Chevalier v. Carter

DOWDELL, J. — This cause lias been once befqre in this court on appeal; Carter v. Chevalier, 108 Ala. 563. So far as*the record discloses the evidence had upon this trial is substantially the same, except that perhaps it more clearly establishes the plaintiff's right of recovery of the land in controversy. Adopting the conclusion reached upon the former appeal, we deem it unnecessary to here reiterate in whole what was there said. It was noted on the first appeal, in the opinion by Haralson J., that while the land which was particularly described in the complaint by metes and bounds was located in fractional section 2D, yet the evidence offered by plaintiff placed the same in section 24. This variance, however, was not objected to upon the trial, and Avas treated by the parties as being the identical land sued for and defended against; the more particular description by metes and bounds prevailing against the general description. After the reversal and remandment of the cause, and upon the second trial in the court beloAV, the plaintiffs amended their complaint by striking out “fractional section 20,” and inserting “section 24,” the particular- description remaining the same. The defendant then entered a plea of disclaimed upon Avhich issue Avas joined, and a trial Avas begun'. After having proceeded Avith the trial for tAvo or three days, much evidence having been introduced, the defendant Avitlidrew his plea of dis-1 claimer, and asked to file special pleas numbered two, three, and -four, which the court refused to alloAV, but permitted the plea of not guilty, and upon that plea the cause Avas thereafter tried. At the stage of the cause at Avhich the special pleas Avere offered, the allowance of them Avas discretionary Avith the court, and its ruling is not subject to revision by this court. The plaintiffs as heirs of Wm. E. Kennedy base their right of recovery upon a Spanish grant to one Benjamin Dnbroca, Avhich was ,aftei‘Avards acquired by William E. Kennedy, and Avhich grant was by act of Congress May 27th, 1840, confirmed to the héirs of said Wm. E. Kennedy; a survey by John James in 1841, of the lands therein granted, and a patent thereto from the United 51 ates, issued upon the act of confirmation and survey; and the possession of the lands by Kennedy and his heirs. [522] The defendant relied upon a title beginning with a certificate of purchase issued to one Janies Williams in 1834, showing a purchase by him of the east division of fractional section 20, town. 4 south range 1 west; and through mesne conveyances from said Williams down to the defendant, the last conveyance being a deed from Majerski to defendant Chevalier, executed in April 1892; the contention of the defendant being that the land in controversy at the date of the purchase by Williams from the government, ivas by the then existing government survey located in the east division of fractional section 20, and formed a part of Williams’ purchase, and was not included in the “Dubroca tract” until after the act of confirmation of 1840, and the resurvey under said act in 1841. Pertermitting the question as to the superiority of title under the Williams purchase of 1834, and the confirmation act of 1840, it is to'be observed that it is not denied that the Carters, heirs of William E. Kennedy, went into possession of section 24, township 4 south range 1 west, known as the Dubroca or Kennedy tract under the confirmation act of 1840 and the survey of 1841, and that at this time the land in dispute, lot 12, containing ten acres was included in the traet; that they continued in possession, exercising acts of ownership in the sale and leasing of certain lots within said tract. While it is shown by the evidence that during the fifties and up to 1864 lot 12 or the land in controversy was occupied by different parties claiming under the Williams title, yet .it is further shown that the house on said lot was destroyed by fire in 1865, and after that time the said lot remained vacant and without actual occupancy by any one. The evidence also shows without conflict, that one Howland as the agent of the plaintiff in 1875 took charge and control of the “Kennedy tract,” and continued in the control and management of the same, going upon the same, and as such agent making sales of lots within the tract, paying taxes etc.; that in 1885 a patent was issned by the United States to the plaintiffs, as the heirs of Kennedy, based upon the act of confirmation and the survey of 1841, to said section 24, being the Dubroca or Kennedy tract; that in 1887, the said How-land as such agent built a wire fence around and enclos [523] ing said lot 12, that he as such ageut kept up said wire fence, repairing it at times when broken by unknown parties, and that said wire fence ivas around and enclosed said lot at the date of the execution of the deed in April, 1892, by Majerski to the defendant Chevalier. It was also shown that Majerski, defendant’s grantor, lived in the city of New Orleans and had never been in actual possession of said lot. This proof is fatal to the title set up by the defendant. The Majerski deed was a link in the chain of title relied upon by tile defendant, and without it, it was impossible to defend his possession. At the time of the execution of this deed the land in controversy is shown without conflict to have been in the adverse possession of the plaintiffs, and this fact rendered the deed from Majerski to the defendant void as to the plaintiffs. — Probst et. al. v. Bush et al., 115 Ala. 495; Yarborough v. Avant, 66 Ala. 526; Bernstein v. Humes, 60 Ala. 602; Rivers v. Thompson, 43 Ala. 641. It Avas only through the Majerski deed that the defendant offered to connect himself Avith the chain reaching back to Williams, and this deed being out, rendered the other deeds offered in eAddence irrelevant. Upon this state of the case the plaintiffs Avere entitled to the affirmative charge Avhich the court properly gave. The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.