Mitchell's Lessee v. Mitchell

1 Md. 44 | Md. | 1851

Le Grand, C. J.,

pronounced the opinion of the court.

This action of ejectment was instituted in Charles county court, to recover a tract of land called “Myrtle Grove;” and the questions which this court is called upon to decide, arise out of the refusal of the county court, to give the instructions asked for by the plaintiff, and the instruction which the court did give.

The facts on which the court pronounced were agreed upon, and are as follows: “That the tract of land called “Myrtle Grove,” is correctly located on the plots, and as located, was possessed by Francis J. Mitchell, from 1817, to the time of his death, in 1825, and that immediately after his death, his son James D. Mitchell, as devisee under his will, entered upon and possessed said land until his death, without issue, which happened in 1837, and that immediately after his, the said James 1). Mitchell’s death, his widow, Elizabeth, as devisee for life under his will, entered and possessed said land until her death in 1841, and that the plaintiff is the sole sister of the whole blood, and heir at law to the said James D. Mitchell; that the tract of land as located, was reputed and known by the name of “Myrtle Grove,” and was situated on Jvíaltawoman ntn, and that the possession of the same, from the year 1817 to 1841, was continued, peaceable, exclusive and uninterrupted, and adverse to ail persons; and that the defendant, who was a half-brother to James D. Mitchell, entered into said land at the death of Elizabeth Mitchell, declaring that it was his son’s property, and that no other brother, or representative of any other brother or sister, survived the said James D. Mitchell. This agreement was entered into by the defendant, to raise the point raised on the prayers submitted by the plaintiff, and for no oilier purpose.

The declaration was filed on the fourth day of March 1845, and the demise is laid on the first of May 1842. The defendant rested his defence on possession solely. The main question, therefore, which is presented by the record is: Do the facts agreed upon, establish such a title in the lessor of the plaintiff, as to entitle him to recover ? The instructions asked were: First, That if the jury believed that the tract of land called “Myrtle Grove,” was held and possessed by those under whom the plaintiff claims, for more than twenty years prior to 1841, then, there is no necessity for the plaintiff to shew a patent. Second, That to entitle the plaintiff to recover, there is no necessity to shew that the lands in dispute were patented, provided, the jury find twenty years’ possession in those under whom the plaintiff claims, prior to the institution of the suit. And third, That if the jury found from the evidence, that Francis J. Mitchell possessed the land in dispute, from the year 1817, to the time of his death in 1825, and that immediately upon his death, his son and devisee, James D. Mitchell, possessed the same until his death in 1837, and that immediately after his death, that his widow, Elizabeth Mitchell, possessed the same, until her death in 1841, and that the possessions aforesaid were continued, peaceable, exclusive and uninterrupted, and that the plaintiff is the sister of the whole blood of James D. Mitchell, and that he died without issue, leaving no brother or sister other than the plaintiff, of the whole blood, then, the plaintiff is entitled to recover.

The first instruction asked, asserts the proposition, that an uninterrupted and exclusive possession by those under whom the plaintiff claims, for twenty years prior to the year 1841, dispenses with the necessity, on the part of the plaintiff, to show a patent for the land; and the second only differs from it in this, that it only requires the jury to find such possession for twenty years, prior to the institution of the suit, which was in 1845. The third prayer asserts, substantially, the same principle, and asks the court to say to the jury, that if a portion of the facts agreed rrpon be found by them, that then, non obstante anything else, the plaintiff is entitled to recover.

From the facts in the case, it appears the defendant was in possession of the locus in quo, from 1841, to the time of the institution of the suit, claiming it as the property of his son.

The general principles of ejectment law in Maryland, have been settled by a long series of unvarying decisions, and cannot be disturbed by this court, however hard may be their operation in particular cases. Among these, is, that the plaintiff must recover, if at all, on the strength of his own title, and cannot do so because of the weakness of that of the defendant. Another, is, that he must show that he has the legal title to the land, and a right of possession, and that he cannot establish such legal right in himself, without first showing the land has been granted by the State. The cases in 2 H. & J., 125; 11 G. & J., 358, and 3 H. & J., 26, are full on these points. They merely affirm what has always been the law of Maryland.

