Quertemus v. Breckinridge
Quertemus v. Breckinridge
Opinion of the Court
delivered the Opinion of the Court.
Quertemus complains that the Circuit Court erred to his prejudice, in rendering a judgment for restitution of a house and field in his possession, as the tenant of one Randall, and for which there had been a finding against him, in the country, on a warrant by James D. Breckinridge, complaining of a forcible entry.
It appears that Breckinridge, having given a written authority to one Nevil, to take and keep possession of
Upon these facts, and others “conducing (as the record states,) to prove that Breckinridge had been a long time in possession”—there are at least two objections to the judgment, which seem to us to be insuperable.
First. Although, without any other proof of the object or character of the possession by Nevil, than the constructive effect of the authority in writing, of which we have spoken, it should be deemed that of Breckinridge, in fact: yet the parol agreement (not at all inconsistent with it,) that Nevil should have a right to use and enjoy the premises for a year, and should pay rent; unexplained, as it is, cannot be judicially construed otherwise than as making him the tenant of Breckinridge. And therefore, when Randall entered, Breckinridge was not in possession in fact; and consequently, if the entry by Randall, or that by Quertemus, should, on account of the manner of it, be deemed forcible, according to the spirit of the statute; still, as it was an intrusion on the actual possession of Nevil, he alone could have maintained a warrant for a forcible entry. Yoder’s Heirs vs. Easly, 2 Dana, 245. If Breckinridge might, after the expiration of the year, have maintained a warrant for a forcible detainer, on the ground that, as Nevil had no authority to yield the possession to Randall, and therefore
Second. Even if the order for restitution of the field could be approved, there was no title to restitution of the house; because there is no proof that either Breckinridge or Nevil, as his agent, was in the actual possession of that, when either Randall or Quertemus entered, It does not appear that the person who yielded the house to Randall, was the tenant of Breckinridge; and if he had been, a warrant for a forcible entry was not the appropriate remedy for obtaining restitution.
Although, therefore, two verdicts and the opinion of the Circuit Judge have sanctioned this proceeding, we feel constrained by the law and the facts of the case, to reverse the judgment, and remand the case for a new trial.
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