Newell v. McLarney

Campbell, J. Plaintiff brought ejectment against defendant to recover a parcel of land at Detour, on St. Marie’s river, claimed by plaintiff to have been conveyed by Ebenezer Warner to Jane Cosley, in 1856, by a deed which described the property as being in lot 3 of section 35, in town [233] 42 north, of range four east, when in fact it was in lot 4. Judgment was rendered for plaintiff. On opening his case plaintiff’s counsel said he proposed ■to deduce title from the United States by a series of conveyances which he described, and that his evidence would be mostly documentary, and that he claimed no other title. Under this opening he proceeded against objection to introduce deeds from William A. Pratt to Warner without showing title from the United States in Pratt, and was allowed to do so, the objection being to the order of proof. He then, in order to prove title in Pratt, offered and was allowed to introduce under objection a book kept in the office ■of the register of deeds, known as a book of entries, but having no written title certificate or other official or unofficial designation of its character, purport or authenticity. This book contained a series of columns with a brief note or description of land and its amount, name of purchaser, and date of purchase filled up respectively with “ Lot No. 4 m section 85, town. 42 N, range 4 E., 34 acres 60-100ths. Name of purchaser, William A. Pratt • date of sale, August 26, 1856; how paid for, cash.” Two subsequent columns, headed “ To whom pat.” and “Pate of pat.” were not filled up. This book was very probably designed to be a copy of some book of entries in the United States land-office. There is no law that would render this or the original evidence of land title as derived from the United States. This book, as it stands, and without further identification is absolutely without meaning, although we may perhaps guess at its purpose. It is — except in being less perfect — a book of the same kind as that held in Smith v. Lawrence, 12 Mich. 431, to be inadmissible to show a sale of land by the government. It should have been excluded. It is insisted, however, that this error did no damage, because title was afterwards shown to have been derived by defendant from the same grantor, Warner, under whom plaintiff claims. To this there are two obstacles. The evidence that he claimed from Warner and entered under that claim was in [234] the shape of testimony of defendant’s admissions to that effect, put in at the close of the plaintiff’s case, and objected to. After such a precise and positive statement on the plaintiff’s opening that he should show no title except one-derived from the United States, defendant could hardly be-expected to be prepared to meet evidence suddenly sprung upon him of an entirely different character. But beyond this, the credibility of this testimony was for the jury, who might or might not have placed such confidence in it as to base a verdict upon it. We forbear discussing its effect if believed, because the court took the case away from the jury, and assumed to decide that plaintiff’s case was complete. This was beyond his province. The error in admitting the book of entries was therefore material, and must lead to a reversal of the judgment. We deem it proper to call attention to the declaration, under which, unless amended, there can be no recovery, if the printed dates are accurate. The statute requires the date of plaintiff’s possession to be avei’red as of a time “ after his title or right accrued.” Comp. L. § 6210. The declaration states plaintiff to have been possessed on the 11th day of September, 1880, when liis deed was dated on the 13th day of September, 1880, two days later. Judgment must be reversed with costs and a new trial granted. Plaintiff to have leave to amend his declaration, if he shall be so advised. The record to be remanded. The other Justices concurred.