Ellenburg v. Barksdale
Ellenburg v. Barksdale
Opinion of the Court
Appellee brought this suit in ejectment against appellant, for the recovery of six and a fraction acres of land in the N. W. Vi of the S. W. % of section 30, and three and a fraction acres in the N. E. Vi of the S. W. Vi of section 30, all in township 9, range 7, DeKalb county, Ala.
Upon this question of evidence there was sharp dispute, and upon this issue of fact rested the determination of the litigation. It was clearly a jury case, and the affirmative charge was properly refused.
On page 16% of the record appears a plat intended to indicate defendant’s 10 acres, which plat was made by one Parsons, a surveyor, and which was admitted in evidence over defendant’s objection. We are of the opinion this was error. This map shows the southern boundary line of a 10-acre tract of land in the N. W. Vi of the S. W. % as a perfectly straight line, and the evidence of the surveyor clearly shows he made no effort to follow the lines of an old branch, although he states he “observed an old branch or slough.” We think it quite evident, therefore, that no attempt was made to survey this land in accordance with the boundaries set forth in the deed. Indeed, his testimony discloses that the surveyor merely surveyed 10 acres in the northwest corner of this 40 under the direction of the plaintiff, and to conform to plaintiff’s wishes. Witness states “he said he wanted me to mark off 10 acres, he said he wanted it in the northwest corner, and I put it in the corner. I made a triangle of it. * * * I did not follow any branch.”
A similar question arose in South. Iron & Steel Co. v. Stowers, supra, the decision of which supports the conclusion here reached.
The other members of the court participating in consultation in this cause prefer to rest their concurrence in the result up'bn this last question, as they entertain doubts as to whether the trial court should be reversed upon the admission of the map in evidence, in consideration of the entire testimony of witness Parsons, though they do not intend to indicate reversible error would have been •committed had same been excluded.
Reversed and remanded.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Ellenburg v. Barksdale.
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- 1 case
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- Published