Smith v. Morgan

68 Wis. 358 | Wis. | 1887

Cassoday, J.

The amount of timber taken from the lands in question by the defendants in the winter of 1880-81 was in dispute. The Morgans claimed the right to the timber by an agreement with Porter, whom they paid for the privilege of cutting and taking off the same. Porter merely held school-land certificates for the lands, but had no title. The Morgans were to let Streeter have two thirds of the logs taken from the land, in payment for cutting and putting them in. Before the cutting, the Morgans gave to Streeter descriptions of the lands in question, among others, from which he was by them directed to cut. The Morgans bought of Sbt'eeter his portion of the logs, and manufactured them all into lumber at Oshkosh. They claim they are only liable for the stumpage value of the logs.

The only questions necessary to consider here are the plaintiff’s right to recover, and the rule of damages applicable. There is no pretense that the school-land commissioners gave to Porter or the defendants, or any of them, any “ written consent,” or any consent, to cut or remove from said lands the timber in question, or any of it* This being so, such certificate so held -by Porter conferred no right to cut down or carry off any standing wood or timber, except to be exclusively used in the erection of fences or buildings on such, land, or for necessary fire-wood thereon, or.for improving the same in good faith for cultivation. Sec. 220, R. S. There is no claim that any of the timber so cut came within any of such exceptions. After the forfeiture of the lands under the certificates so held by Porter, such certificates became utterly void and of no effect. Sec. 224, R. S.; Conklin v. Hawthorn, 29 Wis. 476. By reason of such forfeiture, Porter, and the defendants acting under him, were liable to be sued for any waste or any unnecessary injury which he or they had done to the same or to the timber thereon, and the commissioners were expressly authorized to prosecute any action therefor in the name of the state. Sec. 226, R. S. Had Porter, after such removal of timber and forfeiture, sought to obtain a patent, he would only have had a right thereto' “ by paying the amount then due the state on such certificates, with all legal charges, and in addition thereto one hundred per centum thereon penalty, and all the expenses of seizure and care.” Sec. 241, R. S. The plaintiff, having received the patent for the lands in question pursuant to law, thereby acquired the right to all timber, lumber, trees, wood, etc., cut, taken, or removed therefroniHbefore the issuance of such patent, and was thereby authorized to maintain any proper action for the recovery thereof, or for any injury done to, or trespass committed upon, said lands before such patent issued, in the same manner and with the like effect as if such injury or trespass had been committed after the patent had issued. Sec. 222, R. S.; Conklin v. Hawthorn, supra. Under the statutes cited there would seem to be no doubt as to the right of the plaintiff to maintain the action for the value of the timber so actually cut and removed from the land in question.

The question remains as to the proper measure of damages. The section of the statutes last cited provides that the person receiving such patent “ shall be entitled to lilce damages as if such injury or trespass had been committed after the patent had issued.” Sec. 222. In such case, “ the highest market value of such logs, timber, or lumber, in whatsoever place, shape, or condition, manufactured or un-manufactured, the same shall have been at any time before the trial while in the possession of the trespasser or any purchaser from him with notice, shall be found or awarded to the plaintiff if he succeed, except as in this section provided.” Sec. 4269. The only provision therein for enabling such trespasser or purchaser with notice to escape the payment of such highest market value, is to make and serve on the plaintiff the affidavit that such cutting was done by mistake, and therewith an offer in writing to allow judgment, etc. No such affidavit or offer was made in the case at bar. Another provision for enabling such trespasser, or purchaser with notice, to escape the payment of such highest market value, was enacted by ch. 239, Laws of 1882. That provides, in effect, that when the defendant in such action shall have in good faith acquired a title to and entered upon the land under the same, believing such title valid, and shall have cut the timber therefrom under such circumstances, then the plaintiff’s recovery shall be limited to actual damages sustained by reason of such cutting; in which case the defendant in his answer shall state the facts upon which he relies to establish such claim of title, etc. The defendants apparently sought to bring themselves within that provision, but the facts clearly do not. The title to the lands was in the state. Porter had no title authorizing him to cut and remove timber from the land for the purpose of manufacture and sale, and could confer none upon the defendants or any of them. Neither he nor they could, as against the state or its grantee, in good faith acquire title to or enter upon the land under the same, believing such title valid. They were each and all chargeable with knowledge of the provisions of the statute. Those who trespass upon the public lands or purchase with notice from such trespassers do so at their peril. As a general rule the state is not to be bound by general words in a statute, restrictive of prerogative right, title, or interest, unless expressly named. U. S. v. Herron, 20 Wall. 251; Palmer v. Hutchinson, 6 App. Cas. 619, 34 Eng. (Moak), 666; People v. Herkimer, 4 Cow. 345, 15 Am. Dec. 379, and cases cited in the notes. Streeter cut the timber from these particular lands in pursuance of previous directions given therefor by the Morgans. There being no affidavit of mistake, and the facts not being such as to bring the case within the provision of oh. 239, Laws of 1882, it is conclusively presumed that the defendants knew the title was in the state at the time of such entry. It follows that, under the statute, the plaintiff was entitled to such highest market value.

The charge contains this instruction: “If the jury find .from the evidence that the defendants purchased the timber in good faith, and entered upon the land and cut and took the logs believing in good faith that they had acquired title to such timber, then the plaintiff is only entitled to recover actual damages sustained by him by reason of such cutting, and is not entitled to recover the market value of the logs or lumber so made out of such logs.” This was error under the rule stated. The instructions requested to the contrary should have been given.

The action is maintainable against all the defendants jointly. Smith v. Briggs, 64 Wis. 497.

By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for a new trial.