21 Or. 523 | Or. | 1892
Several questions arise upon this appeal, but the discussion of each of them is not deemed essential to a proper disposition of the cause.
The equity upon which the plaintiff proceeds is the alleged mistakes mentioned in the amended complaint. It may be seriously questioned whether or not the property is sufficiently described, which it is alleged was omitted
The real difficulty with which the appellant has to contend, arises out of the evidence. Looking at the evidence offered on the part of the plaintiff only, it is lacking in that precision, accuracy, and definiteness necessary to enable the court to make the decree which he seeks. The question whether there was a mistake or not, is left in doubt. (2 Pom. Eq. § 862.) Then, if there were some mistake or inaccuracy in the deed, its nature or extent is not apparent, nor is it in any manner made plain to the court by the evidence what were the descriptive words omitted from the deed through the alleged mistake. To say that he was to have a mile of the tide land or fishing grounds on Ohanna or Necanicum creek, is not sufficient. The plaintiff in his own evidence does not concede there was any mistake, but only that he was lately advised by his counsel that there was. After a very careful consideration of the evidence, I am unable to reach any other or different conclusion from that found by the court below. The plaintiff was bound to prove the alleged mistake by a preponderance of the evidence, and in this he has signally failed.
We find no error in the decree appealed from, and it must be affirmed.