155 P. 1190 | Or. | 1916
delivered the opinion of the court.
• ■ The suit is based upon allegations of cruel and inhuman treatment. It is unnecessary to quote the evidence, which amply sustains the complaint. The decree granting the divorce was properly rendered. Plaintiff and defendant were married August 28, 1907, and soon thereafter settled upon a homestead in Lincoln County, where they resided for more than five years. In December, 1913, the defendant completed his entry and made final proof for the land described 'in the complaint. The contention is made on behalf •of defendant that the court had no jurisdiction to decree to plaintiff an interest in his land, for the reason that, although final proof was made under the United States homestead laws and a final receipt received therefor, the patent had not been issued at the time of .the decree. The principal reason assigned for this position is that under Section 2296, Rev. Stats. U. S.
Section 511, L. O. L., provides that, whenever a marriage shall be declared void or dissolved, the party at whose prayer such decree shall be made shall in all cases be entitled to the undivided third part in his or her individual right in fee of the whole of the real estate owned by the other at the time of such decree. The question therefore is: Was the defendant the owner of the land at the date of the decree within the meaning of the statute?
The word “owner” as applied to land, has no fixed meaning which can be declared to be applicable under all circumstances and as to any and every enactment. It usually denotes a fee-simple estate, but it has been defined to be: “One who has the usufruct, control, or occupation of land”: 6 Words and Phrases, p. 5135; Coombs v. People, 198 Ill. 586 (64 N. E. 1056). The statute above referred to, in effect, directs that the ownership of the land of the party in fault shall be transferred to the party in whose favor the decree is granted. Defendant’s title to the land could unquestionably be conveyed: Howard v. Reckling, 31 Or. 161 (49 Pac. 961). We think within the meaning of this law that he was the owner of the realty. By force of the decree the title in fee of an undivided one-third part of the whole of the property described was conveyed. The words “in fee,” as used in the statute, signify an estate of inheritance: 1 Bouvier, Dict. of Law, p. 766; 3 Words and Phrases, p. 2705. These'words are employed in the law to denote that all the estate, right, title and interest in the one-third part of the land of the party against whom the decree is rendered is to be conveyed to the party in whose favor the decree is granted. Plaintiff and defendant together settled and resided upon the land in question and improved it, and the defendant obtained title thereto.- There can be no
After a careful examination of all the matters we are thoroughly convinced that the decree of the lower court was right. It is therefore affirmed. Affirmed.