Thompson v. Smith
Thompson v. Smith
Opinion of the Court
This is an action of trespass. The lands in controversy are described in the declaration as—
“ Commencing at a point on the south bank of the Muskegon river, where the east line of River street, produced, intersects the river; thence westerly, along the bank of the said river, to the old channel of Brooks creek; thence southerly, along the easterly bank of said creek, to the right of way owned by the Chicago & West Michigan Railroad Company; thence easterly, on the north line of said railroad company’s right of way, and to the west line of block four; thence north, along the west line of block four, to a point which would intersect the south line Wood street, if produced; thence east on the south line*260 of Wood street, produced, to the west line of River street; thence north-westerly, along the west line of River street, to the north line of Water street; thence east, on the north line of Water street, to the east line of River street; thence north-westerly along the east line of River street, produced, to the place of beginning.”
The cause was commenced in the Newaygo circuit court. Defendant appeared, and with his plea of the general issue gave notice that the title to the premises described in the declaration at the time of the acts complained of was vested in one James W. Converse, and that any acts that were done by the defendant were done as the agent of said Converse. The cause was tried before a jury, who returned a verdict in favor of the defendant.
The principal question on the trial was whether the land in controversy is a part of block B. The plaintiff, on the argument here, presents a plat which it is claimed shows that the western boundary of block B is at a line extended northerly from the line between lots 6 and 7 of block C; while the defendant presents a plat which it is claimed shows that block B is not thus bounded, but that it extends westward, and includes the lands in controversy. Reference to the two plats, which were used on the argument in this Court, does not settle the controversy. One is a copy of the plat of the village. This village plat was offered in evidence by the defendant on the trial, and excluded. It was offered, as defendant’s counsel claim, for the purpose of showing that no particular piece of land was platted as block B, but that block B was the designation of a parcel of land in the village of Newaygo whose boundaries and limits were as well known and as well defined as those of any block in the village plat, and that the parcel described in the declaration is a part of that block. It is conceded that the village plat was never properly authenticated, but the one offered in evidence was the only one made or recorded, as shown by the record in this case. The pro
The plaintiff, to maintain her case, on the trial called David P. Clay as a witness, and he testified substantially that he knew the land in controversy, and at one time he
Defendant, on his part, not only claimed possession, but title to the premises. To prove his title he put in evidence a mortgage made by David P. Olay and wife to James W. Converse, dated December 15, 1877, and duly recorded two days afterwards, to secure the sum of $25,000. The land is described in the mortgage as “ block B, village of Newaygo.” The mortgage also covers other lands. It appears that this mortgage was foreclosed in the circuit court of the Hnited States for the western district of Michigan, the Us pendens being recorded in the register’s office of Newaygo county, May 30, 1887. The sale was made October 8, 1888, James W. Converse ”being the purchaser .at the sale. Defendant, Smith, claims to be in possession as the agent of Converse, and sets up title in Converse under his notice. The deed on this foreclosure sale was offered in evidence by defendant. contains the same description as found in the mortgage.
To show how the lands had theretofore been described, and how Mr. Clay derived his title, the defendant offered in evidence a deed from Wilder D. Foster, assignee in bankruptcy of Alexander Blake, to Mr. Clay, dated June 28, 1871, describing the lands as—
“ That part of block B lying north of block 4 and west of said block and the Newaygo Company's land, and extending to Muskegon river; meaning all the meadow land extending from said block 4 and the line of River street north to Muskegon river and Brooks creek, * * * all in the village of Newaygo."
Several other deeds were also offered in evidence, tracing the title back through these mesne conveyances to John A. Brooks and Sarell Wood, showing title in them prior to the year 1857, and all of said deeds describing the lands in controversy as a part of block B of the village of Newaygo. The tax rolls were also offered in evidence for the various years from 1858 down to the time of the trial, showing that these lands were assessed for taxes during all that time as a part of block B, village of Newaygo*
Plaintiff's counsel offered in evidence certain deeds and mortgages executed prior to 1857, in which these lands are described by metes and bounds. Some evidence was offered by the plaintiff, and excluded by the court, which, it is claimed, would tend to show that Olay, at the time of giving the Converse mortgage, pointed out to Converse the boundaries of the land the mortgage would cover, and the boundaries of block B. It was claimed from this that the parties to the mortgage never understood that the mortgage covered the land described in the declaration.
