Hume v. Langston
Hume v. Langston
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is an action of ejectment, on the demise of Langston and wife against Hume.
The plaintiff insists, 1st. that the circuit court erred in permitting an amendment to be made to the declaration; 2nd. that the defendants showed no right to recover any part of the seventeen acres, and have obtained judgment for more than they are entitled to, even if they had a right to recover- any part of the land.
1st. The demise was laid in the name of David Langston and wife, and on motion of the defendants, the court permitted them to amend by striking out
This, though opposed by the plaintiff,-» cannot be error. It was not a new demise, Langston and wife were still the lessors, the persons were actually the same, the title the same, the lease the same. It was shewn that Abraham was the husband, and that David was inserted through mistake.
2nd. The allotment certainly did not divest Ann Clark of her interest in the seventeen acres. There is no memorial in writing of'any relinquishment by her; and the parol proofis, that there never was any release whatever of her interest in the seventeen acres. Neither she nor her devisee was affected by the decree in favor of Markham, because neither of them was a party to the suit; nor was either oí them affected by the conveyance from R. Clark, jr. to Markham, tie had no legal authority from either of them to convey any other interest than his own, and therefore, the legal effect of his deed, is, that it vested his right, and his only, in Markham. The lessors had therefore, a legal interest in the seventeen acres. But that interest did not exceed one third. The lessors and R. Clark, and Margaret Clark were tenants in common, and therefore, the suit is maintainable on the demise of the lessors alone. But they are entitled only to -an undivided third part of the seventeen acres.
However, the judgment, although general and comprehensive, according to the demise and tbe’ver-dict, is not, therefore, erroneous, it must be construed and be enforced at the peril of the lessors, according to their title as proved, and entitles them to only an undivided third part of the seventeen acres.
Judgment affirmed, (Judge Underwood dissenting from so much of the opinion as sustains the amendment to the demise.)
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.