons jointly. ”
This instruction was refused, and defendant excepted. The court, however, did give, at the request of plaintiff, the following instruction:
‘ ‘ If you should find that the defendant is guilty of negligence as charged, then the jury should find for the plaintiff the amount of damages, if any, which are found to-have resulted from the fire. ’ ’ To this, also, the defendant excepted.
The court submitted to the jury the following special question: “In case you find for the plaintiff you will please state the number of acres burned off in Sec. 19, and also the value of the grass destroyed in said Sec. 19.”
A general verdict was returned for the plaintiff, and the damages assessed at $315.50. In response to the question submitted by the court, the jury answered that there were 372 acres burned off in Sec. 19, and that the value of the grass destroyed in that section was $186. Thereupon the jury were discharged.
Three days later the defendant filed a motion to file an additional defense to conform to the proof and in further-
On the same day the defendant also filed a motion for' new trial. Both motions were taken under advisement, and subsequently the motion to file additional defense was sustained, and the motion for new trial was overruled.
The plaintiff excepted to the former ruling, and the defendant to the latter. Thereupon the court ordered that the sum of $186, the value of the grass burned off in Sec. 19, be deducted from the amount of damages assessed by the verdict; and rendered judgment non obstante vere-dicto for the sum of $129.50 the balance, after the making-of such reduction. To this, the plaintiff excepted, and in this proceeding such order making the reduction, and entering judgment for a less amount than was returned by the jury, is assigned as error.
Defendant files in this court a cross-petition in error, alleging error in the overruling of the motion for new trial, thereby complaining of the refusal to give the instruction requested by the defendant, and of the giving-of the instruction, already quoted.
Whatever may be the correct view to be taken of the-other matters which are involved, it is quite clear that the-
A defect of parties plaintiff, if it appear on tbe face of the petition, may be taken advantage of by demurrer; if it does not so appear, the objection may be made by answer, and if no objection be taken either by demurrer or answer, the defendant is deemed to have waived the same. Rev. Stat., 1887, Secs. 2449-2451, 14 O. St., 448.
At the time of the trial and verdict the defect of parties plaintiff, if any, had been waived by a failure to take advantage thereof by answer. At the common law, such defect was reached by a plea in abatement, and it was the inflexible rule that advantage thereof must be taken promptly. It was regarded, and is still so regarded under the codes, as a dilatory defense. Prior to the trial defendant’s counsel had information respecting the interest of another party. The fact that such knowledge was not complete, and the particulars thereof not known, may have been a sufficient excuse for not presenting the objection before trial, although we do not, by any means, regard that as altogether certain; but when the testimony of the plaintiff disclosed the facts upon which the defendant was willing to rely and maintain its proposition, the objection should have been made at that time, and application then made to amend its answer upon trial, setting forth the facts constituting the alleged defect of parties. Without such an answer the instruction requested was erroneous, for the reason, that even if the evidence established a joint interest in another, the defect of parties being waived, the plaintiff could nevertheless recover to the full extent of his own interest, or as it is frequently stated, his damages could be apportioned upon the trial. This principle is well settled, and may be said to be fundamental. Had the instruction permitted the plaintiff to recover to the extent of his interest, and denied his right to recover the amount of the interest of another who was a joint owner with him, it would have been a correct
The instruction which was given, and excepted to by the defendant, authorizing the jury to find for the plaintiff the full amount of damages resulting from the fire, if they should find the defendant to have been negligent, presents in this court the question upon which the parties take issue. Such instruction was proper from a consideration of all the testimony, if as a matter of law, the plaintiff had such a possession and ownership of the land and grass in himself as should entitle him to recover the entire damage. It is incorrect, if another party had such a joint ownership or interest in the property destroyed as to make him a co-tenant with the plaintiff in the land or grass in question.
