Hall v. Collier

Beck, J. (After stating the foregoing facts.) 1. Complaint is made in the motion for a new trial that the court erred in charging the jury as follows: “It being understood that E. C. Lippitt once had title to the land in controversy, and that plaintiffs as his heirs would be entitled to one half of any property that he owned at his death, I charge you that the burden is on the defendant to show that title passed out of E. C. Lippitt during his lifetime; and if the defendant fails to show that by a preponderance of the evidence, you shordd find for the plaintiffs a one-half interest in the land in controversy.” This charge is not erroneous, as contended, on the ground that it erroneously put the burden of proof on Mrs. Hall, who is referred to as the defendant. The general burden of proving the case as laid was, of course, on the petitioners for the partition; but when they showed that title had once been in E. C. Lippitt, from whom all parties derived title, they established the fact which would authorize a partition of the lands as sought, unless the title of E. C. Lippitt had been divested during his life. The defendant asserted that there had been such a divestiture of title; and as to this particular affirmation the burden was upon her to establish it by evidence. “The burden of proof generally lies upon the party asserting or affirming a fact, and to the existence of whose case or defense the proof of such fact is essential,” etc. Civil Code, § 5746. 2. In addition to the formal application for partition, after showing the time during which the defendant had been in possession of the property and the annual rental value of it, and the proceeds of the sale of certain timber and turpentine from it, the petitioners alleged that they were entitled to one half of the income from the lands in controversy, and prayed that they have judgment [817] for their half, etc. In view óf these allegations, it was not error, on the ground that there were no pleadings to authorize the submission to the jury of such an issue, to charge the jury as follows: “If you find for the plaintiffs one half interest in the property in controversy, then you should find for the plaintiffs one half of any rents and profits which you may believe the evidence shows the defendant has- received from the land.” The proceedings in an ■application for partition of lands, under the provisions of section 5358 of the Code of 1910, are in the nature of a proceeding in equity; and the court has all the power and jurisdiction for hearing and determining the various matters in dispute • between the parties in respect to their title, and the question of mesne profits, as it would have in a case where an equitable petition is brought for the recovery of land and mesne profits. Park’s Code, § 5358, and citations thereunder. 3. T. M. Lippitt, the brother of E.. C. Lippitt and the former husband of Mrs. Hall, the defendant, was for some years in possession of the lands in question. Mrs. Hall insists that his possession was as her agent, and that his possession was her possession. During the time of his possession T. M. Lippitt made statements to diffetent parties, under- varying circumstances, as to the character of his possession; his sayings tending to show that the land was the property of the estate of E. C. Lippitt, and that he (T. M. Lippitt) did not claim to be in possession in his own right. During that time he returned the land for taxation in the name of himself as administrator of the estate of E. C. Lippitt. All this evidence was objected to on the ground that it was irrelevant, and that the sayings and statements of T. M. Lippitt were not admissible against the defendant. The court properly admitted this evidence. “Declarations of a person in possession of property, in disparagement of his own title, are admissible in evidence in favor of any one, and against privies.” Civil Code, § 5767. From the statement of .facts in the case of McLeod v. Swain, 87 Ga. 156 (13 S. E. 315, 27 Am. St. R. 229), it appears that Mrs. Swain brought ejectment against McLeod and others for the recovery of a tract of land. In the trial of the case, after Mrs. Swain had proved by her own testimony that a certain Mrs. Wiggins, who at one time was in possession of the land and remained in possession for many years until her death, was her tenant, the court, over defendants’ [818] objection, admitted proof of declarations made by Mrs. Wiggins ivbile in possession of the land, to the effect that she held it as the tenant of the plaintiff, and that it was the land of the plaintiff. The court held that this testimony as to declarations made by Mrs. Wiggins while in possession of the land was properly admitted, stating their ruling in the language contained in the third headnote above. 4-6. ELeadnotes 4 to 6 inclusive require no elaboration. Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.