Stephens v. Mansfield

1. The Court below erred in treating a verbal sale of land as an abandonment. 2. The judgment is inconsistent with the facts found, and erroneous. [364] Sanderson & Hewes for Respondent. The points upon which respondent relies are briefly as follows: 1. That the verbal contract between Hunter and Stephens conferred a valid title. 2. That if that contract was within the statute of frauds, and consequently void, that Stephens must be presumed to have and actually did abandon all right to the lot long before we became the possessors of it. The bargain, sale or arrangement made between Hunter and Stephens, transferred Stephens’ rights to the lotto Hunter. The plaintiff cannot deny the recitals of the deed from Jane Shearer; he claims under it. That deed admits the fee of the lot to be in the United States; besides the “ Settler’s Act ” presumes it to be public land; the pleading and proof establish that fact. In 1852, .then, Stephens was a mere occupant of the land; had simply the right of possession; was a tenant at will of the United States. “ The occupancy of the public lands of the United States constitutes a tenancy at will.” Duncan v. Potts, 5 Ala. 82. “ The interest of a tenant at will in real estate is not such an interest as can be assigned; an agreement to transfer such interest is not therefore within the statute of frauds.” Whittemore v. Foster, 4 N. H. 484. “ A verbal sale of a pre-emptor’s claim to improvements, to a purchaser who takes immediate possession, confers a valid title.” Bledsoe v. Cains, 10 Texas, 455. The Legislature have treated “possessory claims to public lands” as personal property, and so declared it. In 1853, the Legislature provided for mortgages “ upon possessory claims to public lands, all buildings and improvements on such lands, all quartz claims, and all other such personal property, ¿•c.” Comp. Laws. 711. True, that this Court, in Winans v. Christy, 4 Cal. R. 70, says that defendants in ejectment are not permitted to show that the fee of the land is in the United States. But in Anderson v. Parker, 6 Cal. R. 197, they very clearly intimate, if they do not expressly hold a dif [365] ferent doctrine. And Winans v. Christy does not apply to this case; the defendant does not offer to show that the fee is in the United States; the plaintiff does that when he introduces his deed. Again : Hunter and Stephens treated Stephens’ interest in the lot as personalty. We conceive that an agreement between parties will be presumed valid, as amounting to a binding contract, if such presumption violates no rule of law. We submit also, that if the agreement between Stephens and Hunter is susceptible of such a construction, that the subsequently acquired rights to the lot by innocent third persons can be preserved, that that construction will be given to it; and in this connection we are brought to an examination of the second point, or the question of abandonment. The District Judge bases his opinion and decision of the case solely upon this point, and we deem it unnecessary to more than refer the Court to his opinion. Every circumstance in the case shows that Stephens gave up, abandoned, left (without the intention of returning) the lot to Hunter. “ The inference of abandonment may arise from a single act, and determines the right of property from the day of the act.” Davis v. Butler, 6 Cal. 510. “ Where a party can show no title but a prior possession, that will fail, if it be shown that he voluntarily abandoned his possession without the intention of returning.” Bequette v. Caulfield, 4 Cal. 278. We think that the case of Moore v. Small, 9 Barr, 194, recognizes the doctrine, that one may for a consideration abandon an inchoate right to land. This case was decided at the July Term, 1858, but was suspended by a petition for a new hearing, which was denied at the subsequent April Term. Terry, C. J., after stating the facts, delivered the opinion of the Court— Field, J., concurring. We think the ruling of the Court below clearly erroneous. Admitting the interest of plaintiff in the premises such as could be divested by abandonment, there can be no such thing as abandonment in favor [366] of a particular individual, or for a consideration. Such act would be a gift or sale. An abandonment is “ the relinquishment of a right, the giving up of something to which we are entitled.” Bouv. “ Abandonment must be made by the owner, without being pressed by any duty, necessity or utility to himself, but simply because he desires no longer to possess the thing; and further, it must be made without any desire that any other person shall acquire the same; for if it were made for a consideration it would be a sale or barter, and if without consideration, but with an intention that some other person should become the possessor, it would be a gift.” Id. Stephens transferred the possession to Hunter for the consideration of six hundred dollars; this fact is entirely inconsistent with the idea of abandonment. The question as to the ownership in fee of the land in controversy could not arise in this action. Plaintiff had possession under a deed duly recorded, and the defendant, having entered with notice of, and in subordination to plaintiff’s title, cannot be permitted to deny it in this action. Judgment reversed and cause remanded.