Horswell v. Ruiz

Sharpstein, J. The instructions given at the request , of the defendants in some instances contradict those which were given at the request of the plaintiffs. For example, one instruction, given at plaintiffs’ request, reads: “You are instructed that if a party goes upon the mineral lands of the United States and works thereon, without complying with the requirements of any law, either federal, district, or local customs, and relies exclusively on his possession or work; and a second party locates peaceably a mining claim covering the same ground, and in all respects complies with the requirements of the federal and district mining rules, laws, and regulations, .then such second party is entitled to the possession of such mineral ground as against the party in prior possession, who is, from the time said second party has perfected his location and complied with the law, a transgressor.” At the request of defendants the following was given: “The jury are instructed that, independently of any mining laws or customs, a party who first takes possession of an unclaimed mineral lode for mining purposes, may hold the same by actual work and occupation, to the extent of such work and occupation, as against all the world, except the "paramount proprietor, provided that he neither claims nor holds in excess of that to which, he would be entitled by. virtue of a compliance with the mining laws.” The law is correctly stated in the one first given. Morenhaut v. Wilson, 52 Cal. 263; Chapman v. Toy Long, 4 Sawy. 28; McCormick v. Varnes, 2 Utah, 355; Belk v. Meager, 104 U. S. 284; Hopkins v. Noyes, 4 Mont. 550. In the Eureka Case, 4 Sawy. 302, the court, Field, J., delivering the opinion, said: “The provision of the-statutes [113] of 1872, requiring the lines of each claim to be parallel to each other, is merely directory, and no consequence is attached to a deviation from its direction.” The court was requested by plaintiffs to so instruct the jury, and refused to do so. We think the instruction should have been given. The other exceptions are overruled. Judgment and order reversed. Thornton, J., and Myrick, J., concurred.