Campbell v. Dotson
Campbell v. Dotson
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
Shade Dotson filed his bill in the Circuit Court of Buchanan county, from which it appears that he is tenant
This was the sole issue tried in the circuit court. Upon it evidence was taken, and the circuit court rendered a decree partioning the land in the bill mentioned in accordance with the lines set out in the deed, and from that decree A. W. Campbell has appealed.
The record shows that a partition of these lands had been verbally agreed upon between the parties; that they had entered upon the shares so allotted to them and had made improvements; and that one.of the tenants in common had conveyed his interest in accordance with the metes and bounds agreed upon between the parties. It further appears that no issue is presented by the pleadings in this cause with respect to the incompleteness and consequent nullity of Exhibit “F.” The answer of Campbell sets out the alleged misrepresentation and fraud upon which he relies with much amplification, and at the conclusion of his charge he denies that the deed is binding on him; but it is obvious that this general denial has relation to the specific allegation of fraud as releasing him from the obligation of the deed, and not to the fact that the deed was wholly void.
When we come to consider the evidence upon the charge of fraud, we find it to be wholly insufficient and falls far short of that clear proof of fraud which the law requires.
Upon the whole case, we are of opinion that the decree complained of should be affirmed.
Affirmed.
Reference
- Cited By
- 1 case
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- 1. Partition—Fraud—Case in Judgment.—Where the sole issue made and decided in the trial court was whether or not the complainant had induced one of the defendants to sign a deed of partition by fraudulent representations as to the location of the division line, and no issue was presented as to the incompleteness and consequent nullity of the deed of partition on account of the failure of some of the parties to sign it, and it appears that a partition had been verbally agreed on between the parties, and they had entered upon the shares allotted to them and made improvements, and one of them had conveyed his interests according to the metes and bounds agreed on, a decree partitioning the lands in accordance with the lines set out in the deed will not be disturbed, where the evidence of the alleged fraud falls short of that clear proof which the law requires to establish a fraud.