Fosgate v. Herkimer Manufacturing & Hydraulic Co.

— 356 — By the Court, Hubbard, J. The question of adverse possession was disposed of upon a former appeal. (9 Barb. S. C. Rep. 287.) The case is now strengthened on the part of the plaintiffs by the additional proof of the written contract of sale of the premises from Bela Fosgate to John Suiter. This contract completely silences all pretense of an adverse occupation by the manufacturing company or their grantors. Bela Fosgate obtained the legal title in 1813, and from that time occupied till 1821, when he sold the premises to Suiter, who then went into possession under this contract. The contract was payable in nine yearly payments; and hence was in life, by its terms, till the year 1830. In 1824, the premises were sold on an execution upon a judgment in favor of John 0. Ryan against Suiter, and bid off, and subsequently, in 1826, conveyed by the sheriff to Ralph Merry. About the time of the deed, Suiter surrendered the possession to Merry, who, and his grantees, continued to occupy till the manufacturing company obtained their conveyance, in 1834; since which time they have occupied. From this statement of facts it is plain that Suiter, the purchaser under an executory contract, could not question'the title of Bela Fosgate, his vendor. . (Jackson, ex dem. Livingston, v. Walker, 7 Cowen, 637. Jackson, ex dem. Shaw, v. Spear, 7 Wend. 401. Luce v. Carley, 24 Id. 451.) Nor could he hold adversely, until he had performed the conditions of his agreement to purchase, so as to entitle him to a conveyance. (Jackson, ex dem. Young et al. v. Camp, 1 Cowen, 605. Jackson, ex dem. Swartwout and wife, v. Johnson, 5 Id. 74.) When the consideration is paid, the agreement is tantamount to a deed, as the foundation for an adverse possession. (La Frombois v. Jackson, ex dem. Smith et al. 8 Cowen, 589. Clapp v. Bromagham, 9 Id. 530. Briggs v. Prosser, 14 Wend. 227.) At the time of the execution sale, the statute authorized a sale of a contract interest in land. It must be held, therefore, that Merry, the purchaser, became substituted as to the rights and interests of Suiter, and that he entered into possession in subordination to the title of Bela Fosgate, the vendor. (Talbot v. Chamberlin, 3 Paige, 219.) And neither himself nor those — 357 — holding under him, could interpose any adverse claim, which did not appertain to Suiter. There is no evidence in the case that the contract has ever been paid or satisfied, or that any thing has been paid upon it. There is no evidence whether Merry, at the sheriff’s sale, intended to purchase or supposed he purchased the absolute fee, or merely the contract interest of Suiter. In the absence of proof, it will be presumed that he purchased with knowledge of, and in subservience to the legal title of Fosgate, because no presumption, unless arising legitimately from facts proved, can be indulged as a basis of an adverse possession, against the legal title. Strict proof of a possession hostile in its inception, is necessary. (Brandt, ex dem. Walton, v. Ogden, 1 John. Rep. 156. Jackson, ex dem. Winthrop, v. Waters, 12 Id. 865.) But if it is conceded that Merry’s entry, in 1826, was hostile, then the defense fails, because 25 years of adverse holding had not elapsed when this suit was commenced. This action would, in such case, be regarded as brought in the place of a writ of right. The revised statutes, which took effect in 1830, reduced the period of adverse occupation requisite to bar the legal title, from 25 to 20 years, and substituted ejectment in the place of the writ of right. The 45th section of the act, (2 R. S. 800,) concerning the commencement of suits, expressly excepts from, the provisions of that law, cases where the right of entry and action had previously accrued. In this case it accrued, if at all, in 1826, and hence a possession of 25 years was indispensable as a basis of title. This suit was commenced in 1849 ; that period, therefore, had not elapsed. (Cole v. Irvine, 6 Hill, 634.) It is not disputed that the plaintiffs are heirs at law of Bela Fosgate, who died in 1830; they are, therefore, entitled to recover in the action, upon the seisin of their ancestor. The remaining question is as to the extent of that recovery. I think it must be limited to three-fourths of the premises; there is an outstanding title to one-fourth in Walter Fosgate, who is proved to be one of the heirs, and whose death, or that he died without issue, is not established. — 358 — The burden of showing- the death, or in other words, a complete title in the plaintiffs, was incumbent on them. The proof of death entirely fails, because wholly inadmissible as hearsay. The fact was susceptible of definite proof; it was of recent occurrence, and should have been positively established. Family tradition of the death of a member, except the declarants be themselves dead, is inadmissible." (Stein v. Bowman, 13 Peters' Rep. 220. 