The court directed the jury that the fact was established that the plaintiff was not made a party to the foreclosure proceedings, and hence whatever proceedings were taken to foreclose could not deprive her of her title; that both parties derived their title through Mr. Olay, and that the title to the property described in the declaration was in Mr. Olay at the time of the execution of the mortgage, December 15, 1877; and that the evidence beyond dispute showed that the deed of May 20, 1887, was made by Mr. Clay, who had the legal title, and was delivered to the plaintiff, and she went into possession under it. “But,” the court said, “the vital question is this: Do the premises ■described in the declaration include any portion of block B? and that is the question for you to determine from the .evidence.” The court further said: “There was a stipulation between the parties filed in this cause, to the effect
“David P. Clay was the owner of the premises in question and other lands included in the mortgage under date of December 15, 1877. That was prior to the conveyance made by him to plaintiff in this action. She was a subsequent purchaser of the premises, -and necessarily took them subject to the mortgage and the legal effect of the foreclosure proceedings, providing all the proceedings were regular, as stipulated by the respective parties to this mortgage; and the title obtained under and by virtue of the foreclosure proceedings would refer back to the execution of the mortgage, and give the purchaser such title to the premises covered by the mortgage as the mortgagor had at the time the mortgage was executed and delivered to the mortgagee. Now, the plaintiff, in order to make out her case under the declaration in this cause, introduces in evidence a deed, the date of which I have called your attention to, under date of May 20, 1887 (Mr. Clay at that time was the owner of the premises in question), to Mrs. Thompson, the plaintiff in this suit. Mrs. Thompson, the plaintiff in this suit, I will say to you, as I said before, went into possession of the premises under and by virtue of that deed; and there is no dispute in the testimony, and it is a conceded fact, that on or, about the 8th day of April, 1889, the defendant in this action took possession of the premises, and has continued in possession of the premises ever since, and claims to hold and occupy the premises on account of his having had a superior title to that of the plaintiff in this action; and his title would be superior to that of the plaintiff in this action provided you find from the evidence in this case, as , a matter of fact, that the premises mentioned in this declaration are included in block B, covered by the mortgage in question in this suit. So the question of fact for you to determine, and the vital question of fact in this case, is, do you find from the evidence, as a matter of fact, that the premises described in this declaration are the same as the premises described in the mortgage as block B ?"
The court further charged:
“ Then the first question for ycu to determine is, taking it as a conceded fact that at the time of the execution of*266 tbe mortgage Mr. Clay was the owner of the premises-in question' (and that is your basis), ascertain, then, gentlemen of the jury, from the evidence in this case, whether this block B, as described in this mortgage, covers the premises which the plaintiff in this action claims to have been trespassed upon; and if you find that it does, that is a defense to this action, and this plaintiff is not entitled’ to your verdict. If, in considering that question, gentlemen, you find the issue in favor of the plaintiff, — you find that the premises described in the declaration in this suit are not within the premises described in the mortgage as block B, — then the plaintiff would be entitled to your verdict; and in determining that question of fact you will take-into consideration all the evidence in the case before 3rou.. Now, certain deeds have been introduced in evidence here on the part of the plaintiff, and also on the part of the defendant, dating as far back as November, 1853; certain-mortgages have been introduced, certain tax rolls have been introduced in evidence, and a certain map has been introduced in evidence here; and these records and this map are all circumstances competent for you, gentlemen, to consider in determining this question of fact to which I have called your-attention, either oneway or the other. In the-absence of direct proof as to where the boundary lines are, and'as to whether or not the land described in this declaration is included in the description of land- mortgaged, it-would be competent for you, and your duty, to take into consideration these deeds of conveyance. How did the-parties to the instruments understand it, — the grantors and grantees therein named? How did the parties who executed, and to whom the mortgages were executed, understand it?' What was their understanding of block B? What land was included? You may take into consideration, and it is your duty so to do,- also, the tax rolls which have been introduced in evidence. How did the parties — the assessor, the party who made the assessment, and the parties against whom the land was assessed — understand it? What was their understanding with reference to this matter, as to whether or not the lands described in the declaration were the same as the lands described in the mortgage as block B? Neither the tax rolls nor the deeds offered in evidence nor the mortgages are conclusive upon this question, but they are-all matters proper for you to consider; they are circumstances in the case proper to be considered.”
Beference need not be made to the several assignments-
It is contended that the court below was in error in excluding the testimony offered to show that Clay pointed out to Converse the boundary lines of the lands to be included in the mortgage, and that Converse was told that the lands in controversy were not to be included. This was properly excluded. The question under consideration on the trial was whether the lands in controversy were actually included in the Converse mortgage, and this question could be determined only by showing what were the boundaries of block B. The parol testimony of what the understanding was as to what was to be included could not aid this question, and could not be used for the purpose of contradicting or changing the description in the mortgage. The mortgage covered all of block B, and if this land was a part of block B it was included in the mortgage, whatever the understanding of the parties may have been about it; and parol evidence would not be admissible to change or vary the terms of the mortgage. The only question of fact arising in the case was whether the lands in controversy were a part of block B. The jury found that issue in favor of defendant.
It appears without contradiction that the plaintiff’s deed describes the land as a part of block B, and the Converse mortgage covers all of block B, and the deed on foreclosure describes it in the same way. The plaintiff, then, by this record, is put in the attitude of making claim to this land, and attempting to prove her title by showing that it is not a part of block B, while the deed under which she herself claims describes it as a part of block B, and all other conveyances dating back to 1857 so describe it, and it has been so assessed during all that time. Whatever
Plaintiff’s deed, however, was given prior to the filing of the Us pendens in the foreclosure proceedings, and there is some evidence that she went into possession of the property under the deed prior to that time. The court below assumed that, inasmuch as the stipulation between the parties to this cause recited that the foreclosure proceedings were regular, therefore whatever rights the plaintiff had in the premises under her deed were cut off and foreclosed by that proceeding. The plaintiff was not made a party to the foreclosure, and consequently it was a matter of no concern to her whether the foreclosure proceedings were regular or not. The right to possession was not foreclosed, and could not be cut off, by that proceeding, or the entry of the defendant claiming under the foreclosure of the Converse mortgage. 3 Jones, Mortg. §§ 1413, 1413. The court below was therefore in error in that part of the charge. Dnder these facts, the court should have directed the verdict in favor of the plaintiff.
Judgment reversed, and a new trial ordered.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.