Clark v. Way
Clark v. Way
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
To the report accompanied by the deed of conveyance from John Burgess to Wiley Glover, it is necessary for a full understanding of the case, only to add, that, under the partition which was made of Wiley Glover’s lands, the half tract conveyed to him by Burgess, has passed from the plaintiffs, his heirs at law.
The plaintiffs here contend that by Burgess’ deed an interest in the soil of the other half tract was conveyed to Wiley Glover, which interest, yet undividéd, has descended to the plaintiffs, and is of such substantial nature, as will sustain this action of trespass guare clausum fregit, against the defendants, the owners of this other half tract, for cutting timber trees thereon.
If the cutting of defendants was confined to the parcel of three hundred and twenty-three acres, which Mrs. Clark conveyed, all her interest therein has ceased, she and her husband should- not have been amongst the plaintiffs, and for the misjoinder of them, a nonsuit should be ordered. But on this head the evidence was too doubtful for us to venture, after a verdict in favor of the plaintiffs to dismiss the action upon any deduction of fact which we might make.
An interest connected with the land on which the timber was growing, was, we conceive, embraced in the covenant. But of what kind? Was it corporeal — the trees themselves with soil sufficient for nutriment ? or was it incorporeal, the right to cut and remove timber, with the necessary incidents of ingress, and regress ? There are no words transferring the title of the timber, but the terms employed are well adapted to show that a right to use timber growing on another’s land was intended to be conferred.
Such a right in alieno solo(
The plaintiffs have contended that the reservation for the domestic use of Burgess, was void. This reservation (more
The conclusion which we have attained must result in the nonsuit of the plaintiffs, for the invasion of an incorporeal right cannot be redressed by an action of trespass guare clausum fregit.
Was the interest granted to Grlover a transmissible one? If so, was it a right in gross ? or was it appurtenant to the land conveyed to him, or to the mill said to be on that land ? Was it devisable?
These questions we have not decided; and we mention them lest it might be inferred from the obseryations that have been made on the point which has been found sufficient, that an opinion as to either of them is involved in our decision.
The motion for nonsuit is granted.
Nonsuit granted.
(a) See cases collected in note Green Ev. 211 2d edition.
(b) Oo. Litt. 4.
(c) Ebb. 131; 5 Ad. & El. 413 758.
(a) Co. Lit. 165; Leon. 147 ; 4 East. 469.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.