Kelley v. Kelley

23 Me. 192 | Me. | 1843

The opinion of the Court was drawn up by

Shepeev J.

This is a writ of entry demanding possession of lot numbered 60 in the town of Orono. The deeds of conveyance introduced by the demandant will be sufficient to establish his title, unless the operation of one of them can be defeated by proof, that the grantor was disseized at the time of making that conveyance. The tenant contends, that the testimony introduced by him should have that effect, and also that it should establish his right to the improvements by virtue of a possession and improvement of the lot, under the provisions of the statute. It shews, that he entered upon the lot as early as the year 1819, made improvements, and continued to live upon and occupy it exclusively to the time of the trial. The demandant and the tenant, as the jury have found, entered into a written contract of two parts on October 25, 1832, by which the one agreed to sell and the other to purchase the lot upon certain terms therein stated. The counsel for the tenant contends, that he had acquired a right to the improvements before he entered into that contract; that the fee and the improvements had become distinct claims or titles; and that he might admit, that he did not own the fee, and contract to purchase it, without surrendering any of his rights or acting inconsistently. And the inference is drawn, that the contract in this case was one of that description. The fault of the argument may perhaps be in an erroneous inference. It is admitted, that the case of Knox v. Hook, 12 Mass. R. 329, was correctly decided, because the first entry upon the land was made under a contract to purchase it. The opinion states, “ now a person, who has made a contract with the proprietor to purchase, and has entered in pursuance of such contract, cannot be said to hold the lands by virtue of a possession and improvement. He holds by virtue of a contract with the proprietor.” That position is founded upon the well established doctrine, that one, who is in possession of land is presumed to be so rightfully, until the contrary is made to appear. He may be considered as the tenant at will of the owner. Cooper v. Stower, 9 Johns. R. 331. No doubt, a tenant claiming by virtue of a possession and improvement may not only offer to purchase in the title, but rnay in writing contract to do so, without altering the character of his occupancy. And if one so situated should make such a contract, as would shew, that the intention was to purchase and sell, not a full and perfect title, but one incumbered by such a claim, he would not be considered as holding under the contract any thing more, than he contracted to purchase. But his contract with the owner of the title must, like other contracts, be construed according to its terms and the intention of the parties. In this case the contract between the parties expressly recognizes as the state of facts, that the demandant is the owner of the land, and that the tenant is living upon it, and agrees to purchase it. And he does not contract for the title of the demandant, or for any incumbered or qualified title, but for “ a good warranty deed of lot No. 60.” And the demand-ant by contracting to sell to the tenant the land he “ now lives on,” admits the possession of the tenant to be rightful; and from that time he must be considered as holding the land by consent of the owner and at will. He had so held it for more than seven years before the commencement of this suit; and cannot therefore during that time be considered as holding adversely by a possession and improvement. And he cannot, by neglecting to fulfil his contract, claim to set up his rights, as they existed before it was made ; for neither at the time of the commencement of the suit, nor during all that time, did he hold by virtue of a possession and improvement. And not the language only, but the spirit of the statute, required, that such “ actual possession for the term of six years or more, before the commencement of such action,” should be immediately preceding, and not at some remote period. And when this action was commenced the premises were not “ holden by such person by virtue of a possession and improvement,”, as the statute requires, to entitle him to have'the value of the improvements assessed.

It is further contended, that the demandant did not acquire any title under the conveyance made to him, on October.13, 1829, from Hall J. Kelley, because the grantor had been, before that time, disseized by the tenant, who about three years afterward, and while continuing that possession, admitted the title of the demandant, contracted to pay him for it, and has since occupied the land as his tenant at will. After such an occupation for so many years, he proposes to dispute his landlord’s title. That is inadmissible. His contract explains the character of his previous possession, as well as puts it out of his power to raise the objection.

Exceptions overruled.