Mitchum v. Shaw

The opinion of the Court was delivered by Mr. Justice Gage. This action involves the right to' fifty acres, o-f land. It professes, to- be an action for partition; the Circuit Court so held, and ordered partition. The real defendant, G. B. Clayton, has appealed, and stated nine exceptions, but there are but two' issues, and they of law. Confessedly, the land formerly belonged to Isaac Chassereau; he conveyed it by deed to his wife, Mary, by a peculiar instrument, which the Circuit Court has. construed; but which deed is not relevant -to. the issues upon which the cause must be decided. Mary conveyed the land by way of mortgage to the Bank of Hampton. That mortgage was foreclosed, and Clayton became the purchaser, at second hand, from the bank, and has been in possession of the land since 1904, claiming it as his. own. Connelly is his- tenant. Mary died at an unascertained day, before 1905. Isaac died at an unascertained day. The two left six children, to- wit: Emma R. Shaw, Sarah R. Rentz, M. Cornelia Mitchum, M. E. Chassereau, D. W. Chassereau, and W. J. Chassereau. The last named died and left six children, to- wit; Minerva Kinard and Henry, Willie, Wyman, Jere and George Chassereau (4th paragraph complaint). Before the commencement of this action- in 1911, there were two- actions to' recover this same land, one in 1905 and one in 1906. The parties thereto- will be referred to- hereinafter. These actions were confessedly for the recovery of real property. If this action is. of the same character, and by the same- parties or their representatives, then it is- barred by the statute, sec. 123, Code of Civil Procedure. *177 The plaintiff, however, stoutly contends that this is not an action for the recovery of real property, but an action for the partition of real property; and for authority he cites: Elmore v. Davis, 49 S. C. 1, 26 S. E. 898, and Foster v. Foster, 81 S. C. 301, 62 S. E. 320. It is true, the Court said in the former case, that the character of the action is determinable by the complaint, and not by the answer, which may raise the question of title. If that be so, the complaint in the case at bar is conclusive that this is not an action for partition so. far as. Clayton is concerned. 1 The 5th paragraph alleges that the whole title is in other parties to- the action than Clayton. If that be so, Clayton is wrongfully in possession (the complaint alleges he is in possession), and the only remedy to be had against him is to. eject him-. But on that issue the Constitution gives him the right to1 a trial by jury. ITe has no interest in a partition betwixt the owners of the whole title. It would be a feigned procedure, and in total denial of the rig-ht of trial by jury, to. allow three persons, to- litigate between themselves the division of a title, and in doing that to put out of possession a fourth party on the land and claiming it as his. own. Yet that is this case. Reams v. Spann, 28 S. C. 530, 6 S. E. 325. 2 Thereupon the second issue arises, and it is this: has the plaintiff heretofore had two actions to recover this land? In 1905 all the children of Isaac and Mary, except M. Elmo. Chassereau, sued the defendant, Clayton, for the recovery of the land. That action was discontinued. In the same year, Henry Mitchum, the present sole plaintiff, secured, to be made to himself, a deed of their interests, from all the heirs, of Isaac and Mary, except Emma Shaw, who held one-sixth, and three children of John, who' together held one-twelfth. *178 In the next year, 1906, Henry Mitchum, Emma Sha,w and one o-f the children of John, sued the defendant Clayton, and the Bank of Hampton for the recovery of the land. That action was discontinued. In 1911 the action now at bar was brought by Henry Mitchum, sole plaintiff. The two. actions first named were confessedly to' recover possession of the same land;, they were against the same defendant; they set up the same offensive .title, and Henry Mitchum or his assignors was the plaintiff. By the law of the land, the defendant, Clayton, may not now for the third time be haled into Court by these plaintiffs; they are limited to1 two' actions and no more. ■ • The judgment of the Circuit Court is reversed and the complaint is dismissed.