Farmers & Merchants Bank v. Rivers
Farmers & Merchants Bank v. Rivers
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the Court was delivered by
This action was brought to foreclose a mortgage given by the defendant, Rivers, to the plaintiff bank. The defendant, Waller, was made a party under the allegation that he claimed some interest in the mortgaged premises.
Mr. Waller answered, setting up title to the land in himself. This defendant based his claim of title upon a deed from Eliza Crews to defendant, Waller, dated 15th March, 1870, recorded 17th July, 1909, and also by prescription, claiming to have been in possession of the land since 15th March, 1871.. The case was tried before a jury, who brought in a verdict for the plaintiff. The defendant, Waller, appealed.
There are three exceptions.
This exception'contains only a part of a request to charge. The remaining portion of the request cures the defect.' The remaining portion reads as follows :
“That is to say, parties who dealt with this land for value without notice of the existence of this deed could not be affected by it.”
This exception can not be sustained.
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(2) That in so charging the province of the jury was invaded by his Honor when he indicated to the jury his opinion that Rivers and his predecessors were subsequent purchasers for value without notice.”
This exception is sustained, for the reason .that Mr. Waller might have had a verdict if the jury believed that he had had possession as he claimed.
“It was error to overrule the motion for a new trial made on the following grounds:
1. The sixth request was charged by the Court and disregarded by the jury, in that it has not been established by any of the four methods mentioned in the said request that the defendant, Rivers, is the owner of the land.
2. It has not been proved thaf the defendant, Rivers, was-in possession, it is not alleged that he is or ever was in possession of the land in controversy, but it has been shown that the title is not in Rivers.
3. That the plaintiff has shown that the Aldrons-Graydon lot was ninety feet square, and, .if that be true, then the *87 Rivers lot was not a portion thereof, and hence there is an utter failure of proof of title in Rivers from any Source, to the land in dispute.
4. The proof of the defendant, Waller, shows that the fence.built by him and the witness, W. N. Graydon, passed over that portion of the land which is occupied by the livery stable, which-sustains the proof of the plaintiff, and the contention of the defendant, Waller, as well, that the Aldrons-Graydon lot was square.
5. The jury disregarded the law contained and charged in the ninth request submitted by the defendant, Waller, as to artificial marks, to wit, the fence mentioned, adjacent boundaries and courses and distances.”
All these specifications refer to matters of fact, except No. 2. There was some proof of title, -and possession follows title.
The judgment is reversed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Farmers & Merchants Bank v. Rivers Et Al.
- Cited By
- 1 case
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- Syllabus
- Notice. Evidence. Presumptions. Charge. Issues. New Trial. Appeal and Error. 1. Trial — Instruction—Cure of Error. — In an action to foreclose a mortgage, though part of an instruction was tantamount to charging that as against subsequent creditors or purchasers for value, a deed unrecorded within 40 days after execution and delivery was invalid, regardless of personal knowledge, the objection was cured by the further clause, “That is to say, parties who dealt with this land, for value without notice of the existence of this deed could not be affected by it.” 2. Charge — Issues.'—A charge which undertakes to state that a certain verdict must follow from proof of specified circumstances, is erroneous where it ignores a material issue in the case which might change the verdict. 2a. Adverse Possession — Possession of Realty. — Where defendant, in an action to foreclose a mortgage, joined under the allegation that he claimed some interest in the mortgaged premises, had held the land in open, adverse, and continuous possession for more than 20 years last past, he held title thereto, irrespective of the conveyances of other parties. 3. New Trial — Appeal and Error. — The refusal of motion for new trial involving questions of fact will not be reviewed on appeal. 4. Evidence — Presumptions.—Possession is presumed to follow title.