Yorgensen v. Yorgensen

Maxwell, J. On the eleventh day of October, 1875, the plaintiff commenced an action against the defendant in the probate court of Seward county to recover the sum of $475 damages, for the forcible entry upon, and use and occupation of the south-west quarter of section twenty-one, town twelve north, of range two east of sixth principal meridian, in Seward county, from the first day of March 1875 to the time of bringing suit. The petition alleges that at the time of defendant’s entry upon said lands and ever since, he (the plaintiff) has had the right to the possession of said premises, and that he was at that time and is now the owner thereof, and that the defendant is a settler thereon without title or the consent of the plaintiff. The defendant answered the petition of the plaintiff denying all the facts stated therein. The plaintiff recovered judgment against the defendant in the probate court for the sum of $300 and costs. The cause was taken by petition in error to the district court, where the judgment was reversed and the case dismissed. To reverse the judgment dismissing the case, the plaintiff brings the case into this court by petition in error. It appears from the testimony in the case that the plaintiff claims title to the lands in controversy as the' assignee of a contract for the purchase thereof frpm the B. & M. R. R. company. It also appears that the defendant claims an interest in the lands under said contract, and that he has exclusive possession of the premises and had at the time of the alleged trespass. The only question that arises in the cáse is the right of the [385] plaintiff to bring and maintain an action of trespass, without showing an actual possession in himself at the time the alleged trespass was committed. In Boggs v. Thompson, 2 Ohio, 105, the court held that the plaintiff must show an actual possession in himself at the time the trespass complained of was committed. In Miller v. Fulton, 4 Ohio, 434, it was held that a tenant in actual possession might maintain an action for a wrong done by a stranger. In Rowland v. Rowland, 8 Ohio, 41, the court say: “ In order-to maintain an action of trespass guare clausum fregit, it is well settled that the plaintiff must be in the actual or constructive possession of the premises upon which the trespass is committed at the time of trespass.” In Wilson v. Chalfant, 15 Ohio, 248, the court held that the plaintiff must have a right of possession in order to maintain the action. It is not necessary that the party in possession, should actually reside on the land; his possession may be obtained by cultivation, fencing or otherwise improving the same. Where land is unimproved and unoccupied the person holding the legal title is deemed to be in possession thereof. As it is apparent from the pleadings and proof in this case that the plaintiff was not in the actual possession of the lands in controversy at • the time of the alleged trespass, he cannot maintain the action. The judgment of the district court is therefore af firmed. Judgment affirmed.