Adams v. St. Johnsbury & L. C. R. R.
Adams v. St. Johnsbury & L. C. R. R.
Opinion of the Court
Dissenting opinion by
I cannot concur with my brethren upon the question of the time when interest should begin to run. The majority of the court hold that it should from the time the St. J. & L. C. R. R. Co. took possession under its mortgage. I think it should from the time the land was taken. The Lamoille Y. R. R. Co. was organized with power to take land over which to construct its road. It did construct it, taking the orator’s land, and began operating it in 1877. The land was entered upon and taken in such manner that the orator, or those whom, he now represents, had no right to recover the land itself; he had an equitable lien upon it, which could be enforced only in a court of equity. (See late cases in this State.) The St. J. & L. C. R. R. Co. took the land by virtue of their mortgage from the L. Y. R. R. Co., and, as the court hold, took it subject to an equitable lien in favor of the land owner. The court say in the majority opinion:
“This company included in its possession and use the land in question. It nevór had any right to this land or to the use of it, because the railroad mortgage, which was prior to the possession of the land by the former company, conveyed no interest in it. This company simply took and used the land for railroad purposes, without right, and became liable therefor.”
Admitting that the mortgage was prior to the possession of the land, it does not necessarily follow, that the mortgagee company took no interest in the land. The road bed
Reference
- Full Case Name
- ADAMS AND OTHERS v. THE ST. JOHNSBURY & L. C. R. R. Co., & LAMOILLE VALLEY R. R. CO.
- Status
- Published