Harse v. Ramer
Harse v. Ramer
Opinion of the Court
This is an action of ejectment to recover a strip of land about 10 rods wide at the east end and 12 rods wide at the west end, extending across section 8, township 12, range 18, in Buffalo county. Plaintiff claims that the strip is part of the north half of the section, which is his property, while defendants insist that it is part of the south half of the section, the title to which is in them. Defendants also assert title by adverse possession for more than 10 years. The reply was a general denial. The jury found for the defendants as to all the strip except that lying north of the east one-half of the southeast quarter of the section. As to this portion it found for the plaintiff. Since the true boundary line of the entire strip, according to government survey, was the same, the west three-fourths of the strip must have been awarded to the defendants on account of adverse possession for the statutory period, while the title to the east one-fourth of the strip must have been awarded to the plaintiff on account of the true line being as he contends. The dispute is as to the true location of the quarter corner between the northeast and. the southeast comers of section 8. The government comer being-missing, the lost comer was established at different points by different surveyors. The location of the northeast corner of the section is also in dispute, and, since the true location of the quarter comer depends upon the location of this comer, much testimony was taken as to this. The testimony with respect to the location of this corner at the intersection of sections 4, 5, 8 and 9 is conflicting. The plaintiff’s case virtually rests upon the proposition that a corner stone at this point, which is denominated by him the “lagoon” comer, is the true government corner. The. evidence on his behalf is that the quarter comer south of this was lost, and that it was afterwards established by dividing equally the distance between the northeast and southeast comers of section 8.
A great deal of testimony is in the record both by sur
The east quarter mile of the disputed strip, which was found to belong to the plaintiff, is in a different situation with respect to possession. On a portion of this strip Harse in 1883 planted 10 acres of trees. He could not find the quarter corner and was not able to determine just where his line was, but by standing upon a .hill and looking eastward he observed trees set out and improve
The defendants argue that the court should “consider the great public wrong that will flow from the location of the east and west section lines north of sections 8, 9, 10 and 11 to conform to the lagoon corner,” and insist that it will affect all owners of property along this line. The manner in which the verdict of the jury may indirectly affect others not before this court cannot be considered. It is possible that, if controversies arise as to the true location of other monuments along the section lines, the evidence may be different. Each case must rest upon the facts which are before the jury in that particular case. This court has no power to determine, as the defendants’ counsel requests, “that the lago&n corner is not the true corner, but that the true corner is 16 to 18 rods north” of the same.
The defendants complain that the tract awarded to the plaintiff by the jury is larger than that described in the petition. The petition claimed a strip about 10 rods and 8 feet wide, at the east end, the north line being marked by a fence, and about Í2 rods wide at the west, end, though he claimed a smaller tract by adverse- possession. The jury awarded a strip 179 feet wide between the true half-section line and the Ramer fence, and this is within the claim made in the petition. The fact that the plaintiff only recovered a part of the tract described 'in the petition is not material, and does not prejudice the defendants in any wTay.
Defendants complain that the costs were taxed against them by the district court. The plaintiff claimed about 24 acres of land. He recovered a judgment for about 5i acres, and the defendants succeeded as to the remainder. Practically both parties succeeded in the action. In such a case it is proper for the district court to divide the costs. Hale v. Young, 24 Neb. 464; McGillin v. Gleason, 34 Neb. 694; 34 Cyc. 1557.
The judgment of the district court should'be affirmed
Affirmed.
September 25, 1911, order entered taxing, costs to.appellants.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- John Harse v. Oliver Ramer
- Status
- Published