We are then to consider and determine whether or not there was a co-tenancy between the parties. Counsel for plaintiff in error contends that the explanation made by the plaintiff ; viz, that he entered into an agreement with this other party to let him keep his cattle in that pasture, shows clearly a mere privilege of pasturing cattle; and opposing counsel insist that such testimony has, effect only to explain the manner in which he became a joint owner of the pasture. There are three other things to be kept in view: First, that plaintiff testifies that he was in possession of the pasture, and held the lease therefor in his own name. Second, that he testifies another was jointly and equally interested with him in the pasture; and, third, that the sum and substance of such interest was that it was agreed he could keep or pasture his cattle there, but he did not own the pasture.
Permanent injury to the soil does not seem to be alleged or claimed, the only injury complained of is the burning of the grass. Possession in such case is sufficient to authorize a recovery. This may be the possession of the owner in fee or of a mere tenant. We are not unaware of the rule that the possession of one co-tenant will
To entitle the other party to any. right of action, he must have had either actual or constructive possession. The possession which is constructive merely would be of no avail, if another is rightfully in actual occupancy. The testimony is that plaintiff was in possession; there is nothing to show that the German alluded, to was either personally in possession at the time of the fire, or had any of his cattle there, on the contrary, the inference is strong that his cattle were not in the pasture at the time, as it is in evidence that the field had not been depastured during the summer, but was being kept for winter. His possession, therefore, if he had any, must have been constructive; to be constructive he must have had such a title, right, or ownership, as to carry the absolute right to-possession. He was not the owner in fee, at least that is not claimed for him, and we can not assume that he was. The lease of the land was taken and held by plaintiff. It follows, therefore, that such other party was not in constructive possession unless he was a co-tenant with plaintiff, so that the latter’s possession would be held to be the joint possession of both. The rule just discussed is nicely expressed in the case of Cutting v. Cox, 19 Vt., 518. That was a case of trespass, growing out of the cutting of grass upon a certain tract of land which was claimed by the parties, the dispute arising out of a difference of opinion respecting the boundary between adjoining claims. The plaintiff’s undisputed tract or claim was in the possession of a tenant, and it was urged on behalf of the defense that the latter must have been joined. The court say: “If this were the ordinary case of carrying on a farm at the halves, it has not been considered that the owner of the land is so far divested of his possession, that he may not maintain trespass, in his own name, for any injury to the inheritance, as digging stone, or cutting timber. As to the growing crops, in which the parties have a joint interest, the parties are treated as tenants in common, or,
How, we must consider all the testimony of the plaintiff together that we may correctly interpret the relations, existing between him and the third party, and determine the actual interest of such party in the grass in controversy.
Without again adverting to the particulars of that testimony, at this time, we arrive at the conclusion that the right to pasture his cattle in the field jointly with Gilland did not confer upon the former any interest in the land. Ho assignment of the lease is shown, but is rather negatived. Ho lease of the land appears to have been made-from Gilland to him, and the circumstances do not in our opinion amount to a lease of the land. Was there, nevertheless, a tenancy in common, or co-tenancy in the grass ?
The question 'presented is an exceedingly interesting one, and has some elements of novelty about it. We shall not attempt a resume of all the decisions touching it, but a reference to a few will, we hope, assist in explaining the reasons which control our judgment.
The grass was the wild, uncultivated, natural growth of
It is within the power of the owner, or the one entitled to the land to contract for the separation of the grass from the land, the same to be cut for hay, .and as respects such a contract the grass might be said to then partake of the nature of personalty. But, in this case, it was not to be severed.
The casés are numerous, where there has been held to exist a tenancy in common in the crops grown upon land, although one of such co-tenants has no interest in the land. Such cases more frequently arise under contracts for farming land on shares. And it is said that every form of agreement by, which land is let to one who is to cultivate the same and give the owner as compensation therefor a share of the produce, creates a tenancy in common in the crops, and it is declared ‘ ‘ the true test seems to lie in the question whether there be any provision, in whatever form, for dividing the specific product of the premises. If there be, a tenancy in common arises, at least in such products as .are to be divided.”
