Washington & Idaho Railroad Co. v. Coeur D'Alene Railway & Navigation Co.

WEIR, C. J. This is an appeal from a judgment in favor of the plaintiff against the defendants, in which the plaintiff asks a judgment and decree of this court enjoining the defendant, and all persons claiming under it, from in any manner entering upon the right of way of the plaintiff at the town of Wallace, in the county of Shoshone, extending in length a mile and a half, and in width one hundred feet on each side of the central line of the railroad of plaintiff, as surveyed and designated on the ground, and from further constructing said railroad on said right of way, and from interfering with the plaintiff in the peaceable and exclusive possession and occupancy of said right of way; and that the title be decreed in the plaintiff as against the defendant. It therefore appears that this action is for a final judgment of injunction in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendant. An answer was interposed by the defendant, and upon issues framed the cause came on for trial. A preliminary injunction was granted in this cause, hut was subsequently vacated upon motion. It appears from the findings in this case that, at the time of the trial thereof, the defendant had completed its line of road over the disputed ground, and was in the actual use and occupation of the same. The plaintiff, it would seem, had an adequate remedy at law, if its contention is correct, and the court below was right in refusing a judgment of perpetual injunction, as prayed for; but we think that the court should not, in that case, have passed upon the ownership and title of the premises in question, but should have left the plaintiff to his action at law. The judgment of the court below should be modified as we have stated, and, as modified, the same is affirmed, without costs to either party in this court or in the court below.