Sage v. Halverson

CANTY, J. This is an action of ejectment for a quarter section of land. Deféndant in his answer admits that he is in possession, and, in effect, denies plaintiff’s title, and claims to be the owner himself. On the trial defendant had a verdict, and from an order denying a new trial plaintiff appeals. On the trial defendant sought to prove that he had been in adverse possession of the premises for 15 years prior to December 29, [295] 1893, on which day he took a lease from plaintiff. This lease is under seal, is signed by defendant, and purports to be signed by plaintiff, by his agent. By its terms it leased to defendant the land in question “for the term of the season of 1894, ending October 1, 1894, ” in consideration of which defendant agreed to pay as rent therefor $75, “$15 cash, and $60 January 29, 1894, according to one promissory note of even date herewith.” He executed this note at the time, and paid it in the fall of 1894. He received a duplicate of this lease at the time, which he retained and gave to his lawyer. He subsequently signed an agreement,- which also purports to be signed by plaintiff, by his agent, and by the terms of which the lease was extended to October 1, 1895. In consideration thereof defendant agreed to pay $75 on October 25, 1895, according to the terms of his note. He executed this note to plaintiff, and subsequently paid it. The lease and contract of extension were received in evidence, without any objection on the ground that the authority of plaintiff’s agent to sign the contract for him was not proved, and defendant has by the whole course of his conduct admitted such authority. Defendant continued in possession during all of this time, and thereafter to the time of the trial. We are of the opinion that, under these circumstances, he was estopped to deny plaintiff’s title. “It is a well settled general rule, that a lessee cannot deny the title of his landlord, and this rule applies whether the tenant was in possession before the lease was made or not.” 1 Wood, Landl. & T. § 232; Lucas v. Brooks, 18 Wall. 436. Conceding that the tenant may avoid this estoppel on the ground of fraud or mistake, and conceding, without deciding, that this defendant might have done so under the pleadings in this action, we are clearly of the opinion that the evidence does not warrant a verdict in his favor on any such ground. He testified on the trial that he cannot read English, and claimed that he did not understand what the lease and contract meant; but this claim can be given no weight under the circumstances. Unless he was non compos, he could not have gone on for two years making leases and notes, paying them and paying rent, without knowing what he was [296] doing. Then, even if the statute of limitations bad run in defendant’s favor before be signed the lease, December 29, 1893, so that he was then the owner of the land by prescription, and although be was in possession when be executed the lease, be is estopped from denying plaintiff’s title as long as be remains in possession. In order to assert bis title, be must first surrender possession. The result arrived at is not in conflict with Clary v. O’Shea, supra, page 105. The doctrine there laid down does not apply to a case where there is a lease under seal signed by both parties. This disposes of tbe case, and renders it unnecessary to consider tbe other questions raised. Tbe order appealed from is reversed, and a new trial granted.