1 Phillipps’ Ev. 194, 197. Jackson, ex dem. Garland et al. v. Browner, 18 John. Rep. 39.) Hearsay evidence, as applied to the fact of death, is governed by the same rules applicable to any other fact in litigation. It is only admitted, because of the necessity of the case, to establish propositions which can not be established by direct or primary evidence. In this Case, there was "no necessity of a resort to secondary evidence. The alledged death was recent. It occurred in the state of Texas. It could have been proved by living witnesses, whose testimony could have been obtained upon- commission, and when thus attainable it is the only competent evidence, and must be adduced. (Mima Queen v. Hepburn, 7 Cranch, 290. 1 Greenleaf's Ev. § 124. Jackson, ex dem. The People, v. Etz, 5 Cowen, 319.) It is well settled, that hearsay of death is only admissible under the same limitations and restrictions as on a question of pedigree. (Cowen Sp Hill’s Notes, p. 612 and cases cited.) And the ground upon which the admission of secondary evidence, in" cases of pedigree, rests, is, that from the great lapse of time, remoteness of the occurrence, or other circumstances, the law" presumes' for the ends of justice, that original, or direct evidence is not attainable; that all memorials of the fact are lost; and that there are no witnesses living. (2 Phil. Ev. 238, 4th Am. ed. 10 East, 120. 18 John. 39.) In the last case, Ch. J. Spencer, alluding to the case of Higham v. Ridgway, (10 East, 129,) says: “ Mr. Justice Le Blanc lays down the rule of evidence in cases of pedigree with perspicuity, and places it on a reasonable ground. He considers it as a departure from the strict rules of evidence, on account of the great difficulty of proving remote facts in the ordinary way by living witnesses .; “ and on this — 359 — ground,” he says, “hearsay and reputation, have been admitted in cases of pedigree.” Under this reasonable rule, relationship, family membership, and death have been allowed to be proved by family tradition, when there are no witnesses living who could testify to the fact. So too, evidence of long absence in a foreign land, and reputed death, has been allowed. (Jackson v. Etz, supra ; Jackson, ex dem. Miner, v. Boneham, 15 John. 226.) Entries in family bibles are admitted in cases of pedigree; (Leggett v. Boyd, 3 Wend. 379;) but only when there is no living witness who can speak to the recorded fact. But even if the death had been sufficiently established, there is another reason why the recovery must be limited to three-fourths, to wit: it appears that Walter was married, and there is no evidence that he died without issue. In the strict action of ejectment, no presumption of title in the demandant can be indulged; the plaintiffs must prove that Walter died without issue, and that they succeeded to his share in the premises. This they have failed to do. It is contended by the defendants’ counsel, that a recovery can not be had against the defendants jointly; that the company are not in actual possession, and that the complaint does not make out a cause of action against them. An objection might perhaps have been taken by demurrer or answer, but the com-. pany have waived it, by claiming in their answer to be the owner of the premises, and it appearing in proof that the other defendants are tenants in possession under them. The company claim an interest in the controversy adverse to the plaintiffs, and were therefore properly made parties under § 118 of the code, in order to a complete determination of the controversy. The other defendants occupy separate rooms in the dwelling, but holding under a common landlord, and the answer not denying a joint tenancy in possession, the technical objection of misjoinder of parties can not now be heard. The right of all parties can be protected, and the ends of justice attained in the present form of action. The verdict was taken subject to the ppinion of the court upon a case. We are, therefore, to order such judgment as should — 360 — have been ordered at circuit. The plaintiffs, we think, are entitled to judgment for an undivided three-fourths of the premises in question, and the defendants to one-fourth. [Oneida General Term, January 5th, 1852, Judgment accordingly. W, F, Allen, Hubbard, and Pratt, Justices.]