Kelly v. Taylor
Kelly v. Taylor
Opinion of the Court
The litigants are proprietors of adjoining premises
situated on Oarondelet street, in the' City of New Orleans, which are indicated as numbers one (1) and two (2), on the sketch of the locus in quo, which we have extracted from the brief of defendant’s counsel, as a means of enabling us to give a clearer and more exact expression of our views.
On the sketch, plaintiff’s property is indicated by the figures 47 as having a front measurement on Oarondelet street of forty-seven feet; and that of the adjoining premises is indicated by the figures 25, as having a front of twenty-five feet on said street:
Lafayette Street. 160 o CO o CO ó CO 160 60 to Ol 80 CO 00 Girod Street-.
Bnqueterie or Oarondelet Street.
The sketch shows the front of the square between Girod and Lafayette streets.
The houses of each of the proprietors are built of brick, are of two and one-half stories in height, with a single wall separating their properties. Recently the defendant opened windows or openings in this intervening wall, and this suit is to compel him to close them.
She charges that* said openings overlook the bedrooms in her house, and destroy its renting value.
Defendant, in answer, claims ownership of the adjoining lot to plaintiff’s and the buildings thereon, and the exclusive ownership of the said intervening wall; and he also claims four (4) inches of the soil beyond said wall, and avers that said wall was constructed and now stands on his lot and property, and hence it is not a party wall, and plaintiff is without right of action, or ground of complaint.
On the trial there was judgment in favor of the plaintiff, and the defendant has appealed.
The case was tried in the court below, upon expert testimony; and the experts consisted of three skilled and competent surveyors, Pilie, Grandjean and'Brosnau, who seem, from their testimony, profiles, maps, etc., to have gone into the question thoroughly.
The testimony leaves no doubt of the fact that the defendant’s building was erected on the lot (the municipal number of which is No. 157 Carondelet street) something like thirty years ago — perhaps longer.
Plaintiff traces title through Benjamin Kendig, who purchased from Charles Gardiner and heirs of A. Babcock, on the 4th of June, 1835, and by the following description, viz.:
“All that lot of ground situated in the suburb St. Mary, * * * measuring forty-seven (47) feet front on Carondelet street, by eighty-two (82) feet in depth (opening about three feet in said depth), and giving about fifty feet, French measure, in the rear line; bounded on the side next to Hevia street by the property now, or formerly, belonging to Widow Brogard; and on the side next to Girod street by that now, or formerly, belonging to Edward Colesward; this lot of ground is sold by the boundaries, be the advertisement more or less than is above specified,” etc.
This is the same description by which Babcock and Gardner purchased on the 18th of March, 1833, from the estate of Robert Lewis;
In 1818 this lot was conveyed by Jean Laurent to J. P. L’Aubry,. as having a front of forty-seven (47) feet, French measure, or fifty (50) feet one (1) inch, American measure; and Jean Laurent seems. to have derived title from his father Jean Louis Laurent subsequent to 1804 — date not specified.
It appears from the profile and exhibits executed by Pilie and Grandjean jointly, that since 1833 the titles of plaintiff and of her-authors call for a front measurement on Carondelet of fifty (50). feet and one (1) inch, American measure — just the same as that called for n/the deeds of the Laurents in 1810-1818.
It also appears, from the ' same evidence, that in 1814, when the-property of the defendant was owned by Genevieve Metoyer, her-deed called for twenty-five (25) feet, French measure, or twenty-six (26) feet seven (7) inches and Ar> American measure.
The measurement is just the same in the deed of Euphrosine Durvieux in 1817.
And, in the deeds of the defendant, and his intermediate authors, the same American measurement is pursued, viz.: “ 26' 7" 6'" fixed.”'
Thus it appears, irresistibly, to our minds, that the ancient boundaries of these two properties have been well and faithfully preserved.
While it is true that the said exhibits do show that the plaintiff possesses some seven (7) inches over and above the calls of her title, i. e., “ 50feet Sinches,” instead of “ 50 feet 1 inch,” “more or less,”' yet they do not show that same was absorbed from the property of the defendant. For said exhibits show that, while defendant’s titles, call for twenty-six (26) feet seven (7) inches and A, he has in possession twenty-six (26) feet ten (10) inches and A" — an excess above the calls of his title, of two (2) inches and seven-tenths (A) of an inch.
They also show that Fannie Chotard, on corner of Girod and Carondelet, occupies two (2) inches and three-tenths (A) less than her titles call for; and that the M. E. Church (which adjoins the plaintiff on the Canal street side) is in possession of one (1) foot and three inchesand A'ths less than the calls of its title. But, as there is an alleyway intervening between the plaintiff and the church edifice, that may be easily adjusted. The defence set up is not good.
In relation to the actual situs of the wall in controversy, the evidence satisfies us that it only impinges on the plaintiff’s premises to-the extent of about -ftths of an inch — i. e., the superstructure; but-having about two feet of basement or foundation thereon.
There was a good deal of proof adduced to show that the wall in> controversy, and which was anciently an outer wall, gave evidences, of its having been used as a party wall; but, as our opinion, is.that-the facts stated constitute it in law a party wall, it is needless,to discuss this question. R. C. C. 677, 685.
The acts, conduct and apparent acquiescence of the parties andl their authors are in keeping with the view we entertain of the testimony. It seems to have impressed the judge of the court below as: it has impressed us. There is no reason apparent why we should! alter his finding.
Judgment affirmed.
Rehearing refused.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Mrs. Mary A. Kelly v. Joseph D. Taylor
- Status
- Published