Mission of Immaculate Virgin v. Cronin

The complaint designates the land in dispute as lots four and five on the original map of beach lots at Far Rock-away, in Queens county. The survey put in evidence shows it to be a strip of beach land along the Atlantic Ocean, about 1,300 feet front and 900 feet deep. The evidence shows it to be, in the main, covered with small cedars.' The plaintiff put in evidence a conveyance of it by Benjamin C. Lockwood, Jr., and Elizabeth Carroll, his mother (her second husband also joining), to Charles Donahue, dated January 28; 1869, also a conveyance of it by Donahue to the plaintiff, dated Japuary 6, 1881. This is all of the plaintiff’s evidence of paper title, except the will of Benjamin Cornwell, dated and probated in 1821. He was the great grandfather of Benjamin C. Lockwood, Donahue’s principal grantor, who' claimed the land through the said will, as his deed'recites. Such recital is evidence of the claim of title under which he exercised dominion over the property. McRoberts v. Bergman, 132 N. Y. 73 ; 43 St. Rep. 559 . It was shown by oral evidence that the grandfather of the said principal grantor to Donahue had the land in question bounded by stakes, claimed to own it, and went upon it continuously and frequently, and cut and took off cedars for posts and fuel. His son also kept it marked by stakes, and used it in the same way. It was generally known and recognized as his, being called, after his name, “Ben Lockwood’s Oedars>” Charles McHeil, under whom the defendant pleads that he claims, always so called it. Ben Lockwood’s son, the present Benjamin 0. Lockwood, kept and used it in the same way until he conveyed it to Donahue. Hundreds of cedars were taken off by him every

The defendant answered that Charles McUeil is the owner of an undivided interest in the land in dispute, and that the defendant peaceably and quietly entered into possession, and holds as the tenant of said McNeil. He put in evidence the record of a partition by suit of a large tract of beach in 1809, in which the land in dispute was set off as the said lots four and five to Thomas Bannister, in the right of Rachel, his wife. But this record has no bearing in the case, as the defendant did not connect himself with the Bannister title. In fact, he made no attempt to do so, though the trial was adjourned to the next day to enable him to. Upon the last trial it was stipulated that “the partition suit is the common source of title,” and under the authorities that stipulation still subsists, though objected to by plaintiff. But it is of no effect on this trial, because neither side connected itself with the' said partition. The record of another partition action, commenced after this action, was put in evidence by the defendant, but neither did he connect himself with'it. The sole question, therefore, is whether the plaintiff has made out sufficient title to maintain an action of ejectment. If the possession necessary to sustain an action of ejectment be such as would, if continued long enough, make a title by adverse possession, it may be that the plaintiff cannot recover. But I have never understood such a strict possession to be necessary, and it has been held not to be (Hunter v. Starin, 26 Hun, 529 ), while I do not think there is any case in this state directly to the contrary, and this question was not in the. case in the former disposition of it. The facts proved in the. eases of Miller v. Railroad Co., 71 N. Y. 380 ; Thompson v. Burhans, 79 id. 93; and Price v. Brown, 101 id. 669—fall far short of the acts of possession shown in this case. The case of a vast tract of uncleared land is very different from this case. Here

This case was decided in the court of appeals, after the first trial, solely upon the propositions (1) that both sides claimed title from a common source, viz., the partition of 1809; (2) that the defendant was in possession “as lessee” of a descendant of the Bannisters, to whom the land in dispute was allotted in such partition; (3) that, therefore, the plaintiff, having no paper title, had to make out title by adverse possession, but that its proof was insufficient for that purpose, or to raise a presumption of a grant to the plaintiff or its predecessors. Mo such case as this is now presented. The claim of the defendant that he is connected with the Bannister title, as lessee, was not made out on the present trial. The defendant was not, therefore, put to any proof or claim of title by adverse possession, or to the presumption of a grant, which is the same thing. The plaintiff now makes no claim of title by adverse possession, or by presumption of a grant, if these two things may be separated. That they cannot be is plainly stated by the court of appeals in disposing of this case when it was before it. Its opinion says:

“If, upon such facts as exist here a grant could be presumed, it would be easy for a claimant to land to get around the careful

provisions of law as to adverse possession. If he failed to show facts sufficient for adverse possession, he could yet use the same inadequate facts to raise a presumption of a grant.”

The decision of the court of appeals proceeded upon the statement that the defendant was lessee under the Bannister title. That was acquiesced in, and accepted as the fact. That put the plaintiff to proof of a paper title, or else of title by adverse possession. The case now stands upon a finding of fact that the defendant is not connected with the Bannister title, but is an intruder, and claims under his possession alone. The question upon which the case is now decided was not before the court of appeals, or considered by it. TJnder the then acceptance as fact that the defendant was lessee under the Bannister title, the plaintiff claimed title by adverse possession, and failed. Under the present finding of fact that the defendant is an intruder, and claims under his naked possession only, the prior possession of the plaintiff enables it to prevail, regardless of whether there be an outstanding title. That defense is not open to an intruder. Jackson v. Harder, 4 Johns. 211 ; McRoberts v. Bergman, 132 N. Y. 73 ; 43 St. Rep. 559 ; Whitney v. Wright, 15 Wend. 172 . A much stronger case of possession was made out in this case than in Roe v. Strong, 107 N. Y. 350 ; 12 St. Rep. 56 ; id., 119 N. Y. 316 ; 29 St. Rep. 504 . The allowing of a presumption of a grant in that case was upon the fact that the property was not capable of “a technical adverse possession,” and that the plaintiff and his predecessors had exercised over it all the acts of ownership “which, considering the nature and situation of the property, could be exercised.” The rule in respect to adverse possession could not have been contemplated for such property. I do not see how that case can be fairly distinguished from - this. There was no constructive possession there, any more than here, for the land there in dispute was not embraced in the deed of the upland to the plaintiff. Judgment for the plaintiff.