Cox v. Hart

delivered the opinion of the court.

This was an action of trespass.to try the title to certain lands in McLennan County, Texas, the boundaries of which are fully given in the pleadings and in the judgment. They are also described generally as “ being the same tract of land patented by the State of Texas to the heirs of James Stewart, on the 2d day of July, 1849, by patent No. 379, volume 5.”

On the 2d day of July, .1849, the State issued “ to the heirs of James Stewart, deceased, their heirs and assigns,” two patents, each for 960 acres of land, in McLennan County; patent “No. 379, vol. 5,” describing the land embraced.in it' as “ being in Milain district, on the waters of Bull Hide Creek and Cow Bayou, about 12£ miles S. W. from Waco village, by virtue of bounty warrant No. 308, issued to James Stewart

The defendant J. P. Williams filed a disclaimer of any title to the lands here in dispute, but alleged that he held a portion of them under a certain lease from the defendant Cox. Other defendants answered by demurrer, general denial, pleas of not guilty, and limitation, and some of them suggested improvements made in good faith, for the value of which, in the event the plaintiff succeeded in the action, they asked judgment under the statute of Texas.

The jury found that the appellee Hart, the plaintiff below, was entitled to tbe land in controversy; tbat tbe defendant Cox had made valuable improvements upon seven hundred acres of it, worth $6250, and the defendant Echols on three hundred and twenty-five acres of it, worth $3750; that the plaintiff was not entitled to rents; and that, without the improvements, the lands held by Cox were Worth $10,500, those held by Echols $4875.

In conformity with- the verdict, it was adjudged that the defendants Cox and Echols were possessors in go,od faith of the lands held by them, respectively; tljat no writ of possession should issue for those tracts before thA expiration* of one year from the date of the judgment unless the plaintiff paid to the clerk of the court for Cox'die sum of $6250, and for Echols the sum of .$3750, with interest; that, if he neglected for one year to pay such sums; with interest from the date of the judgment, and, if Cox and Echols, within six months after the expiration of the. year, paid to the clerk — Cox, the sum of $10,500, and Echols the sum "of $4875 — then the plaintiff should be forever barred of his writ of possession as against

Motions for new trial and in arrest of judgment having been overruled, a severance was had, upon notice, between the defendants, so that Cox, Tinsley and Echols might prosecute this writ of error separately from their codefendants. The writ of error has been heretofore dismissed as to Echols.

At the trial below the plaintiff, Hart, for the purpose of showing title in himself, introduced in evidence a copy of patent No. 379 to the heirs of James Stewart, followed by proof, in the deposition of Mrs. Catharine Stewart, that the only heirs of James Stewart, on the 12th of April, 1854, were William H. Stewart and John T. Stewart, and that they were dead, Mrs. Stewart surviving them; a certified copy from the clerk’s office of McLennan County of a deed by William H. Stewart, John T. Stewart and Catharine Stewart, wife of William H. Stewart, dated April 12, 1854, purported to convey to John De Cordova the land embraced in patent No. 379, which deed was filed for record May 8, 1854, and recorded two days afterwards; the original of a deed, dated September 7, 1858, by the marshal of the United States for the Western District of Texas 'to Edmond J. Hart, Barnett B. Hart and Isaac N. Marks, which, it was claimed, conveyed 'all the right, title and interest of De Cordova, in the land in dispute; a deed by B. B: Hart to E. J. Hart, of date July 30, 1874, conveying to the latter all the right, title and interest of the grantor in the partnership property, including real estate, personal property and- assets of every description; and a deed from I. N.

For the purpose of showing a common source of title with the defendants under De Cordova, the plaintiff also introduced a deed, dated May 29, 1884, from L. B. Davis, administrator of the estate of De Cordova, purporting to convey to Cox 960 acres of land patented to the heirs of James Stewart by patent No. 379; a deed from Cox to Tinsley, dated December 31,1884, conveying an undivided- half interest in the same land; and deeds to Echols from Cox and Tinsley dated September 4, 1885, for 320 acres of the land in controversy.

The defendants introduced in evidence the original of a deed from Mrs. Catharine Stewart, Mrs. Fannie Finnerson, joined by her husband, William H. Finnerson, Virginia Sexton and Josh. H. McAllister to the defendants Cox and- Tinsley, acknowledged November 16, 1889, (which was after the institution of this action,) before a notary public in Baltimore, conveying to the grantees therein the land described in patent No. 379; the above deed of 1884, from De Cordova’s administrator to Cox, for the’ purpose, the bill of exceptions states, “ of- showing in themselves the defendants’ title and good faith improvements made on the land since defendants had possession thereof; ” the deed from Cox to Tinsley of December 31, 1884, conveying an'undivided half of the land; and the deeds from Tinsley and Cox to Echols, of September 4, 1885.

