Faith v. Yocum

Mr. Justice Wall delivered the opinion of the Court The appellee recovered a judgment against the appellant for the sum of seven dollars, for one hundred fence posts sold and delivered. The defense was that the posts were cut in part on the land of the appellant and that the damages thereby occasioned were equal to the demand sued for. At the time the alleged trespass was committed, the title to the land was not in the appellant, nor does it appear that he was in possession. He had an equitable title, but no legal title, and had not the actual possession of the ]and on which the trees were cut. Hence, being without a title, his possession extended only to the land he actually occupied. Davis v. Easly, 13 Ill. 192; Goewey v. Urig, 18 Ill. 238; Fisher v. Bennehoff, 121 Ill. 426. The right of action for the damages resulting from the trespass was in the owner of the fee at that time and was not assigned by a subsequent conveyance of the land to the appellant. C. & A. R. R. Co. v. Maher, 91 Ill. 312. But the case was tried upon the theory that the question was whether the owner of the land had given the appellee the right to cut the .timber before he conveyed to appellant’s grantor, and whether the latter and the appellant had notice of the same before they became interested in the land. On this point the evidence was conflicting and the jury found for appellees. The trouble grew out of the fact that an old fence was supposed to be the line, and the appellee had bought the right to cut the timber east of the fence. A subsequent survey placed the line east of the trees in question. If the owner gives a parol license to cut timber on his land, it will protect the license against the owner and his grantee with notice. It is not within the statute of frauds, for no i nterest in land is involved. 3 Kent’s Com. 452; Williams v. Flood, 63 Mich. 48; Claflin v. Carpenter, 5 Metc. 580; Parsons v. Smith, 5 Allen, 578. The court properly instructed the jury. The motion for new trial was mainly pressed because of newly discovered evidence. The alleged evidence was merely cumulative, not conclusixrn. The alleged ground of surprise as to the testimony of appellee was not sufficient. The judgment will be affirmed.