Hinman v. Cranmer
Hinman v. Cranmer
Opinion of the Court
The second section of the act of 1785 clearly and distinctly recognises an entry as one of the modes by which the owner of lands may toll the statute of limitations, and the bringing a writ of right, or any other real or possessory action, as another. The statute does not operate on the possession of the intruder, disseissor or trespasser, but operates on the right of entry and the right of action residing in the owner; and provides that either or both shall be used within twenty-one years after the same first descended or accrued, and not after, except in specified instances. The right acquired by the disseisor or intruder is a result of the laches of the owner.
In England, by the common law, a descent cast takes away the right of entry: Coke Littleton, 237; because the heir of the disseisor was presumed to come in by title. The right of entry existed in England for the purpose of avoiding a fine with proclamations, but in that case the action to recover possession is required to be brought within a year after the entry. The right of entry distinct
We must now inquire whether there was a legal entry in this case by the owner, and of that I think there can be no question. As the plaintiff did not reside within the bounds of the defendant’s survey, nor had cleared any land over the defendant’s line, the defendant was not bound to hunt after him merely because he found that a quantity of his timber had been cut down and carried away. That is a very common kind of trespass on wild lands. If any one had been resident on defendant’s land, or if any one had intruded his fields over the line, it would have been necessary to give notice to the occupant that the entry was with a view to assert title and ownership, and resist the claim of the intruder. As the case stood, however, the owner did all he could; his agent entered on the land, subdivided the tract into lots by actual survey and making the lines, and entering into contract for the sale of some of the lots — ■ all done within the twenty-one years. It is contended, however, that the agent of the Franklin College (who was the owner of the land) was not authorized, in his power of attorney, to make an entry. That, however, is of no consequence. The Franklin College afterwards adopted and ratified everything done by the agent. If A. enter on the premises in B.’s name, but without any autho
Judgment affirmed.
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