When this case was called for trial, there was on file a deposition of Mrs. Catharine Stewart, taken by the plaintiff, as well as a copy of the -above deed to De Qordova of April 12, 1854. The defendants moved for a continuance in order that they might take the depositions of Mrs. Stewart and E. J., Hart, Jr.; the. motion being based upon two affidavits made by Tinsley. One of those affidavits stated that Tinsley had, then recently, held á conversation with Mrs. Stewart, during which “affiant by her statement was led to believe, and does believe, said deed to be-a forgery, and that her evidence concerning the same will be material.” The application for a continuance was denied, and that action of the court is assigned for error. But the granting- or refusing of such an application

The certified copy of what purported to be the deed of April 12,1854, to De Cordova set out the specific boundaries of -the lands in controversy, and, also, described them as lands containing “ nine hundred and "Sixty acres of land situated and being in Milam District, on the waters of Bull Hide Creek and Cow Bayou,” and as “the same which were granted to the heirs of James Stewart, deceased, by virtue of bounty land warrant No. 308, issued to James Stewart by William G. Cook, adjutant general, under a patent from the State of Texas, No. 379, issued from the General Land Office upon the twenty-eighth day February, one thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, as by reference thereunto had will more fully and at large appear.”

That deed appears to have been signed, sealed and delivered in the presence of two witnesses named, and was certified by E. B.. Sprague, commissioner of deeds for the State of Texas, resident in Baltimore, to have been personally acknowledged before him by the several grantors, to be their act and deed, (they being known to him as the individuals described as and professing to be the parties of the first part,) and that Catharine Stewart, being examined out of the presence and hearing of her husband, stated that she executed the same freely, voluntarily and without being induced to do so by fear, threats, ill usage or the displeasure of her husband. On the copy introduced there was no scroll or character showing that the commissioner affixed his 'seal to the original.

To the introduction of the copy the defendants objected, in different forms, and at various stages of the trial, substantially upon these grounds: 1. There was on file an affidavit.of forgery, meaning Tinsley’s affidavit used on the application for a continuance of jhe case. 2. It was not proven as an ancient instrument, because there was no evidence of possession, payment of taxes, or other act by any claimant under the deed, or

After the evidence on both sides was concluded, but before the final submission of the case to the jury, the court stated its view of the law to be that, as no proof had been offered of any act or assertion of ownership under the deed from the heirs of James Stewart to De Cordova, that deed could not be read as an ancient document; in which event the defendants were entitled to a verdict. But, at a subsequent stage of the trial, the court announced that, on further consideration, it was of opinion that “ where a common source was shown a party could not go back of the common source to impeach a deed for forgery,” and that “the defendants having themselves offered the deed from De Cordova’s administrator to Cox, and Cox to Tinsley, and from both to Echols, wére concluded on the question of common source and estopped to deny the genuineness of the deed from James Stewart’s heirs to De Cordova, or it was immaterial whether said deed was genuine or not.”

Upon the subject of title, the court charged the jury: “ This is a suit to recover land as described in plaintiff’s petition. He has introduced in evidence a chain of title from the government to him in support of his claim. If the description in the marshal’s deed to Hart and his partners named in the deed described the land that the plaintiff has sued for, the plaintiff is' entitled to recover. The only question as to their title in issue before you is whether the land Lhetf sue for is the land described in the marshal’s deed. The desermtion, you will bear in mind, is ‘a certain tract or parcel ¿/. rand containing, by estimation, 898 acres, lying in Milam district, in McLennan County, on Cow Bayou and Bull Hide streams, patented to the heirs of James Stewart for 960 acres.’ The proof develops that there are two tracts of land patented to

Was the' deed to De Cordova of April 12, 1854, admissible as evidence in behalf of the plaintiff ? The statutes' of Texas provide that every instrument of writing which is permitted or required by law to be recorded in the office of the clerk of the county court, and which has been or may be so recorded after being proven or acknowledged in the manner provided by the laws in force at the time of its registration, shall be admitted as evidence without the necessity of proving its execution, provided “ the party ivho wishes to give it in evidence shall file the same among the papers of the suit in which he proposes to use it, at least three days before the commencement of the trial of such suit, and give notice of such filing to the opposite party or his attorney of record ; and unless such opposite party, or some other person for him shall, within three days before the trial of the cause, file an affidavit that he believes such instrument of writing to be forged.” Rev. Stats. Texas, 1879, Art. 2257, p. 330.