But it is said, that the act of 1818, ch. 90, has effected a change in some of these doctrines, at least so far as the cases which it embraces are concerned. Were it not for the act of 1818, on the evidence in the case before us, it must be admitted, the plaintiff could not recover, whatever might be his position, according to the decisions in England, and of some of our sister States, in “which it has been held, that priority of and greater length of possession, is all that need be shewn by ihe plaintiff, when the defendant relies solely upon a possession of a lesser duration in point of time. See 7 Bing. 156; 10 Johns. 356; 2 Sargt. and Rawle, 57.

The question then, is, does the act of 1818, ch. 90, under the circumstances of this case, authorize a recovery on the part of the lessor of the plaintiff?

It is urged on the part of the appellant, with great force, and on wdiat are deemed grounds of natural justice and public policy, that by the act in question, the State designed to surrender all title to lands possessed by any person, or body politic or corporate, or those under whom they claim, for a period of twenty years after the month of January 1819, and before action brought; whilst on the other hand, it is contended, the true meaning of the act limits its operation to defendants, and that it cannot be availed of by plaintiffs, and that it did not oust the State of its title, but merely rendered ineffectual to disturb the possession of defendants, any patent which might be granted for lands taken up under a common or special warrant, or warrant of resurvey.

We do not deem it proper, in this case, to decide all the questions raised in argument, and wish to be distinctly understood as pronouncing no opinion on the question, whether plaintiffs as well as defendants, can avail themselves of the provisions of the act of 1818, nor do “we decide, whether or no, the act in the instances enumerated in it, be a grant or confirmation of title, to persons who have held for twenty years prior to bringing suit. All we wish to be understood as deciding, in this connection, is, that the act of 1818, under the admitted, facts in this case, does not dispense with the obligation imposed on the plaintiffj to show that there is no such outstanding and subsisting title in the State, as will prevent her recovery. The act provides: “That whenever land shall be taken up under a common or special warrant, or warrant of resurvey, any person or persons, bodies corporate or politic, may give in evidence, under the general issue, his, her or their possession thereof; and if it shall appear in evidence, that the person or persons, bodies corporate or politic, or those under whom they claim, have held the lands in possession for twenty years, before the action or actions brought, such possession shall be a bar to all right or claim derived from the State, under any patent issued upon such warrant or warrants; provided always, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to affect any title or titles, under any common or special warrant, or warrant of resurvey, where the same shall have been laid before the passing of this act.”

Now if it were conceded, that this act could be availed of by a plaintiff, yet, under the facts admitted in the case, now before us, it is manifest, the plaintiff is not entitled to recover. The possession on which she relies, is embraced within the time intervening between 1817 and 1841, a period of twenty-four years. The act expressly excepts out of its operation, all titles arising under any common or special warrant, or warrant of resurvey, laid prior to its passage. What is there in the facts before us to show, that a warrant had not issued to the defendant, or some one else, prior to the passage of the act? Nothing. It is perfectly consistent with the facts, that either one of the warrants mentioned in the act, may have issued in 1817, or before that time; and in consequence of it and subsequent proceedings, a patent may have issued to defendant, or some person other than the plaintiff, or those under whom she claims, prior to the year 1837; and if so, under any construction of the act of 1818, it could not avail the plaintiff. The act of 1839, ch. 34, does not affect this view, it merely authorises parties predicament-ed as therein described, to obtain a patent on the observance of certain formalities. It in nowise repeals the act of 1818, ch. 90.

We do not deem it necessary to allude to any outstanding title, which possibly may have arisen from an escheat warrant, regarding what we have said, touching the act of 1818, as sufficient to demons! rate the insufficiency of the evidence, to entitle the plaintiff to recover. We content ourselves with deciding the case before us, on its own facts; reserving, if the occasion should be presented, a full exposition of the meaning of the acts of 1818, 1839 and 1841, until a state of facts shall be before us, requiring a solution of all the important questions which they suggest.

Being of opinion, that the plaintiff did not exhibit a case negativing an outstanding title, and holding, that the uniform course of decision in this State rendered this indispensable, we discover no error in the ruling of the county court.

Judgment (firmed.