Litchfield v. Ripley
Litchfield v. Ripley
Opinion of the Court
Litchfield brought ejectment to recover possession of the E. i of the S. ~W. i section 26, in township 35 N., range 5 W., which premises he claimed in fee.
The defendants also claim title in fee to the land in controversy, and they introduced in evidence the original patent above described from the United States to Susan O-maw-naw-maw-ne. They also introduced testimony tending to show that the land in question was selected for her under said treaty, and that the patent was delivered to her personally by-the Indian agent, and that she placed it upon record; that she married Isaac Sha-na-naquet, and March 18, 1878, conveyed the premises in question to defendants by warranty deed, which was recorded March 27, 1878, in the office of the register of deeds of Emmet county, in Liber G of deeds, at page 286; and that they went into possession of the premises soon thereafter, and have made valuable improvements thereon.
' Plaintiff then introduced testimony tending to prove that the selection was made by another Susan O-mawnaw-maw-ne, who at the time resided at Whiska Bay, in the Northern Peninsula of Michigan. He did not introduce any evidence tending to prove that any patent was ever delivered to her by the United States.
There is no question of law involved in the case. 1 The question was one of fact, as to who was the grantee named and intended in the patent from the United States. Counsel for plaintiff requested the court to instruct the jury that—
“The uncontradicted testimony of the plaintiff shows that the plaintiff's grantor selected the lands in controversy, and that a patent was issued upon that selection, and the verdict of the jury should be for plaintiff.”
This request was rightly refused. The only testimony on this subject given on the part of the plaintiff is that of the witness, Herbert H. Hoyt, who testified as follows:
“I was present in the Northern Peninsula when the Indians were selecting lands, in 1873. Special Indian Agent John J. Knox and Agent George I. Betts were acting for the government. I saw Agent Knox write the name of Susan O-maw-naw-maw-ne against the E. -J of the S. W. i section 26, the land in controversy, as her selection. She was then residing at Whiska Bay, Mich. I know this land was her selection, because I saw the selection made for her. She conveyed the land to me by deed, which is in evidence.”
On cross-examination, he testified that he had never seen her before nor since, and that he did not get his conveyance. It will be noticed that this witness does not state that he knew Susan O-maw-naw-maw-ne, nor that he in fact saw such a person at the time he claims
The judgment must be affirmed, and 'the case will be remitted to the circuit, court for such further proceedings as the parties may desire to take under the statute relative to actions in ejectment.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Jambs Litchfield v. Adelbert G. Ripley and Frank Ripley
- Status
- Published