These adjudications make it clear that it was not necessary for the plaintiff — even if Tinsley’s affidavit for continuance was sufficient as an affidavit of forgery under Art. 4802 — to prove the genuineness of the alleged deed of April 12, 1854, to He Cordova. He claimed under He Cordova, by virtue of the marshal’s deed conveying all his right, title and interest in the lands in dispute. The plaintiff introduced the deed from He Cordova’s administrator to Cox for the purpose of showing a common source of title with the defendants. The defendants introduced the same deed without disclaiming the title conveyed by it, for the purpose, the bill of exception distinctly states, (arid' this court must accept that statement as conclusive,) of showing title in themselves, as well as good faith in making improvements. So that, upon this branch of the case ■—• it appearing that the parties claimed under a common source — the law was-clearly for the plaintiff, unless the defendants had established a superior right in themselves, or unless the plaintiff had faffed to acquire by the marshal’s deed, the right, title and interest of He Cordova.

In reference to the deed to Cox and Tinsley from Mrs. Stewart and others of November 16, 1889, which was introduced to show a superior title in the defendants—they assuming that the deed of April 12, 1854, was a forgery — it need only be said that there is an entire absence of proof that the grantors in that deed were the heirs either of the patentee, James Stewart, or of "William H. Stewart and John T. Stewart. Moreover, we do not find from any of the defendants’ numerous requests for instructions that anything was claimed by them, at the trial, on account of the deed of November 16, 1889, obtained just before the commencement of the -trial.

The marshal’s deed recites a judgment, rendered on the 24th day of March, .1856, in favor of Edmond J. Hart, Isaac N. Marks and Barnett B. Hart, for $1061.50, and costs, in the District Court of the United States'for the Eastern District of Texas, against J. De Cordova, execution upon which was August 16, 1858, levied on (the deed containing no other description of the premises) “ a certain tract or parcel of land as the property of said J. De Cordova, containing, by estimation, eight hundred and ninety acres of land, lying in Milam Land District and County of McLennan, aforesaid, on Cow Bayou and Bull Hide streams, patented to the heirs of Janies Stewart for nine hundred and sixty acres.” It recites, also, the sale of the land at public auction to the plaintiffs in the execution, and conveys to them, their heirs and assigns forever, all the right, titje and-interest of De Cordova in the land levied on and sold.

The defendants objected to the' admission of the marshal’s deed as evidence up'on the ground that it did not sufficiently describe any land, and, if any, noahthe land embraced by patent No. 3Y9. We are of opinion -h&tnthe charge to the jury in. reference to this deed was unobjectionable. In White v. Luning, 93 U. S. 514 , 523, this court said: “The policy of the law does not require courts to scrutinize the proceedings of a judicial sale with a view to defeat them. On the contrary, every reasonable intendment will be made in their favor, sc as to secure, if it can be done consistently with legal ruler the object thej^ were intended to accomplish.” And we do A understand that any different rule prevails in Texas. Kingston v. Pickens, 46 Texas, 99, 101, the court says: “ 1

The.case of Brown v. Chambers, 63 Texas, 131, 135, is cited by the defendants in support of their contention. While the court says that no presumption will he indulged in' favor of a sheriff’s deed for land, that case is not in conflict with previous decisions; for the court says that “ the conveyance must contain such a description as will enable the purchaser to find and identify the land,” and “ if, from the description contained in the sheriff’s deed, or deeds or instruments therein refei’re'd to, the land can be found and identified with reasonable certainty, then the conveyance will be sustained.” It cites with approval the language of a text-writer, who says that “ when a deed refers to another deed, or a map, or a survey, it has the effect to incorporate such deed, map or survey into the description, the same as if copied into the deed itself, and what is therein described will pass.” Martindale on Conveyances, § 108. See also Flannegan v. Boggess, 46 Texas, 330, 335; Norris v. Hunt, 51 Texas, 609, 614; Steinbeck v. Stone, 53 Texas, 382, 386; Ragsdale v. Robinson, 48 Texas, 375, 395; Knowles v. Torbitt, 53 Texas, 557.

For the reasons stated, we think that the marshal’s deed was admissible in evidence, and established the plaintiff’s right to the lands in dispute as against the defendants.

