Graham v. Jackson
Graham v. Jackson
Opinion of the Court
J. W. Graham, by lease from the owners, had the right of possession to 320 acres of land, fronting on the bank of the Leona river; said land having a width of one-quarter mile and running back two miles. Seventy acres of said land, lying across the front, was in cultivation, leaving 250 acres of pasture land. Just south of Graham’s land, T. J. Jackson owned 1,280 acres of land, also fronting on the Leona river, and having a width of one mile, and running back two miles. He had in cultivation 250 acres fronting on the river and adjoining Graham’s cultivated land. The remainder of Jackson’s land, 1,030 acres, was pasture land. He had about three-fourtlis of a mile river frontage in his pasture. The cultivated land of each was fenced separately, there being a lane between the farms, which was in dispute between Jackson and the owners of the land held by Graham, and a separate suit was pending with reference to the boundary line between the two surveys, which involved this land. Back of the farms there was no division fence, all the pasture land being in one inclosure. Graham and Jackson never made any agreement with regard to the number of head of stock each was to keep in the pasture, and certain differences and controversies arose, which led to ■the institution of this suit by Graham. He alleged that, although each had the right to make .reasonable use of the pasture by grazing same with a reasonable number of animals, Jackson had willfully, wrongfully, and arbitrarily seized and held possession of said land for two years. He then undertakes to describe the manner in which Jackson seized and held possession, in substance, as follows: (1) That for the year 1913 he rented his interest in said pasture to Albert Finley, who contracted to pay $75 as rent for nine months of said year, and that Jackson wrongfully and willfully seized possession of said land and refused to allow Finley to pasture same, whereby plaintiff was damaged to the extent of said sum of $75, and also to the extent of $25, the reasonable rental value for the remainder of the year 1913. (2) That for the year 1914 he made a contract with Dolph Briscoe, by which Briscoe was to lease the pasture and pay| therefor certain personal property, of which we omit description, which plaintiff accepted at the agreed price of $300; that defendant again wrongfully seized possession of said pasture, refused to let Briscoe pasture the same, and refused to' allow his cattle to get water at the river, and by intimidation and threats compelled him to remove his cattle, and plaintiff was compelled to return said personal property received for the lease, to his damage in the sum of $300. (3) In the alternative he pleaded that the rental value of the pasture for the year 1914 was $300, and by reason of the wrongful seizure of same by defendant, and on account of his refusal to allow Briscoe to pasture same and compelling Briscoe to remove his cattle, plaintiff has been deprived of the said rental valué of said pasture for the year 1914. (4) Again, in the alternative, he pleaded that the rental value of his 250 acres for the year 1914 was $300, and the market value of the personal property delivered to him by Briscoe was $300; that under his contract with Briscoe the latter was to turn into the pasture a reasonable number of stock, that is, such a number as the 250 acres would reasonably keep up; that Bris-coe decided to turn in 50 head of yearlings, which was a reasonable number, but defendant wrongfully and arbitrarily refused to allow him to keep 50 yearlings in the pasture, and limited him to 25 head, and by reason of such wrongful acts and demands of defendants Briscoe removed all of his cattle from the pasture and canceled the lease contract, requiring plaintiff to return the $300 worth of property given for the lease, and therefore plaintiff was deprived of the rental value of said land for the year 1914 in the sum of $300. (5) Again, in the alternative, if he is not entitled to recover under the preceding plea, then that Briscoe did turn into the pasture about 50 head of yearlings, and they remained therein for about one month, and defendant collected from Briscoe the pasturage on same, for said time, amounting to $27, and converted the same to his own use and benefit.; that plaintiff is entitled to recover said pasturage, or at least such pro *553 portion thereof as his 250 acres bears to the entire acreage in the pasture.
Defendant answered by general demurrer, special exceptions, and a general denial.
This testimony shows nothing more than a controversy between Jackson and Briscoe with regard to the proper number of cattle to be placed in the pasture by Briscoe. Jackson proposed to see his lawyer for the purpose of sustaining his opinion in a legal manner if he could. Briscoe feared a suit, and decided, if he could not put in 50 head of cattle without a controversy which would probably end in a suit, he did not care for the lease. Graham agreed to cancel the contract. We find nothing in this upon which plaintiff can base a cause of action.
We fail to see upon what theory Jackson would be liable to Graham. Briscoe did not pay Jackson any money for Graham. There was no privity between Jackson and Graham, and if Briscoe owed Graham for pasturage he still owes it, for the payment to Jackson would not release him. In fact, however, Graham, in the agreement canceling the lease contract, agreed not to charge Briscoe pasturage for the time the cattle were in the pasture.
We conclude that the court did not err in instructing a verdict for defendant.
Judgment affirmed.
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Reference
- Full Case Name
- GRAHAM Et Al. v. JACKSON
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published