Osburn v. Board of Supervisors
Osburn v. Board of Supervisors
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
Section 4147, code 1892, did not authorize the institution of this proceeding. By this section of the code it is made the duty of the board of supervisors to institute and prosecute to effect, in the proper chancery court, all necessary suits to establish and confirm in itself, as representative of the county, the title of the sixteenth section lands, and to fix the date of the expiration of any lease of the same; and in the event of the board of supervisors failing or refusing to discharge this duty, then the privilege is conferred upon any person interested — interested as a citizen in the civil subdivision in the assertion of the rights of the public in such
But this bill was properly filed, and was perfectly maintainable under § 499 of the code. By this section the owner in possession of any land, or the owner out of possession, if there is no adverse occupancy, may file a bill for confirmation of his title. When the board of supervisors filed its answer to complainant’s bill, disclaiming any title to the lands adverse to complainant’s leasehold estate, and admitting her title as asserted by her in her bill, the board should have been dismissed on this answer; but complainant should have had confirmation of her title, as prayed by her, but at her cost, of course. The county, disclaiming any title adverse to hers, and otherwise admitting all the allegations of the bill, could not be taxed with the costs, for the county was not her unsuccessful opponent in the litigation.
The decree was erroneous in not confirming the complainant’s title and taxing her with all costs, and it will be reversed and the proper decree will be entered here.
Reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- E. J. Osburn v. Board of Supervisors of Hinds County
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Chancery Court. Jurisdiction. Code 1892, $ 4147. Sixteenth section. Under § 4147, code 1892, giving to any person interested the right, on failure of duty as to that by the board of supervisors, to institute suits in respect to the title of the county to sixteenth section school lands, the interest referred to is that of a citizen in the civil subdivision in the assertion of the rights of the public, and not the interest of an owner or lessee of the lands. One interested as owner or lessee cannot, under this section, bring the suit in his own behalf. 2. Same. Confirming title. Code 1892, §499. But a leaseholder of sixteenth section school lands, who is in possession, the lease-money having been paid, may, under g499, code 1892, file a bill against the county to confirm his title, and have fixed by decree the time of expiration of the lease, and this although the county makes no assertion of an adverse claim. 3. Chancery Practice. Disclaimer. Belief. Costs. Where such a bill is filed, and the county answers, disclaiming all interest, relief should nevertheless be granted, confirming complainant’s title at his cost.