The defendants asked that if their motions for new trial and in arrest of judgment were overruled, the judgment be amended so as to give them a direct execution against the

The statutes of Texas making provision for an allowance for improvements in actions of trespass to try title arp as follows :

“ Art. 4813. The defendant, in any action of trespass to try title, may allege in his pleadings that he and those under whom he claims have had adverse possession in good faith of the premises in controversy, for at least one year next before the commencement of such suit; and that he and those under whom he claims have made permanent and valuable improvements on the lands sued for during the time they have had such possession, stating the improvements and ■ their value respectively; and stating also the grounds of such claim.

“ Art. 4814. "Where the defendant has filed his claim for an allowance for improvements in accordance with the preceding article, if the court or jury find that he is not the right-' ful owner of the premises sued for,- but that he and those, under whom he claims have made permanent and valuable improvements thereon, being possessors thereof in good faith, the court or jury shall at the same time estimate from the testimony —

■ “ 1. The value at the time of trial of such improvements as. were so made before the filing of the suit, not exceeding the amount to which the value of the premises is actually increased thereby:

“2. The value of the use and occupation of. the. premises during the time the defendant was in possession thereof, (exclusive of the improvements thereon made by himself or those under whom he claims,) and also, if authorized by the pleadings, the damages for waste or other injury to the premises committed by him, not computing such annual value for a longer time than two years before suit, nor damages for waste or injury done before said two years:

“Art. 4815. If the sum estimated for the improvements exceed the damages estimated against the defendant and the value of the use and occupation as aforesaid, there shall then be estimated against him, if authorized by the testimony, the value of the use and occupation and the damages for injury done by him, or those under whom he claims, for any time before the said two years, so far as may be necessary to balance the claim for improvements, but no further; and he shall not be liable for the excess, if any, beyond the value of the improvements.

“ Art. 4816. ' If it shall appear from the finding of the court or jury, under the two preceding articles, that the esti-’ mated value of the use and occupation and damages exceed the estimated value of the improvements, judgment shall be entered for the plaintiff for the excess and costs in addition to a judgment for the premises; but should the estimated value of the improvements exceed the estimated value of the use ■and occupation and damages, judgment shall be entered for the defendant for the excess.

“ Art. 4817. In any action of trespass to try title when the lands or tenements have been adjudged to the plaintiff, and the estimated value of the improvements in excess of the value of the use and occupation .and damages has been adjudged to the defendant, no writ of possession shall be issued for the term of one year after the date of the judgment, unless the plaintiff shall pay to the clerk of the court for the defendant the amount of such judgment in favor of the defendant, with the interest thereon.

“ Art. 4818. If the plaintiff shall neglect for- the term of one. year to pay over .the amount of said judgment in favor of the defendant, with the interest thereon, as directed in the preceding article, and the defendant shall, within six months after the expiration of said year, pay to the clerk of the court for the plaintiff the value of the lands or tenements without regard to'the improvements, as estimated by the court or jury, then the plaintiff shall be forever barred-of his writ of posses

. “ Art. 4819. If the defendant or his legal representatives shall not, within the six months aforesaid, pay over to the clerk for the plaintiff the estimated value of the lands or tenements, as directed in the preceding article, then the plaintiff may sue out his writ of possession as in ordinary cases.

Art. 4820. The judgment or decree of the court shall recite the estimated value of the premises without the improvements, and shall also include the conditions, stipulations, and directions contained in the three preceding articles, 'so' far as they may be applicable to the case before the- court.” Rev. Stats. Texas, 1819.

We are of opinion that the motion of defendants Cox and Echols for an execution against the "plaintiff was based upon an erroneous interpretation of the statute, the object of which was to concentrate in one person the ownership of the land and of the improvements. The plaintiff, as holder of the title, was given one year within which to pay for such improvements. If he did not do so within that time, then the defendant could take the land, at its assessed valúe, and forever bar the plaintiff of his writ of possession. If the defendant did not exercise that privilege within the time prescribed, then the plaintiff was entitled to his writ of possession. Under the construction for which the defendants contend, the owner of the land could be improved out of his title by ameliorations for which he did not desire to pay, or for which, perhaps, he was unable to pay. What the statute intended to effect was, to secure to the possessor in good faith compensation for his improvements, either by. direct payment therefor by the owner of the land, or by giving him an opportunity to take the land at its assessed value where the plaintiff elected not to pay for the improvements- and keep the land. • The requirement that, if the defendant or his legal representatives should not, within the time prescribed, pay over to the clerk for the plaintiff the value of the lands or -tenements, estimated without, regard to the improvements, the plaintiff could sue out his writ of pos

There are no other questions in the case involving the substantial rights of the defendants, or that we deem it necessary to notice in this opinion. We find no error in the judgment, and it must be

Affirmed.