10 Rob. 505 | La. | 1845
Lead Opinion
The plaintiffs assert that they are the owners and legal proprietors of a tract of land containing two hundred and seventy-five arpents, lying on the east fork of Grant’s bayou, about half a league west of Thompson’s creek, with certain boundaries as mentioned in a plat of survey made by Ira C. Kneeland in the year 1810. They claim it by virtue of several conveyances, as a part of a tract of one thousand superficial arpents granted and patented to Don Pedro Robin Delogny, by Governor M. Gay oso, on the 16th day of January, in the year 1799. On the 14th of November, 1820, Delogny, by his agent Labarte, sold to Samuel S. Crocker and Isaac Johnson, all that remained of a tract of land which he had in the parish of Feliciana, bounded in part by the Mississippi river and Thompson’s creek, which contained, after deducting about one hundred and sixty superficial arpents, previously sold to others, about three thousand one hundred and sixteen superficial arpents; the portion sold being divided into two lots, represented on a plat annexed to the sale by the letters A and B, and a red line en
The defendant answers by a general denial, and an allegation that he purchased the land at the probate sale of James P. Hearsey, with a general warranty of title. He prayed that the widow and heirs of Hearsey might be cited; and he further pleaded the prescription of ten years. The legal representative of Hearsey’s heirs, after a general denial of any personal responsibility, having accepted the succession with the benefit of inventory, and the widow having renounced the community, further say, that the land claimed by the plaintiffs does not comprise any portion of that sold to Riddle at the sale of the deceased, and that he has not been disturbed in the possession or enjoyment of that which he really purchased.
Although neither the defendant nor his warrantors, in their answers, set up any particular title in themselves, they were permitted, without objection on that ground, to offer evidence of one, and first offered a certified copy from a book filed and deposited in the office of the Register of the Land-Office in New Orleans, entitled, “ Registro de los primeros decretos de concesiones de tierra” — Register of the first decrees or orders of con
On the 6th of January, 1834, Rhea, by an authentic act, sold to Hearsey, according to the plat annexed to the grant from, the Spanish government, a tract of land of eight arpents front on Thompson’s creek, running back between parallel lines to meet the rear lines of the grants, fronting on the Mississippi, being the same lands granted to Don Felix Bernard, containing 236 2-5 arpents; but he only warranted the title to 153 arpents, fronting on the creek; and a,t the probate sale of Hearsey’s es»
The land in controversy, the plaintiffs allege, forms part of what the witnesses call “ the Pinchey tractand a witness named Rucker, says that he had known it about ten years previously to [May, 1844; that it was then in the possession of Rhea, under whom the defendant holds as vendee of Hearsey. Rhea always claimed it, but neither he nor Hearsey lived on it, but on the Bernard tract, though the lattter cultivated it. Kemperling testifies to the Bernard tract being occupied for more than fifty years. The grantee first occupied it, then Gibbons, and he believes Adolphus F. Smith was on it for a time, he being the son-in-law of Gibbons. Rhea never personally occupied the premises. Joseph H. Williams, under whom the plaintiffs claim, first cleared a field on the “ Pinchey tract” but his houses were on the land granted to Lewis Alston. Pie says that if the full quantity be allowed to the grant to Bernard, then the field is on that tract; but if not, then it is on the “ Pinchey tractthat he knows the side lines of the Bernard claim,- and, as he understands them, Williams opened the field on it. He was on it in 1812, or 1813. He says it was generally understood when the “ Pinchey tract” was surveyed, that the quantity was made out “ by shifty surveying.” Bates, the parish surveyor, who made a survey under the order of the court, says, that the tracts of land fronting on the Mississippi can all have their full compliment or quantity, without touching the Bernard tract at all; that it is fully three miles from its back line to the river. Pie says, that if he was called on to locate the Bernard and' Delogny tracts, he would first run out the first named grant,[giving it the full quantity. He proceeds to de
The court below was of opinion, that the plaintiffs had made out a regular chain of title from Pedro Robin Delogny to their ancestor; that it was not shown that the defendant, or his warrantors, were invested with the title in favor of Felix Bernard; and that prescription could not be based on the sale from Adolphus F. Smith to Rhea, made in 1819, because no actual residence on the premises was proved, nor did the certificate of confirmation from the United States to him give any title, as it enured to the benefit of Felix Bernard or his heirs, and that, therefore, the defendant had no title; a judgment was rendered against him for the land claimed, and in his favor against the warrantors for the sum of $500, the value of the land, from which judgment the said warrantors have appealed, and made the plaintiffs, and the defendant, Riddle, appellees.
