Page v. Smith
Page v. Smith
Opinion of the Court
Plaintiff brought this action to quiet title to a quarter section of land in Dickey county. On a former appeal we held plaintiff’s title to be invalid, and found defendant to be the fee owner. The cause .was remanded in order that an accounting might be had and the amount due the defendant from the plaintiff and his grantors for the use and occupation of the premises be determined. See page v. Smith, 33 N. D. 369, 157 N. W. 477. After the cause had.been remanded, additional pleadings were filed and evidence taken upon this, question, and the trial court found the value of such use and occupation
(1) With respect to the first item of which plaintiff complains we find that there is some evidence tending to show that the plaintiff’s grantors received certain rent for the premises during the years 1900-to 1904, inclusive, and we are of the opinion that the court’s findings as to these items is supported by the evidence.
(2) With respect to the items allowed for the years 1908 and 1909, we are of the opinion, however, that plaintiff’s contention is correct. The controversy with respect to these items arises with respect to the time when a part of the land was first put under cultivation. Upon the former trial there was some testimony to the effect that about 70 acres of' the land was broken in 1907. The evidence upon the latter trial is to the effect that the land was not broken in 1907 but in 1909. The evidence is undisputed that the party who broke the land received the entire first year’s crop for the breaking. An examination of all the evidence adduced in the case, both upon the former trial and upon taking of the account, clearly shows that the land was first broken in 1909. The evidence also shows that plaintiff’s grantors received $20 rent therefor in 1908, but received no rent therefor during the year 1909. Consequently, the items allowed by the trial court for the years 1908 and 1909 are erroneous and should be stricken from the account, and in lieu thereof the defendant is entitled to be allowed $20, the amount which the evidence shows plaintiff’s grantors to have received.
(3) With respect to the állowance of interest, we are clearly of the opinion that plaintiff’s contention is correct. It was not the intent of this court as disclosed by our former opinion that any interest should be allowed to the defendant upon such items. It may be observed that the mortgage bore 6-| per cent interest. Interest was payable annually. Some of these interest instalments had become due and payable thirty-three years before our opinion was handed down. Defendant, however,
The case is therefore remanded, and the District Court is directed to modify its former judgment, and enter judgment in accordance with the views expressed in this opinion. No costs will be allowed on this appeal.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- WESLEY L. PAGE v. ED. A. SMITH
- Status
- Published