Bernal v. Hovious, 17 Cal., 542; Freeman on Cotenancy, Sec. 100; Putnam v. Wise, 1 Hill., 247; Brown v. Lincoln, 47 N. H., 468; Lewis v. Lyman, 22 Pick., 437.
Such division may be of the specific crops themselves after they have been harvested, or of the proceeds after they have been marketed. A citation of authorities on this question is hardly required, but the cases are very numerous where courts have been called on to determine whether under contracts for the cultivation of the land on shares, a tenancy in common of the crops has been created. There was no' such agreement in this case, and an examination of these cases alluded to will be useful only as the principle underlying such a co-tenancy in crops may be found therein stated.
An interesting recent case before the supreme court of
One of the earliest cases upon this subject is Wilson v. Mackreth, 3 Burr., 1824. The plaintiff brought an action of trespass for entering his close and digging and carrying away his turf and peat. The right to the soil was in the lord of the manor, but the plaintiff had the exclusive right • to dig the turf and take the profit thereof, the owners of the soil and other tenants of the manor had common of
In the case of Ormbaum v. His Creditors, 61 Cal., 455, there was an application to set aside a homestead in certain lands in insolvency proceedings. Only a portion of the lands were enclosed, within which Ormbaum resided with his family. The portion not enclosed he used at all times for grazing. His neighbors also grazed their live stock therein in common with him, but recognized the land as his. It was contended that Ormbaum did not have possession of the grazing lands, and did not occupy them, but that if he did, it was as tenant in common with the others. The court held that there was no tenancy in common, and sustained the trial court in setting apart the homestead as to all the lands.
The case of Powers v. Clarkson, 17 Kan., 218, is quite in point, and'approaches this case more closely than any which have come under our observation. Clarkson brought suit against Powers for injuries claimed to have been done by the cattle of Powers on certain lands claimed by Clarkson. The land consisted of 800 acres, of which 320 acres belonged to his wife. The land was wild, unoccupied, uncultivated prairie and timbered land. Clarkson had testified that when he purchased the land, he rode over it, and said to his vendor he would take it. Upon a former trial it had been decided, Judge Brewer delivering
Bowles v. State (Miss.), 14 So., 261, was a case of criminal trespass. There seemed to be no question but that one Thompson owned the land. It was pasture upon which no one resided, and was fenced with wire and other material furnished by the owner, but was built by others who were said to be tenants of Thompson for the purpose of pasturage. The land was fenced for the purpose of pasturing the stock of the owner and of his tenants. The court say: “ It is altogether clear that William Thompson was the owner and in possession of the pasture, and that Kit Thompson and the other tenants of William Thompson have only the privilege of depasturing their stock therein. The appellant’s offense consisted in his having entered the pasture by the express direction and authority of William Thompson, and in having driven therefrom a cow and calf belonging to the owner of the pasture, over the protest, and despite the objection of Kit Thompson. This offense is purely imaginary. Kit
McKeeby v. Webster (Pa.), 32 Atl., 1096; Luman v. Morse, 12 Ill., 151; G. C. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. Cusenberry, 86 Tex., 525; G. C. & S. F. Ry. Co. v. Wheat, 58 Tex., 133; Sparks v. Leavy, 1 Robt. (N. Y.), 530; Brown v. Wellington, 106 Mass., 318; Russell v. Scott, 9 Cow., 279; Parsons v. Smith, 5 Allen, 578; Giles v. Simonds, 15 Gray, 441; Adams v. McKesson’s Ex., 53 Pa. St., 81; Van Hoozier v. St. Joseph R. R. Co., 70 Mo., 145; Gates v. Comstock et al. (Mich.), 65 N. W., 544.
It follows that the court did not err in giving the instruction complained of, but did err in ordering a reduc
[Reversed and judgment directed in accordance with verdict.