Baldwin v. Durfee

Garoutte, J. This is an action to recover possession of two small tracts of land. Plaintiffs failed to recover, and now appeal from an order denying their motion for a new trial. Defendant relied upon the statute of limitations, and the trial court found in his favor upon that plea. This" finding of the court is assailed as not supported by the evidence, and the evidence upon that issue is before us. Defendant made no claim of title founded upon a written instrument, judgment, or decree; hence he was bound to show possession and occupancy, by proof of a substantial enclosure, or that these two tracts of land had been usually cultivated or improved for a continuous period of five years. Appellant quotes quite largely from the evidence of the defendant as to his acts of possession, and then insists that such evidence fails to satisfy the statute. It is but fair to the defendant that his evidence should be weighed and considered as a whole, and that he should not be bound, in this court at least, by those [627] portions of it which are against him as against other portions that stand in his favor. Again, there is evidence in the record more favorable to him even than his own testimony. This evidence we are bound to consider, and are not at liberty to say that his case can be no stronger than his own evidence. Defendant’s title by adverse possession as to the twenty-four acre tract is based upon his claim that he has had it protected by a substantial inclosure for a time longer than the statutory period. This claim is abundantly established by the evidence, unless the fact that during flood times in the winter season certain portions of the inclosure were washed away and destroyed •changes the legal aspect of the case. These disasters to the inclosure occurred but seldom, and were repaired within a reasonable time in each instance. It is claimed by appellant that the continuity of possession was broken by the destruction of the fence. It is asserted that the possession contemplated by the law must be continuous .and uninterrupted, and that in a case like the present, where the inclosure is relied upon to establish the possession, that inclosure must stand continuously and uninterruptedly for the term of five years. In a general sense this is true; but a mere temporary destruction of portions of the inclosure by fire or flood does not defeat the statute of limitations. Such a construction would sacrifice substance to shadow, and does not come within the spirit and intent of the statute. As to the remaining tract involved in this litigation there was a great amount of evidence introduced tending to show that the particular parcel was substantially protected by an inclosure, and also usually cultivated. It would serve no good purpose to set out a detailed recital of this evidence. It was fragmentary and came from the mouths of many witnesses; but, taking it all together, after careful consideration we are not prepared to say that the court was unjustified in finding facts sufcient to support the plea of the statute. It is further insisted that defendant failed to show a [628] compliance with the statute as to the payment of taxes. There is no evidence in the record that either of the two tracts- in dispute was assessed to anybody save the defendant. If the assessment and levy of these taxes were a valid assessment and levy, and the various defective descriptions set forth in the assessment indicate grave doubt as to such validity, then the taxes were paid by defendant. Where the burden of proof upon this question rests becomes immaterial; for it fairly appears from defendant’s testimony that he paid all taxes assessed and levied upon the property m dispute. There is nothing further in the record demanding consideration. For the foregoing reasons the order appealed from is affirmed. Harrison, J., and Van Fleet, J., concur. Hearing in Bank denied. Beatty, C. J., dissented from the order denying a hearing in Bank.