That the Spanish Governor of Louisiana, in January, 1799, conceded, by a complete title, to Pedro Robin Delogny, a tract of land fronting on the Mississippi river of one thousand superficial arpents, with specified bounderies, as shown by the patent and survey accompanying it, is unquestionable. The plat and patent both call for the line of Zachariah Smith among others. The other evidence in the record, to wit, the plat made by Knee-land in 1810, and the plat annexed to the sale from Delogny to Crocker and Johnson, show conclusively, that the tract represented on Delogny’s Spanish plat, as being Zachariah Smith’s, is the identical tract granted to Felix Bernard, twelve years before. The plat by which Delogny sold calls for Bernard’s line. After this sale, every thing is left uncertain. It is not shown how much of the land purchased from Delogny was sold by Crocker and Johnson, previous to the sale from the former to the latter of his remaining interest, nor what quantity was transferred by the sale, nor is it shown how much Johnson sold previous to his death. At the sale of his succession two hundred and fifty-four arpents were sold to Jos. E. Johnson; two hundred and seventy-five arpents to the ancestor of the plaintiffs; and eight hundred arpents of swamp land to John Stirling. There
But assuming the title of the plaintiffs to be certain and regular from the original grantee, as held by the court below, let us see if the judgment can be sustained. The evidence proves beyond a doubt, that the boundary of Zachariah Smith, called for in Delogny’s patent and survey, is that of Felix Bernard, whose patent and survey are twelve years older, accompanied by possession and cultivation for many years — more than half a century — whilst there is no evidence of any one ever residing on and cultivating that part of the Delogny tract claimed by the plaintiffs, until their ancestor purchased from Johnson’s estate, in the year 1824. It has been long settled by this court, that a plaintiff in a petitory action must, to recover against a party in possession, claiming title also, not only show a better title than the defendant has, but must show a title as good as any the defendant can oppose to him, whether it be vested in him or not. 3 Robinson, 206. In the ease referred to, and in others, we have said that the outstanding title must be a legal, subsisting one, and a better one than plaintiff’s to protect the defendant, and we have on various occasions intimated that, in fairness, it should be stated in the answer, so as to give the plaintiff notice, that he may prepare to meet it. In this case, if the counsel for the
Upon the principles settled in the case of Thomas and, others v. Turnley (3 Robinson, 206), and in the case of Kirby’s Heirs v. Fogleman (16 La. 277), it would not be difficult to prove that the court below mistook the force and effect of the certificate of confirmation to Rhea, given by the Register and Receiver of the Land Office at St. Helena; but it is not necessary to go into 'that question, as, on the grounds stated, we are of opinion that the plaintiffs cannot recover.
The view we have taken of this case makes it unnecessary to decide upon the various bills of exception taken by the plaintiffs, as we have come to our conclusions upon evidence not objected to by them.
It is ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be annulled, and reversed; and ours is in favor of the defendant and warrantors, with costs in both courts,
This case had not become final at the period of the adjournment of the court in October.
Rehearing
The plaintiffs have asked for a re-hearing, for the purpose of correcting the judgment, so far as to have the land claimed by the plaintiffs, and in the possession of the defendant, not included in the Bernard patent, decreed to them. We did not suppose that our opinion could be misunderstood on that point. The defendant and his warrantors never set up any claim, and, as the case is now presented, do not appear to have any rights beyond the limits of the Bernard patent. That grant is their sole protection; and from the pleadings, there does not appear to be any claim to possession beyond it. We, therefore, did not think it necessary to give a judgment, when no conflicting title was set up, nor adverse possession alleged. Riddle purchased at Hear Key’s sale no more land than is contained in the patent and survey to Bernard, and he claims no more. We, therefore, do not think it necessary to disturb the judgment.
The re-hearing asked for is refused.