Williams v. Savannah, Florida & Western Rwy. Co.

On October 2, 1889, B. F. Williams brought his action against the Savannah, Florida & Western Railway-Company, to recover a strip of land. He relied on a-deed to himself from Lyon, executor of Martin, dated December 10, 1860, recorded June 29, 1861, conveying [541] 315 acres of land lot 166 in the 8th district of Ware, formerly Appling county, bounded on the northwest side by the Savannah, Albany and Gulf railroad, or Atlantic and Gulf railroad as otherwise known (now the defendant’s railroad), and on all other sides by the original boundary of said original survey; with possession claimed thereunder from the date thereof to the time of suing. The strip sued for is described in the declaration as a part of said 315 acres, “running from the mill branch on the southeast along and parallel with the track ■of the Savannah, Florida and Western railroad to the Brunswick & Western railroad on the northwest, having a length along said Savannah, Florida and Western railroad of seven hundred and fifty yards, more or less, and having width along said distance of from sixty to seventy feet, containing five acres of land, more or less, situated, lying and being in the town of Way cross, and county, •district and State aforesaid.” It was alleged that the •defendant had entered on the land and inclosed this .strip with fences. B. F. Williams died after the suit was brought, and an order was taken making all his heirs at law parties plaintiff “ suing for the use of Sarah F. Williams,” and by subsequent amendment the words quoted were stricken. ‘At the close of plaintiffs’ evidence, defendant moved for a nonsuit on the grounds: (1) that the plaintiffs as heirs at law were not the proper parties to the suit, but the administrator' was the proper party; (2) that the evidence was not sufficient to authorize a recovery by plaintiffs. The nonsuit was granted, .and plaintiffs excepted. There was considerable testimony, which need not be recited, as to possession and acts of ownership by B. F. Williams, touching the strip in controversy. G. J. Holton & Son and J. S. Williams, for plaintiffs. Erwin, duBignon & Chisholm, S. W. Hitch, S. T. Kingsbury and Goodyear & Kay, for defendant.