Groves v. Pike
Groves v. Pike
Opinion of the Court
DECREE
THIS CAUSE having been regularly called and tried by the Court, and the findings of fact and conclusions of law and the decision thereon in writing having been duly rendered by the Court, which are now on file in this cause, wherein Judgment was awarded in favor of Sunui Groves, the Plaintiff, against all of the Defendants, on motion of Sunui Groves, the Plaintiff;
AND IT IS FURTHER ORDERED and DECLARED that the Plaintiff pay costs of this DECREE, amounting to $7.50, in addition to costs ordered to be paid by the Plaintiff in said Judgment.
GIVEN under the hand and seal of the Court on this 21st day of July, 1903.
DECISION
THE PETITIONER, Sunui Groves, is the wife of William Groves, a British Subject.
On the 1st day of September, 1900, two Samoans, named Talali and Loloaso, agreed to vest the land in dispute Jn Sunui Groves and her children.
Under the Native Land Regulation, application was made to the Commandant for his approval of a transfer of said land, and upon notice being given of the grant from Talali and Loloaso, to Sunui Groves, objections were filed by Mrs. J. S. Pike, Leiato, Pi, and others, and hence this suit to try the title to the land.
The action commenced on the 3rd day of JUNE, 1902; the trial occupied three days, namely, the 3rd, 4th, and 9th of June, 1902.
The Defendants Pi and Leiato withdrew all claims they had to the land in favor of the Plaintiff.
On the last day of trial the parties to the suit presented to the Court an agreement by which the Defendant withdrew all claim to the land, in favor of the Plaintiff, on the condition that the grantors to the Plaintiff transfer another piece of land to her in trust for her grandchild Norma Foster. This agreement was referred to the Commandant under the Native Land Regulation for his approval, as it involved the transfer of land by natives to aliens, and the Commandant, after consideration, approved of the intended transfers, on the 12th day of March, 1903.
IT IS THEREFORE CONSIDERED by the Court that the prayer of the Plaintiff should be granted AND IT IS SO ORDERED and ADJUDGED THAT ALL THAT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE ON THE NORTH SHORE OF PAGO PAGO HARBOR, CALLED OR KNOWN AS PART OF “SATALA”, BOUNDED TOWARDS THE EAST BY THE LAND OF H. J. MOORS, DESCRIBED IN COURT GRANT NO. 412, AND RECORDED IN VOL. 1, FOLIOS 116, 117, 118 OF THE REGISTER OF COURT GRANTS OF THE UNITED STATES NAVAL STATION, TUTUILA, TOWARDS THE WEST BY LAND OF PULU FOSTER, AND TOWARDS THE SOUTH BY HIGH-WATER MARK, SHALL BE VESTED IN A TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PLAINTIFF SUNUI GROVES AND HER CHILDREN, and a DECREE of this Court shall issue to that effect, and enjoining the Defendants from further asserting any claim whatever in or to said land and premises.
Plaintiff Sunui Groves............................ $20.00
Defendant Mrs. J. S. Pike...................... 15.00
GIVEN under the hand and seal of the Court on this 20th day of July, 1903.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.