Tisman v. School-District No. 10

90 Mich. 510 | Mich. | 1892

Grant, J.

Ejectment to recover possession of a small parcel of land in the N. W. corner of the S. of the S. W. i of section 6, township 5 N., range 16 E., which had been used and occupied by the defendant for school purposes for from 35 to 40 years prior to the commencement of this suit.

Plaintiff showed title to the entire land by patent from the United States government to one Porter, and from Porter, through other persons, to himself, and upon the introduction of these conveyances’ rested his case.

Defendant claimed under a lease executed by one Red-dick Hubbel to it in the year 1858 or 1859. The lease was lost, and its loss was sufficiently proven. The defendant then gave parol evidence of its contents. Its execution and contents were testified to by three witnesses, the substance of which is as follows: Hirman Hubbel .testified:

“We got the land for one-half acre. Am now director, and have held all the offices. I was at Reddick Hubbeks when the lease was signed. Adam Gaffield, Elias Williams, Reddick Hubbel, and his wife and daughter were present at the time. * * * I saw the lease and read it at the time it was signed by my brother. As near as I can recollect, it was for fifty years, or as long as we wanted it for school purposes. I think Williams, Gaffield, and Hubbel and wife signed the lease. Think it was given to Gaffield.”

Adam Gaffield testified:

“I was director. We accepted Hubbeks proposition to-take a lease for fifty years, or so long as we wanted it for school purposes, and pay him $15. * * * There was a lease given of this property by Reddick Hubbel and his wife. * * * The lease was in writing. * * * I wrote the lease. * * * Lease was for fifty years, or so long as they used it for school purposes. * * * The lease was delivered to me.”

Reddick Hubbel testified:

“ I gave the lease of the land. It was written by Gaffield. My wife and I signed it. * * * It was for fifty years, or so long as they used it for school purposes. Am sure of it. Saw it, and know it is so. Received $15 from the district.”

The records of the school-district were offered in evidence,, commencing in September, 1857. The district became legally organized either in 1857 or 1858. November 5,. 1857, a resolution was p'assed, fixing the school-house-site on Mr. Hubbeks land. September 36, 1859, at the-annual school-meeting, it was voted that the site for the school-house be on the ground where the old one stands. Previous to the legal organization of the district, a log school-house had been erected, and a school maintained by the payment of rates by the few inhabitants in the district. The present school-house was located where the log house stood. By the resolution of 1857, it was evidently contemplated to locate the school-house on another part of Mr. HubbeTs land; but at the annual meeting in 1859, it was decided to retain the old site. At the same meeting the following resolution was passed:

“ Voted we pay $15 for the school-house site to Beddick Hubbel, for one-half acre of land.”

A new school-house was erected shortly after upon this land, and a school has been taught there every year since.

Plaintiff introduced no evidence in regard to this lease* except to show that Beddick Hubbel had stated that the district had not any deed or lease; that, if a lease-was given at all, it was not for over 25 years; and that he did not know that he ever gave a lease.

The court instructed the jury that there were two-questions for them to decide:

1. Whether any lease was made.

2. Whether, if one was made, it was for a term of 25- or 50 years.

1. The testimony of the witnesses to the contradictory statements claimed to have been made by Beddick Hubbel could only be used to impeach Mr. Hubbel, who was not a party to the suit, and whose hearsay statements were-not binding upon the party in interest. Such testimony cannot be used to establish any material fact in the case; Howards v. Patrick, 38 Mich. 804; Brown v. Dean, 52 Id. 269; Catlin v. Railroad Co., 66 Id. 358. The learned circuit judge so instructed the jury. The result of the-application of this rule would be the exclusion of Mr. Hubbel’s testimony from consideration, if the jury believed the impeaching witnesses. Had the case rested upon his. testimony alone, the question should have been submitted to the jury., 'But the testimony of the other two witnesses to the execution and contents of the lease was positive and unimpeached. - A tenancy was admitted by the plaintiff, who had given notice to terminate it. No doubt existed that the defendant took possession under a lease, and had paid Mr. Hubbel $15 as the consideration for it, and had continued in undisputed possession for over 30 years. We think the circuit judge should have directed a verdict for the defendant.

2. A witness was permitted to testify that at a school-district meeting, in 1886 or 1887, he made a motion calling upon plaintiff to give the district a deed of the land. This motion was not even put to a vote, and furthermore appears to have been made after the meeting had adjourned. This testimony was incompetent. It has no tendency tp disprove the lease or its contents.

3. It is insisted by plaintiff’s counsel that the lease was in fact executed before the district was legally organized, and while the school was conducted under the voluntary organization of the inhabitants. The plaintiff •and his grantor, Mr. Hubbel, are estopped to raise this ■question. A lessor who has received • the full consideration for his lease cannot question the right of his lessee to hold. The possession of the defendant was notice to plaintiff of its rights. It is therefore immaterial to determine whether the lease was executed be-lore or after the legal organization of the district.

The judgment is reversed, and a new trial ordered.

The other Justices concurred.