Proprietors of Liverpool Wharf v. Prescott
Proprietors of Liverpool Wharf v. Prescott
Opinion of the Court
The demandants’ writ describes a tract of land seventy-five feet in length and fourteen inches in width, lying on the southwesterly side of the line which divides the lands of the parties, and adjoining thereto. The line between the p. ties is described as being parallel to and distant northeasterly one hundred and six feet from the boundary line between the wharf property of Henderson Inches and the estate of the demandants.
The tenants plead nul disseisin, and add a specification of defence, according to the system of pleading which is still continued in real actions. The specification alleges, 1. That the demandants made two deeds, one dated April 2,1838, and the
The report states that “ the tenants claimed title to the land in dispute by possession independently of deeds.” By this it is to be understood that they claimed title, even though the land in dispute should be found to be external to that described in the deeds. The report further states that the demandants’ counsel objected to ,the admission of evidence of twenty years’ possession. But the ground of the objection is not very clearly stated. Indeed, the report bears marks of haste or carelessness in several important points, and the specification is very loose and inartificial. But it is stated that “ the objection was overruled by the court, on the ground that such evidence was admissible under the pleading.”
The court are of opinion that, under the plea and specification by which the tenants disclaimed as to all the land lying southwesterly of that described in the two deeds above mentioned, evidence of adverse possession of any part of the land thus disclaimed was inadmissible. For this disclaimer left but two questions open : 1. To ascertain the southwesterly line of the tract described in the deeds ; and 2. The existence and effect of the alleged license. No question as to the license is raised by the exceptions, and therefore there is no occasion to speak of it further.
But in respect to the southwesterly line, evidence was offered which was objected to. It was admitted, and the demandants except to its admission. The report does not make it clear that it was inadmissible.
On this point it appears that the tenants’ southwesterly line was established by his deeds to be one hundred and six feet
The final instruction to the jury was correct; for if the line of Henderson Inches could be ascertained, the distance of the Dolbeare line was immaterial. Exceptions sustained.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Proprietors of Liverpool Wharf v. Edward Prescott & another
- Status
- Published