24 Colo. 192 | Colo. | 1897
delivered the opinion of the court.
The specifications of error are numerous, but the important objections they present may be included in the following questions: First, was the action rightly prosecuted in the name of the plaintiff ? Second, was the evidence introduced by plaintiff sufficient to show a valid location of the Zona K. claim, and prima facie ownership by him of the ground from which the ore was taken ? Third, did the court err in giving and modifying certain instructions defining the law relative to apex rights ?
Upon the trial of the cause the defendant undertook to show that the plaintiff was not the real party in interest, by inquiring of plaintiff upon cross-examination, if he had not, in parting with his title to the Zona K. claim prior to the commencement of suit, transferred to his grantee the right of action for the trespass complained of. We think the objection to this inquiry was properly sustained. Aside from the reason that it was not proper cross-examination, it was clearly inadmissible under the pleadings, such defense
It is urged in support of the second objection that the evidence introduced by plaintiff was insufficient to show a valid location of the Zona K. claim, or title thereto in the plaintiff, and that it also failed to show that the vein from which the ore in controversy was taken had its top or apex within the surface boundaries of that claim, but that it did disclose the. fact that such apex was not so included. It appears from the evidence that a location certificate of the Zona K. claim was filed in 1880, by one McKenzie. Plaintiff testifies that he purchased the claim from one Dumont, and entered into possession in 1885. At that time he found a notice posted at the point of discovery, that the claim was staked, without specifying in what manner; that the discovery disclosed good ore at the outcrop of the Zona K. vein; that he was in possession of the claim from the date of his purchase until he sold the same in 1894; and that he did one hundred and ten feet of work on the claim.
It further appears that an amended location certificate made by him was recorded on September 15, 1890, and that he also made and filed another amended location certificate on October 2, 1891. The defendant asserts no claim to the Zona K. claim itself, but justifies his intrusion within its surface boundaries upon his right to follow on its dip a vein which has its top or apex outside such surface boundaries. Notwithstanding his omission to produce the written conveyances showing the transfer of the title from the original locator to him, we think the evidence sufficiently shows a valid and subsisting location, in the actual and lawful possession of the plaintiff, which, prima facie at least, entitles him to maintain the present action.
But assuming that the validity and ownership of the Zona K. claim was sufficiently established for this purpose, appellant still contends that the evidence introduced on the part
With this contention we cannot agree. While it is true that the locator of a mining claim takes it subject to the right of others to follow and take ore from any vein on its dip tMough Ms ground, the top or apex of wMch is mcluded within another valid lode location, yet we think he is entitled to the presumption that what is contained within his surface boundaries is Ms, until the conditions upon which such extra lateral right depends are shown to exist, by the one who seeks to avail himself of such right. In Leadville Mining Co. v. Fitzgerald, 4 Morrison’s Mining Reports, 380, Judge.Hallett thus concisely states what we believe to be the correct rule in such cases:
“WitMn the lines of each location the owner shall be regarded as having full right to all that may be found, until some one can show a clear title to it as part of some lode or vein having its top and apex M other territory. To state the proposition m other words, we may say that there is a presumption of ownersMp in every locator as to the territory covered by Ms location, and within Ms own lines he shall be regarded as the owner of all valuable deposits, until some one shall show by preponderance of testimony that such deposits belong to another lode having its top and apex elsewhere.”
To the same effect are Doe v. Waterloo M. Co., 54 Fed. Rep. 935; Con. Wyo. Gold M. Co. v. Champion M. Co., 63
In this view the plaintiff’s evidence was prima fade sufficient to show his ownership of the ore taken from within the ground of the Zona K. claim, and it devolved upon the defendant to show his right thereto by a preponderance of evidence. The motion for nonsuit was properly denied. From this conclusion it follows that in meeting the burden imposed upon him to show his right to the ore in question by reason of the ownership of a vein or lode, the apex of which was included within the surface boundaries of the Ethlena claim, the defendant was entitled to have the jury correctly informed as to the law defining the rights of the owner of such a vein, and prescribing the conditions under which he is entitled to extra lateral rights.
Appellant claims that the law in this respect was not correctly given; that the court erred in its general instruction No. 6, wherein the jury were informed that “the apex must pass through both lines claimed as end lines. If the apex of the vein does not so pass through both the lines claimed as end lines, such lines can be considered only as side lines, and no location which has not end lines within the intent of the law can give any rights beyond its surface boundaries.” And also in modifying instructions No. 5 and 6 asked by him, which in substance requested the court to instruct the jury that if they found from the evidence that the owners of the Ethlena lode, or their grantors, had prospected and determined the course and direction of the Ethlena lode, and had found the course and strike of the lode as far as developed to be substantially parallel with, and running in the same direction as, the side lines of said claim, that he was entitled, prima fade, to the presumption that such vein continues throughout the length, and passes through the end lines, of said claim. The court added a modification to the effect that such presumption obtained only for the purpose of rights over the surface of the claim, and within the surface boundaries thereof,
Nor do we regard that question as involved in this case. Neither the pleadings nor the evidence present that issue. The theory of defendant, as disclosed by the allegations of Ms answer and proof, is that the apex of the Ethlena lode is entirely within the Ethlena location and passes tMough both end lines; while the plamtiff claims, and attempts to show, that if the lode from which the ore was taken has an apex in the meaning of the statute, that it is witMn territory to the north of the EtMena claim, and runs parallel with its end lines. It is manifest, therefore, that the question whether a locator of a mining claim has a right to follow a vein on its dip, when its top or apex passes through one end line, and on its strike departs from one of the side lines of his claim, is not presented in this case. The theory of defendant being that the Ethlena vein passes through both end lines, and having predicated his right to follow it into the ground m controversy because of the existence of that fact, he is not in a position to complain because the court gave the law applicable to such a theory. And since, therefore, the facts disclosed by the record do not require it, we are not at liberty to determine whether the extra lateral right conferred by the statute is incident to a lode or vein, the top or apex of which does not pass through both end lines. But, we are of the opinion, however, that under the
Reversed.
