McClung v. Folkes
McClung v. Folkes
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
C. C. Folkes was the owner of several tracts of land in Highland county, Virginia, and, desiring to correct uncertainties or mistakes in the boundaries thereof, applied to the circuit court of said county for an inclusive survey thereof. Code, sections 2337-2360. A caveat to prevent him from obtaining a new grant upon a resurvey of his lands was filed by L. M. McClung. Thereupon the court proceeded in a summary way, without pleadings, with the
“Has the plaintiff a better right than the defendant to the land mentioned in the plaintiff’s caveat, or to any part of said land? If the jury finds that the plaintiff has a better right to the whole of said land they will say so. If the jury find the plaintiff has not the better right to the whole of said land, they will say so. If the jury find that the plaintiff has not the better right tó the whole of the said land, but has the better right to a part of said land, they will say so and state in their verdict to what part of the land the plaintiff has such better right. If the jury find that the plaintiff has not the better right to said land, or any part of the same, they will say so/’
Upon the trial of this issue, the caveator, McClung, was the plaintiff, and the caveatee, Folkes, was the defendant. There were two- trials and a mistrial of this issue, but for convenience we will speak of all of them as trials. At the first trial there was a verdict for the defendant, which the court set aside on the motion of the plaintiff, because contrary to the evidence, and the defendant excepted. At the second trial there was a hung jury. At the third trial there was again a verdict for the defendant, which the court refused to set aside at the instance of the plaintiff, but entered judgment thereon for the defendant, and to this action of the trial court the plaintiff excepted, and brings the case here for review.
During the progress of the last trial, the defendant claimed that since the first trial he had discovered errors in the corners and lines sought to be established on the first trial, and offered a new map and evidence to .show different corners and lines from those set up at the first trial. The plaintiff objected to this departure- from the
There was much evidence taken in the case on both sides, and it is of a highly conflicting nature. In addition to the testimony of numerous other witnesses, several surveyors were introduced by each party whose testimony conflicted, and a number of maps or blue prints showing points of controversy were also received in evidence. There was also introduced a large quantity of documentary evidence. Several trees also, alleged to be corners, were blocked and brought into court, and their annulations were pointed out by the witnesses, and finally the jury were taken upon the ground and given a view of the points in controversy. While there was this great volume of evidence relating to the issue submitted to the jury, the parties finally narrowed the issue between them to a single point, and each of them staked the fate of the case on whether the corner of one of the tracts was at a point which we may call A,
No exception was taken to the granting or refusing of instructions, and no objection is made here to the ruling of the trial court on the admission or rejection of evidence. The sole errors assigned are the refusal of the court to set aside the verdict as contrary to the evidence, and the judgment against the plaintiff for the entire costs of the litigation. The plaintiff is here as on a demurrer to the evidence, and we are unable to say that the verdict is without'evidence to support it. Counsel for the plaintiff in error have very ably argued to show that certain evidence offered by the plaintiff in the nature of admissions was conclusive in his favor, and that no evidence to the contrary should be heard, and have offered authority to support their contention, but evidence to the contrary was freely offered and received. without objection in the trial court, and we cannot now disturb its judgment. Upon the evidence as it appears in cold print, we think, if on the jury, we would have found a different verdict, but this is not sufficient. We are unable to say from the record that manifest injustice has been done, or that the verdict is without evidence to support it. Jackson v. Wickham, 112 Va. 128, 70 S. E. 539; Blair & Hoge v. Wilson, 28 Gratt. (69 Va.) 165.
At the second trial, the defendant entered a disclaimer
The judgment of the circuit court should, therefore, be affirmed.
Affirmed.
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- 1. Appeal and Error-Harmless Error-Case at Bar.-There were three trials of the issue in the instant ease. At the first trial there was a verdict for the defendant, which the court set aside on the motion of the plaintiff, because contrary to the evidence, and. the defendant excepted. At the second trial there was a hung jury. At the third trial there was again a verdict for the defendant, which the court refused to set aside. At the last trial the court refused to receive certain evidence offered by the defendant to show different corners and lines from those set, up at the first trial, unless the defendant would waive his bill of exception to the a-.ction of the court in setting aside the first verdict; the court being of opinion that the should- not be allowed to insist that the first verdict was right and then offer evidence to show that it was wrong. The defendant waived his exception under protest, and to the action of the court in compelling him to make - such waiver. This action of the trial court was assigned as error by the' defendant. Held; That it was unnecessary to pass upon the question. Both verdicts were in favor of the defendant, and in the appellate court he vigorously insisted on the correctness of the last and asked that the judgment on the last verdict be af. firmed. As the Supreme Court of Appeals was of opinion that he was right in his contention that the judgment should be affirmed, he could not have been hurt by his waiver though made. 2. Appeal and Error-Reversal-Rule as on Demurrer to no exception was taken to the granting or of instructions, and no objection was made in the Court of Appeals to the ruling of the trial court on the admission or rejection of evidence, the sole errors assigned the refusal of the court to set aside the verdict as to the evidence, and the judgment against the plaintiff for the entire costs of the litigation, the judgment must be sustained, if there is evidence to support it. It is insufficient that the Supreme Court of Appeals upon the evidence, if they had been the jury, would have found a different verdict, where the court from the record is unable to say that manifest injustice has been done, or that the verdict is without evidence to support it. 3. Costs—Prevailing Party — Disclaimer—Case at Bar.—At the second trial the defendant entered a disclaimer as to about one acre of the land in controversy. Plaintiff refused to accept the disclaimer in satisfaction of his demand, and it was manifest that the land disclaimed was but a small part of the subject of litigation. Held: That plaintiff was not entitled to recover costs up to the time of the disclaimer, where the verdict and judgment in a third trial was for defendant, as the case is controlled by section 3545 of the Code of 1904, providing that the party for whom final judgment is given shall recover his costs.