Slaughter v. Hight
Slaughter v. Hight
Opinion of the Court
Appellant filed this suit January 27, 1916, against N. W., T. L., and A. P. Hight, W. E. Gooden, and H. E. Tuckness, in trespass to try title to all of sections 3, 4, and 5, B. & B. surveys, and the R. M. Thompson surveys 1 and 2. The petition alleged that these surveys were situated in the north part of Borden county, or the south part of Garza county, Tex.
Defendants’ answers contain pleas of not guilty, and one, three, five, and ten years’ limitations, in that they were claiming under deed duly recorded from Sam L. Chalk, to whom the lands were sold by the state as unsurveyed school lands. They describe the lands as:
“Pirst tract being situated in Borden county, Texas, about 14 miles north from the county site, and known as survey No. 1, in block -, beginning at the northeast corner of Sur. No. 12, Blk. 32, T. M. & T. P. Ry. Co.; thence south 77 degrees west 1,900 varas to the northwest corner of said No. 12,” finishing with metes and bounds to beginning. “Second tract, situated in Borden county, Texas, about 14 miles north from county site, and known as survey No. 2, in block -, beginning at the N. E. cor. of Sur. No. 1,” and finishing with metes and bounds around to beginning
—and then disclaim as to any lands in plaintiff’s petition, except survey No. 1, abstract 1288, and survey No. 2, abstract No. 1289, Sam L. Chalk, grantee, and the lands included therein. •
The cause was submitted to a jury by special issues, and upon the verdict judgment was rendered for defendants A. P. and T. L. Hight, and in favor of plaintiff against N. W. Hight, W. E. Gooden, and H. E. Tuckness, from which judgment Slaughter appeals.
The first assignment is:
“The court erred in admitting in evidence the deed from Sam L. Chalk and wife to N. W. Hight, purporting to convey the lands in controversy, because it is insufficient to support limitation, in that it does not sufficiently describe the lands so they could be located or identified, same containing only survey number, without giving any block number, abstract number, or certificate number, or school file number, and there was nothing of record in Borden or Garza counties in way of application to purchase, field notes, or any other description whatever of such lands; same having been recently illegally located and surveyed. Their numbers were new and not of record in Borden county.”
The jury found that there was no vacant land upon which to file and locate this survey as unsurveyed school land, but found in favor of five years’ occupancy and limitation; so the only question for our determination is: Does the fact support this latter finding?
“643 acres, known as survey No. 1, block No. 1, original grantee, Sam L. Chalk, purchased by Sam L. Chalk as public free school land the 14th day of February, 1902. Also 640 acres, known as survey No. 2, block 1, original grantee, Sam L. Chalk, purchased by Sam L. Chalk as public free school land the 1st day of May, 1902.”
The evidence in this record shows that, aided by parol evidence and the field notes of the surveyor, recorded in the general land office and also in the district surveyor’s field note record, etc., the land is susceptible of location; therefore the description is sufficient. Noland v. Weems (Tex. Civ. App.) 141 S. W. 1031.
“When county lines have never been established, the person recording a deed must ascertain, at his peril, in what county the land thereby conveyed is situated.” Adams v. Hayden, 60 Tex. 223.
As to the third assignment, considered in the light of Magee v. Paul (Tex. Civ. App.) 224 S. W. 1118, and 110 Tex. 470, 221 S. W. 254, the latter holds that the duplicate certificate was admissible as an ancient muniment of title does not decide the question as to whether the proof of three years’ occupancy of Chalk and his witnesses thereto was admissible in evidence under the facts of this record.
Other assignments are predicated upon the theory that the proof will not support five years’ occupancy. Since the case must be reversed, because of the failure to submit the issue of, Were the lands situated in the county where appellees’ deed is recorded? we overrule such other assignments, without comment, for the reason that the evidence may not be the same upon another trial.
Reversed and remanded.
<&^jPor other eases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes
@=jFor other cases see same topic and KEY-NUMBER in all Key-Numbered Digests and Indexes
Reference
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