Hoban v. Boyer

37 Colo. 185 | Colo. | 1906

Mr. Justice Campbell

delivered tbe opinion of tbe court:

This is an action in support of an adverse claim filed in tbe United States land office. Tbe controversy is over a strip of ground in conflict between tbe G-olconda lode mining- claim, owned by tbe plaintiff, and tbe Davidson No. 1 lode, owned by tbe defendant. Tbe result of tbe trial was a judgment for tbe plaintiff, from wbicb the defendant appeals. Two grounds are relied upon for reversal.

1. Tbe defendant maintains that tbe verdict of tbe jury was manifestly against the weight of tbe evidence. . Our examination of tbe record discloses that the evidence was in serious conflict, but was legally sufficient to- support the verdict. The verdict is not so manifestly against its weight as to indicate that it was the result of passion or prejudice.

2. The defendant offered to show that at the timé the Golconda lode was located the same ground, including the discovery point, was embraced within a prior, valid subsisting location. This offer of proof was refused by the court on plaintiff’s objection that such evidence was incompetent and immaterial, and did not tend to prove any issue in the case. The answer denied that plaintiff’s location was good, hence this ruling was wrong,.and because, of it the judgment must be reversed. A valid lode mining-location must be upon unoccupied and unappropriated public domain. In a suit in support of an adverse claim, the defendant may show that the plaintiff’s location was made upon ground embraced within a prior, valid, subsisting location, and if he succeeds in the same, it is a bar to- plaintiff’s recovery. —Armstrong et al. v. Lower, 6 Colo. 393; Girard v. Carson, 22 Colo. 345; Michael v. Mills, 22 Colo. 439; Calhoun Mining Co. v. Ajax Mining Co., 27 Colo. 1; Kirk v. Meldrum, 28 Colo. 453; Moyle v. Bullene, 7 Colo. App. 308; Gwillim v. Donnellan, 115 U. S. 45; Del Monte M. Co. v. Last Chance Co., 171 U. S. 55.

Plaintiff does not question the foregoing rule, but denies its- applicability to the facts. "We fail to perceive the force of appellee’s argument. It may be that defendant’s evidence might not be sufficient to prove the offer, but, if so, that cannot avail the plaintiff here. It was a good offer, and evidence, if any, in support of it should have been admitted.

The judgment is reversed and the cause remanded. Reversed.

Chief Justice Gabbebt and Mr. Justice Steele concur.