Clements v. Morton
Clements v. Morton
Opinion of the Court
“Houses, as a general rule, are part of the freehold, and pass or descend with the land. The prima facie intendment is that they are ■part of the realty; and if there be no proof to take the case without the general rule, they are part and parcel of the land, and whoever owns the land owns the houses standing thereon. -*- * * But this is not a conclusive presumption. It may be rebutted.” Harris v. Powers, 57 Ala. 139; Powers v. Harris, 68 Ala. 409.
“By express contract between the parties the nature and status of the chattel as personal property was preserved and retained. That it was competent for the parties to contract to this end we think there can be no doubt. Nothing, perhaps, could be considered in its character more permanent, and more of a fixture, and as forming a part of the realty, than a house or building erected on the land, and yet a house may by contract of parties become a chattel with right of removal1.” Broaddus v. Smith, 121 Ala. 335, 26 South. 34, 77 Am. St. Rep. 61.
See, also, in this connection. Chalifoux & Co. v. Potter, 113 Ala. 215, 21 South. 322; Johnston, Rec., v. Philadelphia Mtg. Co., 129 Ala. 515, 30 South. 15, 87 Am. St. Rep. 75; Middleton v. Alabama Power Co., 71 South. 461, 196 Ala. 1; Roberts v. Caple, 8 Ala. App. 444, 62 South. 343.
The house, under the facts here disclosed, remained personal property, and subject to be disposed of as such, and the statute of frauds therefore is without application. - Authorities supra.
There being no dispute in the evidence, the plaintiff was entitled to the affirmative charge, and reversible error was committed in giving the affirmative charge at the defendant’s request. The judgment will be reversed, and the-cause remanded.
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Clements v. Morton.
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