Foscalina v. Doyle
Foscalina v. Doyle
Opinion of the Court
It is clearly established by the evidence that the defendants, when they entered upon the demanded premises, intruded upon the actual possession of the plaintiff, which he held as a tenant under Hough & Harlan. The defendants seek to justify their entry on the ground that the land was a part of the public domain of the United States, which was then subject to pre-emption; and that, being qualified pre-emptioners, they entered in good faith for the purpose of taking up and perfecting pre-emption claims. If the land was not subject to pre-emption, this defense must fail, and the defendants were mere naked intruders upon the actual possession of the plaintiff.
It appears from the findings that, in the year 1864, and before the land had been surveyed by the authority of the United States, the proper authorities of this State had issued to the assignors of the plaintiff’s lessors, certificates of • purchase for the land in controversy, under the statutes of California, in respect to the location and sale of lands dona
In Toland v. Mandell, supra, the Act of Congress of July 23d, 1866, entitled “An Act to quiet land titles in California,” (14 Statutes at Large, 215), was fully discussed, and the reasoning need not be repeated here. The conclusions reached were: First—That under said Act the holders of State selections of unsurveyed public lands, acquired the rights of pre-emptioners on unsurveyed lands, provided their purchases were made in good faith under the laws of the State, and their selections had been surveyed, marked off, and designated in the field, unless, at- the time of the pas
But the defendants contend that, at the date of the State locations, the land was within the exterior limits of a Mexican grant, not then finally confirmed and segregated, and that for that reason it was expressly reserved from location
Judgments affirmed.
Neither Mr. Justice Niles, nor Mr. Justice McKinstey, expressed an opinion.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- JOHN FOSCALINA v. C. W. DOYLE and CHARLES BATES JOHN FOSCALINA v. H. A. PRATT and JOHN CARR
- Cited By
- 4 cases
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- Syllabus
- Act op Congress of 1866 Concerning Lands in California.—Under the Act of Congress of July 23d, 1866, entitled “An Act to quiet land titles in California,” the holders of State selections of unsurveyed public lands, which bad been made in good faith, under the laws of this State, and surveyed, marked off, and designated in the field before said date, acquired the rights of pre-emptioners on unsurveyed lands, unless, at the time of the passage of said Act, some pre-emption, homestead, or other right, under the laws of the United States had attached to the land, or unless it was within some of the reservations specified in the Act. Idem.-—Said Act of Congress had also the effect to legalize the possession of locators under the State laws upon unsurveyed public lands, and to enable them to maintain ejectment and other actions in respect to the possession, during the interval which elapsed prior to the time when they were afforded'an opportunity under the Act to present their claims for adjudication by the proper officers of the United States. Idem.—Under said Act of Congress, a certificate o-f purchase, issued by the State of California, was, prima facie, evidence that the land had been purchased from the State in good faith. Puechases op Land pbom the State peiob to 1866.—If a person prior to the passage of the Act of Congress of July 23d, 1866, had purchased from the State in good faith, unsurveyed public land, and in proper time after the passage of the Act, had made application to the proper officers of the United States to prove up his claim, and had entered into and remained in possession, the land was not subject to be pre-empted under the laws of the United States, and the person who, after the passage of the Act, entered on such land as a pre-emptor, became a trespasser, and the locator under the State could recover the land by virtue of his prior possession. Supplemental Answeb in Ejectment.—If the defendant in ejectment relies on the fact that the plaintiff’s right to the possession has expired during the pendency of the action, he must plead it in a supplemental answer. Implied Findings.—In cases tried before the Code of Civil Procedure took effect, if there is an issue on which the findings are silent, law implies that the Court found this issue so as to support the judgment.