51 Ind. App. 1 | Ind. Ct. App. | 1912
— The nature of this action and the questions raised by the appeal are best presented by a summary of the pleadings filed in the case.
Appellant’s complaint is in two paragraphs, each of which is, in substance, as follows: That appellant is the owner in fee simple and entitled to the possession of certain described real estate, situated in Vermillion county, Indiana; that appellee is unlawfully holding possession of the same and claiming an interest in said real estate, which claim is wholly without right; that said claim is adverse to appellant and a cloud on his title; that appellant, before bringing this action, made a demand on appellee for possession of said real estate, which demand was refused; that while in possession of the premises, appellee has, without right, removed valuable timber from the same; that he is still removing valuable timber therefrom, and will continue so to do unless enjoined. Wherefore appellant asks for damages, for possession of said premises, that
The complaint was verified, and on application a temporary restraining order was issued and a bond duly executed. Afterwards on motion the restraining order was dissolved.
Appellee filed a general denial and a special paragraph of answer, in which he admitted that appellant was the owner of the real estate described in the complaint, but averred that prior to the time appellant purchased said real estate, appellee purchased of the owners, C. P. Haworth and 'William Bennett, all the timber in the section in which the real estate in controversy is situated, except four trees, which were reserved by the contract; that at the time appellant’s grantor, Hall, purchased of said Bennett and wife the land described in the complaint, the timber on said land was reserved by the terms of the deed and did not pass to said Hall; that, by mutual mistake of all the parties thereto, the clause in said deed so reserving said timber did not describe the tract of land on which the timber was located, but described a different tract also conveyed in said deed, and on which there was no timber; that at the time of said conveyance said Haworth also owned some interest in said timber; that after said conveyance said Hall made no claims to the timber in question, but recognized that the same had been reserved; that before the conveyance of the real estate from said Hall to appellant, appellee, with Hall’s knowledge and consent, entered on said premises, took possession of the timber thereon, and began the removal of the same; that such possession of said timber and work in cutting and removing the same was open, obvious and notorious, and was continuous and in full operation at the time appellant purchased said real estate from said Hall, and for some time thereafter, without objection on the part of appellant; that at the time appellant purchased said real estate he was fully informed of the fact that appellee had purchased said tim
Appellant’s demurrer to this answer was overruled, and issues were joined by a reply in general denial. The cause was tried before a special judge, who found for appellee.
The first question presented by the appeal is the alleged error of the court in overruling appellant’s demurrer to the second paragraph of appellee’s answer.
In attacking this answer appellant has presented several propositions of law about which there is no controversy.
The fourth proposition, which presents the only controverted question, is that “conveyances of any interest in lands shall be, by deed in writing, subscribed, sealed and duly acknowledged by the grantor or his attorney. ’ ’
It is conceded by appellee that a contract for the sale of growing timber is a contract for the sale of an interest in real estate, and must be in writing to bind either party. The contract here involved is in writing, and is signed by the parties thereto. The question then arises: Should the contract have been acknowledged and recorded in order to bind appellant ?
While appellant in his complaint prayed that his title to the property therein described be quieted as against appellee,
Appellee specifically admits appellant’s title to the real estate in question, and the principal controversy at the trial centered about appellee’s rights to certain timber thereon, title to the lands being only incidentally involved. In such situation a new trial as of right is not demandable. Richwine v. Presbyterian Church (1893), 135 Ind. 80, 86, 34 N. E. 737; Butler University v. Conard (1884), 94 Ind. 353; Bradford v. School Town of Marion (1886), 107 Ind. 280, 7 N. E. 256; Hofferbert v. Williams (1904), 32 Ind. App. 593, 70 N. E. 405; Schlichter v. Taylor (1903), 31 Ind. App. 164, 169, 67 N. E. 556.
Finding no available error in the record, the judgment is affirmed.
Noth. — Reported in 98 N. E. 892. See, also, under (1) 13 Cyc. 595; (2) 39 Cyc. 1713; (3) 39 Cyc. 1778; (4) 1 Cyc. 514; (5) 31 Cyc. 333; (6) 29 Cyc. 1037; (7) 2 Cyc. 660. As to possession as notice where deed is not recorded, see 104 Am. St. 345.