U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Tennessee, 1809

Polk v. Robertson

Polk v. Robertson
U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Tennessee · Decided June 15, 1809
19 F. Cas. 937; 1 Brunn. Coll. Cas. 103

Counsel

Haywood, Dickinson & Campbell, for plaiu-tiffs, submitted the evidence to the jury without argument, considering it too plain to admit of any., Grundy, White & Overton, argued for defendant:—

Polk v. Robertson

Opinion of the Court

PER CURIAM.

Evidence of admissions ■can be received in questions of boundary, as well as in other cases, but they should be clear and unequivocal to have any effect It is always a suspicious kind of evidence, and the jury should be convinced that it was the intention of the party to admit a fact, being satisfied of its truth. In this case there does not appear to be a clear admission of the fact, but the jury will judge of this. Admissions of law, or what the law is, have no effect in a court of justice; they are never noticed. Admissions are evidence as to boundary. See 3 Johns. 223, 400; 2 Johns. 120; 2 Dall. 94; 4 Hen. & M. 194; 2 Hayw. (N. C.) 210, note; Hardin, 232; Camp. 367; 4 Johns. 143; 2 Gould, Esp. N. P. 34. But not evidence as to title. See 6 Johns. 19.

The whole question before the jury depends upon the identity of the survey, or boundaries of the plaintiff’s land. If the jury believe from the testimony they have heard, that this is the place surveyed for the plaintiff, and granted to him, they will find for him, otherwise for the defendant.*

Verdict for the plaintiff.

Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.