Crain v. Peterman

VALLIANT, J. Plaintiffs sue in ejectment for the possession of 320 acres of land in Dent county. Plaintiffs introduced in evidence the Government plat-book showing that the land in question was entered by Aaron G. Crain in 1857. They also introduced evidence tending to show that Crain died in 1879 and that the plaintiffs are his heirs at law. Also that from 1870 to 1875 a man named Shuck, who is now dead, lived near the land and used to cut grass on it and he was heard to say that-he had a lease from Crain under which he cut the grass. The testimony on the part of the defendant tended to show as follows: Aaron G. Crain never lived in Missouri; neither he nor anyone claiming or who might claim under him had for thirty consecutive years been in possession; and neither he nor anyone claiming or who might claim under him had for that period of time paid any taxes on the land. A sheriff’s deed on a judgment against one S. M. Alward for the taxes of 1875 and 1876, conveying the land to A. H. Love, dated October 11, 1879, duly recorded. A sheriff’s deed to said land on judgment against N. I. Kenyon, A. H. Love, L. Judson and Aaron G. Crain, for the taxes of 1896, to A. H. Love, dated April 6,1899, and warranty deed from Love to defendant Peterman, December 11,1902, both duly recorded. [298] There was evidence for defendant tending to show that immediately after Love received the first sheriff’s deed in 1879 he placed it on record and exercised acts of ownership over the land, herding cattle, cutting timber, etc., but the first actual possession under his title was in 1895 or 1896 and that was the first actual possession by anyone. Since that date the land has been in the actual possession of Love or one claiming under him, and Love or his assignee has paid the taxes every year from 1879 to date except for the year 1896. This suit was brought July 24, 1908. A jury was waived and the cause was tried by the court; no instruction or declaration of law was asked or given; the finding and judgment were for the defendant, and the plaintiffs appealed. In the absence of any instruction or declaration of law asked by either party or given by the court we do not know exactly on what legal point the case turned, but in such condition of the record, if there is sufficient in the record on any point to justify the finding and judgment, we will presume that that was the decisive point in the case. After it was shown by defendant’s evidence that neither Crain nor anyone claiming under him had been in possession of the land or paid any taxes thereon for more than thirty consecutive years, the plaintiff attempted in rebuttal to show such possession and for that purpose introduced the evidence above stated in regard to the cutting of grass by a man named Shuck. But there was no evidence of actual possession, and the evidence that Shuck in justification of his act of cutting the grass had been heard twenty-five or thirty years ago to say that he had a lease from Crain which gave him such authority was, if competent at all, not such evidence as to which a trier of the facts was bound to accord much probative force. The acts of Love, after he recorded his sheriff’s [299] deed, in, herding cattle, cutting timber and selling to others the right to do so, were more ostensible acts of ownership than the cutting of grass by Shuck, yet those acts did not amount to actual possession, though done under color and actual claim of title. [Nye v. Alfter, 127 Mo. 529'.] Defendant’s possessory title began only in 1895 or 1896 which was less than ten years before the filing of this suit. But under section 4268, Eevised Statutes 1899, known as the thirty-year limitation, that possession was sufficient to defeat plaintiff’s recovery. Under that statute when neither Crain nor anyone claiming under him had been in possession or paid any taxes for a period of thirty consecutive years, he or anyone claiming under him was given only one year in which to bring his suit after the actual lawful possession of Love, or that of the man under him had begun, and the statute provides that in case suit is not brought within one year the title to the land shall vest in the person in possession. The plaintiffs did not bring their suit within the period allowed by that statute and therefore they are barred. The judgment is affirmed. All concur.