Thompson v. Anderson
Thompson v. Anderson
Opinion of the Court
H. L. Thompson sued C. A. Anderson in trover to recover the value of some timber which it was alleged the defendant on or about the first of May 1927, cut and carried away from land belonging to the - plaintiff. The sole issue presented was whether the land from which the timber had been cut was the property of the plaintiff or was the property of one Kicklighter
This deed to Kicklighter, which was dated April 27, 1898, conveyed to him “All the land covered by the waters of a water mill lying between the two parties and on Slade’s Branch; said branch being the line dividing Liberty and Tattnall, and been known as E. Kicklighter’s Mill for several years. Also said mill is included with said land.” The plaintiff was the owner of the land located north of Kicklighter’s Mill pond, and the establishment of the dividing line between the plaintiff’s land and this mill pond will determine whether or not the trees from which the timber was cut were located on the plaintiff’s land or within the land described in the deed conveying the land covered by the waters of the mill pond to Kicklighter.
It is unquestionably true, as is established by the undisputed testimony, that the timber which was cut was at the time located upon dry land at least fifty yards north of the northern boundary of the land actually at that time covered by 'the water of the mill pond. If this northern boundary of the water then in the pond Was the northern boundary of Kicklighter’s land, which, under his deed, was covered by the waters of the pond, the plaintiff’s title to the land upon which the timber rested is unquestionably established. The defendant claims however, that the northern boundary of Kick-lighter’s land is further north and above the place where the timber was located before it was cut. In support of the defendant’s contention Mr. Kicklighter testified that he had been in possession of the land covered by the waters of the mill pond since 1898 which, at the date of his testimony, which was December 1927, was less than thirty years. Hé also testified that he had not raised the mill dam within thirty years, and that he had “kept so.near an average head of water all the time until it is plainly marked by the water on the dam and trees,” that years ago he had marked a tree up the branch to which he “claimed,” and which was level with the water
The court charged the jury that the deed conveying to Kick-lighter the land covered by the waters of the mill pond conveyed to Kicklighter only the land covered by the water when at the low water mark.
The jury found for the defendant. The plaintiff moved for a new trial upon the general grounds and upon an exception to the charge of the court to the effect that Kicklighter could establish a title by prescription to the land from which the timber was cut. This charge was invoked in the presence of the jury by the attorney for the defendant, and as given to the jury reads as follows: “I charge you that seven years possession under color of title gives title by prescription. However, that principle of law does not
It is not necessary to add anything further to what is said in the headnotes.
Judgment reversed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.