Butters v. Carney

HAWLEY, District Judge (orally). This is an action of ejectment to recover possession of about 75 acres of land, including a millsite known as the “Empire State Mill,” with a five-stamp mill thereon, and rights appurtenant thereto, alleged jn the complaint to be of the value of $2,100. The defendant interposed a plea in abatement to the jurisdiction of the court on the ground that the value of the property does not exceed the sum of $1,000, “and in truth and in fact the value of said property is no greater than the sum of $500.” Upon the trial of this plea the defendant introduced evidence tending to show that he did not claim any interest in the water flowing down the canyon to and past the millsite, and had never used said water except by the consent of the plaintiff; that he claimed no interest in the land except the millsite upon which the mill was erected; that he had been misled and deceived in the purchase of the property, and had only obtained a quitclaim deed, when his understanding was that he was to be given a grant, bargain, and sale deed. These matters were wholly irrelevant and immaterial, and did not tend to establish the plea, and the court so stated at the trial. So far as relates to the plea, it is not the value of the defendant’s claim that constitutes the amount in controversy, but it is the value of the whole property which plaintiff claims, as described in his complaint. Peeler v. Lathrop, 48 Fed. 780, 786, 1 C. C. A. 93; Lilienthal v. McCormick, 117 Fed. 89, 95, 54 C. C. A. 475. While the rules of this court may permit the filing of a plea in cases of this character, it is not usual so to do. The testimony introduced on behalf of defendant was principally directed to the value of the millsite independent of the water right and other portions of the land described in the complaint and claimed by the plaintiff. The defendant’s contention that the matter in dispute in this action is his interest in the millsite cannot be sustained. The merits of the case are not involved in the trial of the plea. The authorities cited’ by defendant, viz., Woodside v. Ciceroni, 93 Fed. 1, 35 C. C. A. 177, Smith v. Adams, 130 U. S. 173, 175, 9 Sup. Ct. 566, 32 L. Ed. 895, and South Carolina v. Seymour, 153 U. S. 353, 357, 14 Sup. Ct. 871, 38 L. Ed. 742, were tried upon the merits, and in such cases it is the value “of the property affected,” as established-by the proofs, that is to be taken into account in establishing the value. In Smith v. Adams, the court said: “By ‘matter in dispute’ is meant the subject of litigation, the matter upoñ which the action is brought and issue joined, and in relation to which, if the issue be one of fact, testimony is taken.” But here no issue has been joined upon the merits. In 'Woodside v. Ciceroni the court stated the general rule that the whole property alleged in the complaint must be taken in order to ascertain the value. The consensus of opinion expressed by the witnesses as to the value of the millsite was about $300, and some of them stated that, if the water right was included,.’ the whole value would not exceed $1,000. On the other hand, the three witnesses on behalf of plaintiff testified that, taking into consideration all of the property described in the complaint, they would 624 consider it to be of'ííie table of-'from $2,000-to $3,000. The value of the property, as shown by all the testimony/ is- somewhat of a, speculative character, depending Jo a great extent upon,the use to be''made of ít;'>átíd,::sd‘far-'ks tlie: millsite is- concerned,• the opportunities or certainty of obtaining ore and a supply of water. The burden of proof to sustain the plea is cast upon the defendant, and he'has not established it by a-preponderance of the evidence by proofs such as the law requires in cases of this character. • Judgment on the plea must be entered in favor of plaintiff for his costs.