Brundage v. Bivens

Simmons, O. J. Assuming the burden of proof, the plaintiffs established by competent evidence their claim as remaindermen under the will of Stephen Bivens, who died in possession of the land in dispute. This was sufficient to make out a prima facie case in their favor. Wolfe v. Baxter, 86 Ga. 705. It was further shown that their father, John T. Bivens, took under the will as life-tenant, and in 1866 or 1867 went into possession of the tract in dispute, presumably in that capacity, though at the date of his death, which occurred in May, 1897, he was not seized thereof. The present action of ejectment was commenced August 24 of the same year. The defendants introduced in evidence a deed from Stephen B. and James W. Stubbs to William M. Roberts, dated October 24, 1878, purporting to convey to the latter a fee-simple title to the-premises in controversy, which were described therein as a tract containing a designated number of acres “known as the-Stephen Bivens land.” This deed also contained the follow [807] ing recital: “ Said land also deeded to E. M. Walker as guardian of said Stephen B. Stubbs and as trustee for said James W. Stubbs from John T. Bivens; said deed recorded in Book ‘S’ of deeds in Jones superior court.” By parol evidence it was shown that Roberts entered upon the land by virtue of this instrument and remained in possession up to the date of his death in 1886, since which time the defendants have held continuous possession, claiming under him as heirs at law. It further appeared that John T'. Bivens, about the year 1867, “sold this land to the Stubbs boys, [whereupon] he went out of possion and they took possession ”; but no conveyance evidencing this sale was introduced in evidence. Erom the plea filed by the defendants in resistance to the action, it would seem that they rested their defense solely upon a claim of title by prescription. That, under the evidence submitted, this claim was not sustained, is evident. So long as John T. Bivens remained in life, no action for the recovery of the land could have been, maintained by the plaintiffs. See City Council of Augusta v. Radcliffe, 66 Ga. 469; Franke v. Berkner, 67 Ga. 264; Ford v. Cook, 73 Ga. 221; Bagley v. Kennedy, 81 Ga. 721; Taylor v. Kemp, 86 Ga. 181; McDonald v. McCall, 91, Ga. 304; Wallace v. Jones, 93 Ga. 421; Wells v. Dillard, 93 Ga. 683; Napier v. Anderson, 95 Ga. 618, 628. “The life-tenant being entitled to the possession of the property, no suit could be maintained therefor by the remaindermen, and no possession thereof could become adverse, so as to ripen into a prescriptive title as against the remaindermen, so long as the life-tenant lived.” Bull v. Walker, 71 Ga. 196. Nor can» it be said that the defendants in any other manner met the prima facie case made out by the plaintiffs. So far as was shown, John T. Bivens had no interest whatever in the land in controversy save that which he acquired under the will from Stephen Bivens, which was a mere life-estate. No greater interest could, therefore, pass into the “Stubbs boys,” to whom John T. Bivens sold, or be conveyed by them to Roberts, so as to descend to his heirs. In other words, the defendants appear to stand in the shoes of the life-tenant, claiming adversely to the plaintiffs under a common grantor. If so, the [808] fact that tbe life-estate no longer exists would conclusively show the right of the remaindermen to enter. If not, the defendants merely show that they claim under a title derived from a person in possession in 1866 or 1867, whereas the plaintiffs show a conveyance from Stephen Bivens, who was shown to have entered into possession some time prior to 1854 and remained seized of the premises up to his death, shortly before the probate of his will in October, 1863. A better adverse title was, therefore, not shown. Bagley v. Kennedy, 85 Ga. 703, 707. Moreover, so far as the record before us discloses, the subsequent possession of the party under whom the defendants claim was not adverse to, but apparently entirely consistent with, the title asserted by the prior occupant, Stephen Bivens. We accordingly hold that the trial judge properly directed a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs, which holding necessarily also disposes of the defendants’ contention that the court, aside from the error committed in giving this direction to the case, erroneously overruled their motion that the jury be instructed to return a finding in their favor, upon the ground that no title had been shown in the plaintiffs upon which they could recover. Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concurring, except 'Lumpkin, P. J., absent.