Doe ex dem. Cook v. Webb

CHILTON, J. It is perfectly clear that if the defendant, Matilda Webb, had such, an. interest in the land as was not liable to be sold under execution, the persons who attempted to acquire it under the sheriff’s sale, obtained no interest; because it would be absurd to say, that although the sheriff could sell no interest, his sale and deed should nevertheless operate such an investiture of title as would warrant ejectment against the tenant in possession. It is indispensable to a recovery by the plaintiff in ejectment ¡hat he show such title in himself as will support the action. He must, at least, make out a prima facie case, from which the law would draw the inference of title, as that he, or those from whom he claims, had the prior possession of the land, before he can ■put the defendant upon proof of his title. If the plaintiff claim the land under a purchase at sheriff’s sale, he must prove four things, namely, a judgment, execution thereon, furnishing authority to the sheriff to levy and sell, the sheriff’s deed for the land, and that the defendant had such interestas, under the statutes of this State, was transmissible by such deed. It may be sufficient to show that the defendant in the judgment was, at the time of its rendition, or between that period and the time of the levy, in the possession of the land; for in such case the presumption of ownership arises, as the law will not presume he was a trespasser; but no case has been found which [813] holds that the defendant may not explain the character of his possession so as to refer it to a title which cannot he sold. On the contrary we have repeatedly held, that if he is in possession, holding under a bond for title which gives him but an equitable estate, he may protect himself by proving this fact, and thus defeat the purchaser's action. — Elmore & Willis v. Harris, 13 Ala. 360; Doe ex dem. McKinney & McKinney v. Davis, 5 ib. 729.-— See also, Whitesides et al. v. The Branch Bank at Decatur, 10 ib. 249. Were the law as contended for by the counsel for the plaintiff in error, that the defendant in the judgment, when sued by the purchaser at sheriff’s sale to recover the possession, is estopped trom showing that she had no such interest as was liable to be sold, persons holding land in a fiduciary character, such as executors, administrators, guardians, &c., could be turned out of possession and the execution of their respective trusts impeded, or else turned round to the Court of Chancery for an injunction. But we are persuaded that such is not the law, and it may safely be .asserted as an indisputable rule, that the defendant, in such cases, may defeat a recovery by the purchaser, by showing the entire absence of such interest in the defendant in the judgment, as could be sold under execution. Such proof goes to the foundation of the plaintiff’s title, and shows his sheriff’s deed to be utterly worthless as a title-paper. Let us apply the principles above stated to the case before us. The defendant was the widow of Elisha Webb, deceased. • The land sued for belonged to him at the time of his death, as was admitted by the plaintiffs on the trial. The defendant retained possession of the mansion house situated upon the land, and in which her husband lived up to the time of his decease; but the plantation around and adjoining the mansion house, composing-some three hundred acres, was cultivated by the hands which had been of the property of said Elisha Webb in his life-time, under the management and control of the administrator-of said estate, and the proceeds of the crops raised upon the land had gone as assets into the estate of said Webb. It was shown that no dower had ever been allotted to the defendant in the lands, and that her said husband had been dead more than five years. The Circuit Court was of the opinion, and so charged the jury, that if no dower had been assigned the defendant, and the lands in controversy were of the estate of Elisha Webb, deceased, [814] then she had m> such estate in said lands as was subject to levy and sale under execution. The plaintiff objected to this charge, as well as to the proof upon which it was predicated. We are clearly of the opinion that the court did not err as to either. The statute, it is true, makes it lawful “for the widow to retain the full possession of the dwelling-house, in which her husband most usually dwelt, next before his death, together with the outhouses, offices, or improvements, and plantation thereto belonging, free from molestation and rent, until she shall have her dower assigned her. — Clay’s Dig. 173, § 7. But this mere right to occupy gives her no estate in the lands until her dower is assigned. Such was the decision of this court in the case of Weaver & Gaines v. Crenshaw, 6 Ala. 873. This decision we regard as a correct exposition of the law, and the principle which it establishes is fatal to the plaintiffs’ case. In Gooche v. Atkins, 14 Mass. 378, it was held that a widow’s right to have dower assigned her, was not subject to be taken in execution, and we have found no case holding a different doctrine. If our statute proceeds upon the idea of extending the widow’s quarantine, as recognised by the common law, a liability to sale would seem to contravene the policy of the law which confers it; for it is said that the law in its provident care has made this provision in consideration of the destitute situation in which the widow is • cast upon the death of her husband. . Be this as it may, we feel well assured that her estate is not such as can be sold under execution, — that it is but a permissive possession, determinable when the heir or person holding the fee shall elect to assign her dower and place her in possession of the specific allotment. Until then she may occupy, and may defend an ejectment brought against her to recover the land (Shelton v. Carroll, 16 Ala. 148;) she may also recover rents from a person, whom she permits to enter and rent out the premises. — Inge v. Murphy, 14 Ala 289. All ibis, an occupant upon the public land may do, and more, for he may sell his claim or improvement, but it is well settled that he has no such interest as may be sold under an execution. — Rhea, Conner & Co. v. Hughes, 1 Ala. 219, which has been repeatedly recognised by subsequent decisions— see 6 Ala. 71; 13 ib. 364; 7 ib. 117. This view of the case shows that the plaintiff cannot recover, and renders it unnecessary for us to examine the question as to the admissibility of the [815] will of Elisha Webb as evidence, and its effect as stated in the second charge upon the defendant’s right of dower. It is perfectly manifest that the defendant was entitled to a verdict upon the title which the plaintiff exhibited, and that the plaintiff has not been injured by the admission of the will in evidence or the charge in reference to it. — Scott v. Hancock, 3 S. & Port. 44. We have examined the several cases to which we have been refered by the counsel for the plaintiffs in error, and do not think they militate against the conclusion to which we have come. We readily concede the law to be that the defendant in the judgment, when sued by a purchaser under the execution for the possession, cannot defeat the action by showing an outstanding title in a third party, with which he is disconnected ; but that is not this case. Here the defendant shows the nature of her possession and right to occupy, by connecting herself with her late husband’s title. The record shows no error, of which the plaintiffs can take advantage, and the judgment is consequently affirmed.