112 U.S. 33 (1884)

SKIDMORE & Others
v.
PITTSBURG, CINCINNATI & ST. LOUIS RAILWAY COMPANY.

Supreme Court of United States.

Submitted October 17, 1884.Decided October 27, 1884.IN ERROR TO THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ILLINOIS.

*34 Mr. George Willard and Mr. George Driggs for plaintiffs in error.

No counsel appeared for defendant in error.

*36 MR. CHIEF JUSTICE WAITE delivered the opinion of the court. He stated the facts in the foregoing language and continued:

The judgment below was clearly right. The Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central Company was, in equity, the owner of the property when the lease was made and when the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Company went into possession under it. The deed executed in February, 1872, pursuant to the contract of purchase, converted the equitable title of the Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central Company into a legal title, which at once, by operation of law, inured to the benefit of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Company under its lease. All the rights of William B. Skidmore, as against the property, accrued long after those of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Company and are subject to the title of that company. Such being the case, it is entirely unnecessary to inquire whether the Skidmores acquired a valid title to the property as against the Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central Company. The Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Company is entitled to the possession, whether that title be good or bad.

The judgment is affirmed.