Lawrence v. Webster
Lawrence v. Webster
Opinion of the Court
This is an action of ejectment, for the recovery of a tract of land in Contra Costa County, known as the “ Esperanza Rancho.” Ynocencio Romero and his two brothers claimed the “ Romero Sobrante,” which included the lands in controversy; and in 1852 Ynocencio Romero executed to one Wood a deed, purporting to convey the lands in controversy. The undivided half of the interest thus conveyed vested by "mesne conveyances in Leonard, the plaintiff’s grantor, and the other undivided half, also by mesne conveyance, vested in Lathrop, the defendant’s grantor. Thereafter Leonard executed to Lathrop a lease of the undivided half of the premises for the term of one year, commencing October 1st, 1857. The last payment of rent was made in 1861 or 1862. The defendants entered in 1861, but they had no knowledge of the lease. The claim of the Romeros was adjudged to be invalid by the Board of Land Commissioners and the District Court; and on appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States the decree of the District Court was affirmed, at the December Term, 1863.
The title to the Rancho San Ramon, which includes the lands in controversy, was confirmed to Carpentier and others; and in 1866 a patent was issued to the confirmees in pursuance of the decree of confirmation. A contract was entered into, in 1865, between Carpentier and certain persons, among whom was MdNair, for the sale of the rancho; and it was thereby agreed that the purchasers might take immediate possession of the rancho. MdNair, in 1866, conveyed the premises in controversy to Webster & Worden, two of the defendants.
The plaintiff also relies upon the proposition, th,at the purchase by the defendants of an interest in the title to the San Ramon Rancho, inured to his benefit. Whether the proposition be based on the tenancy in common subsisting between
Judgment and order affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- E. A. LAWRENCE v. JACOB E. WEBSTER and J. E. WORDEN
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Ejectment by Landlord against Tenant.—The provision in the fourteenth section of the Statute of Limitations, that the possession of the tenant shall he deemed the possession of the landlord, does not apply when the tenant acquired another title five years before the commencement of the suit, or has held adversely to the landlord for five years before the commencement of the suit. Idem.—If the tenant acquired another title five years before the commencement of suit by the landlord, or has held adversely to him more than five years, the landlord in ejectment must rely on title, exclusive of the lease. Plaintiff in Ejectment.—The plaintiff in ejectment cannot recover on the ground that a purchase made by the defendant should, in equity, inure to his benefit, but must rely on legal title.