Keppler v. Texas Lumber Mfg. Co.
Keppler v. Texas Lumber Mfg. Co.
Opinion of the Court
This suit was filed on the 24th day of November, 1914, by plaintiffs, against Ida May Wingate, Walter Wingate, Mattie Wingate, Eula R. Davis and husband, Walter A. Davis, Jessie C. Billups and husband, W. F. Billups, Traynham Smith, Mrs. Julia A. Keppler in her individual capacity and as guardian of the person and estate of the said Traynham Smith, an idiot, and her husband, Charles E. Keppler, R. H. Smith, Mrs. Mamie Whitlock and husband, Arthur Whitlock, and the unknown heirs of R. I-I. Smith, deceased, their heirs or legal representatives, defendants, in trespass to try title for certain lands in Hardin county. Plaintiffs pleaded their title and prayed that they have judgment for the title and possession of the land and premises described, and prayed, further, that the cloud cast upon the .title by the alleged claim of the defendants be removed, and that the plaintiffs be quieted in their title to the property, and for rents and damages and costs of suit. Afterward the plaintiffs, in open court, announced that they would dismiss the suit as against the unknown heirs of R. II. Smith and the unknown heirs of James Walea, deceased. Judgment was taken by default against Ida May AVin-gate, Walter Wingate and Mattie Wingate. The defendants answered by special exception, to the effect that the original petition did not allege that “title accrued to the unknown heirs by death of ancestor dying intestate, or give otherwise the particulars of such accrual, or set out the consecutive chain of title from the sovereignty of the soil,” and by general denial and plea of not guilty, and answered, claiming title to three-eighths of the land in controversy'through R. PI. Smith. Evidence was introduced, and at the conclusion of thfe introduction of plaintiffs’ testimony, defendants filed a motion to strike out the evidence with reference to plaintiffs being innocent purchasers for value without notice of deeds and conveyances, which motion was sustained. Thereupon the court permitted the plaintiffs to file a trial amendment, alleging that they were the owners of the three-eighths interest in the land described, as claimed by the defendants, they being innocent purchasers of the same for value, without notice of any deeds or conveyances under which the defendants claim, which said action of the court in permitting the plaintiffs to file said trial amendment was excepted to by the defendants. After all the evidence was heard, the court instructed the jury to return a verdict for the plaintiffs, which was accordingly done, and the case is before this court for adjudication.
“It is hereby agreed that either party hereto may, on the trial of this cause, read from the records in the office of the county clerk and the district clerk of Hardin county, Texas, any instrument or paper they desire to offer in evidence, and each party waives the filing,, three days’ notice and affidavits of loss of originals, subject, however, to relevancy and competency.
“[Signed by attorneys for plaintiffs and defendants.]
‘This is signed with the understanding that plaintiffs will furnish defendants’- counsel a list with book references in their chain of deeds ten days prior to the trial at the July term of the district court and file the original powers of attorney to Steve Chonault (if procurable) and case to stand continued after transfer to the Seventy-Fifth district.”
This agreement was filed in this cause. Appellees proved that they furnished defendants with a list of their title papers on March 16, 1915, in accordance with the agreement to read from the records, and produced the original powers of attorney upon the trial of the cause. It does not appear from appellants’ bill of exceptions or from this record that any injury resulted to appellants by the action of the lower court, and there is no intimation that appellants were not furnished a list showing the book and page where the said powers of attorney were recorded. We see no error in the action of the tidal court in this matter, especially as it is shown that the original instruments: were admissible without the filing and three days’ notice.
We have carefully reviewed the record in *355 this cause, and have considered the various assignments of error, as presented by appellants, and are of the opinion that the record shows no error such as would warrant a reversal of this cause. Therefore the judgment of the court below is in all things affirmed.
It is so ordered.
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Reference
- Full Case Name
- KEPPLER Et Al. v. TEXAS LUMBER MFG. CO. Et Al.
- Cited By
- 2 cases
- Status
- Published