Bonewitz v. Kratz

119 N.E. 380, 67 Ind. App. 511, 1918 Ind. App. LEXIS 178
CourtIndiana Court of Appeals
DecidedApril 25, 1918
DocketNo. 9,677
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 119 N.E. 380 (Bonewitz v. Kratz) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Court of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Bonewitz v. Kratz, 119 N.E. 380, 67 Ind. App. 511, 1918 Ind. App. LEXIS 178 (Ind. Ct. App. 1918).

Opinion

Felt, J.

Appellee brought this suit against appellant, and two other persons who are not parties to the appeal, to enjoin the defendants from entering upon and removing timber from certain real estate of which she claims to be the owner in fee simple. Appellee obtained a temporary restraining order, which was duly served on the defendants.

[512]*512Appellant filed an answer to the complaint in four paragraphs, the first of which was a general denial. The second alleges in substance that for more than twenty years prior to the commencement of this suit, appellant, under a claim of right, was in the actual, open, notorious, exclusive, continuous and hostile possession of the real estate described in the complaint. The third paragraph alleges that the plaintiff’s cause of action did not accrue within twenty years immediately prior to the commencement of this action. In the fourth paragraph appellant sets up facts to show that the question in this suit had been adjudicated in 1879 by the former owners and privies in interest with appellant and appellee; that said adjudication was against the grantors of appellee, remained in full force and effect and is binding upon appellee. Prayer that title be quieted in appellant and against appellee.

Replies in general denial were filed to the affirmative paragraphs of answer.

A request for a special finding of facts was duly made and granted.

Upon the trial certain questions of fact were submitted to a jury for the information of the court.

The court made a finding of facts as follows:

“1st. That in an action pending in the Huntington Circuit Court wherein Henry Bonewitz was the plaintiff and John Wygant and Charles Wygant were the defendants involving the title to the real estate described in the plaintiff’s complaint, to wit: The island in the Wabash River in Huntington County in the State of Indiana, at a point where the Wabash River crosses the southeast corner of section 33 and the southwest corner of section 34 in township 28 [513]*513north, range 10 east. Final judgment was duly given, made and rendered in said cause on the 22nd day of January, 1879, in and by which it was decreed and adjudged by said Court that Henry Bonewitz should take nothing by his suit as to the real estate described in plaintiff’s complaint herein, and in which it was also decreed and adjudged- that the title of the said John Wygant and Charles Wygant in and to the said real estate should be forever quieted as against the said Henry Bonewitz and any person claiming title under him. That afterwards the said Henry Bonewitz appealed the said case to the Supreme Court of Indiana and such proceedings were had therein that afterwards on the 16th day of September, 1881, said Supreme Court in all things affirmed said judgment of said Circuit Court; that said judgments have never been set aside or modified in any manner and that since said date both of said judgments have been and are still in full force and effect in law. 2nd. That by virtue of conveyance from the said John A. and Charles Wygant and other intermediate conveyances George W. Kratz, the husband of the plaintiff, became the owner of the real estate described in finding No. 1 on the third day of April, 1889, and on the 9th day of June, 1900, he died the owner thereof; that in 1910 in a partition' suit in the Huntington Circuit Court between the heirs of said George W. Kratz, the plaintiff, Elizabeth Kratz, became the owner of the said real estate by deed from Samuel M. Sayler, commissioner in said cause. 3rd. That the defendant Jacob Bonewitz in this cause is a son of the said Henry Bonewitz named in finding No. 1 and claims as grantee herein from his said father. 4th. That the plaintiff, Elizabeth Kratz, at and before the com[514]*514mencement of this action was and still is the owner in fee simple of the island described in finding No. 1 herein and that said island extends to the thread of the Wabash River surrounding the same. 5th. That prior to the commencement of this action the defendants, Jacob Bonewitz, Abraham May and Edward E. Youse, unlawfully entered upon said island and cut down the oak tree described in the complaint and were threatening to cut down other trees on said island and would have done so unless restrained by the Court; that said trees which the defendants were threatening to cut are located along the outer edge and banks of said island near to the water of the said river surrounding the island and the said trees and- roots thereof are necessary to protect said island from being washed away by reason of floods and if the said trees and brush are removed the water and floods of the said river will wash away the dirt of said island and greatly damage and irreparably injure the same. 6th. That said island has been damaged in the sum of ten ($10.00) dollars by the cutting of the said oak tree as described in the plaintiff’s complaint.”

On the foregoing finding of facts the court stated its conclusions of law as follows: ‘ ‘ 1st. That the law is with the plaintiff. 2nd. That the temporary restraining order herein should be made permanent against the defendants and that said defendants and each of them should be perpetually enjoined from cutting any of the trees or timber described in the complaint and the above findings, or committing any waste on said island. 3rd. That- the defendant Jacob Bonewitz is not entitled to recover anything on his answers in this action. 4th. That the plaintiff [515]*515should also recover ten ($10.00) dollars damages against the defendants and the costs of this action.

“December 14,1915. Samuel E. Cook, Judge.”

The judgment follows the conclusions of law.

Appellant filed a motion for a new trial, which, was overruled. The only error assigned and relied on for a reversal of the judgment is that the court erred in overruling appellant’s motion for a new trial. A new trial was asked on several alleged grounds. The briefs are very uncertain and indefinite as to the grounds relied upon. By a liberal construction we may reasonably infer that the question relied on is the sufficiency of the evidence to support the finding of facts. Stated more specifically, it is whether the undisputed evidence shows that appellant by proof of facts showing adverse possession has established his ownership and right to possession of that part of the island lying between the line of the old fence and the thread of the stream surrounding the island.

The complaint in the suit brought by Henry W. Bonewitz in 1879 was offered in evidence. In it the plaintiff alleged that he was the owner in fee simple and entitled to the possession of fifteen acres of land forming a part of the south bank of the Wabash river, being the north part of the northwest fractional quarter of section 3, township 27 north, range 10 east, in Huntington county, Indiana.

The verdict of the jury in the case, reads as follows : “We, the jury, find for the defendants and we find that John A. Wygant and Charles Wygant are the owners of the said real estate.”

The pleadings and record of proceedings in the former case were in evidence, and among other things it is shown that after the verdict was returned the de[516]

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Lincoln National Bank v. Mundinger
528 N.E.2d 829 (Indiana Court of Appeals, 1988)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
119 N.E. 380, 67 Ind. App. 511, 1918 Ind. App. LEXIS 178, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/bonewitz-v-kratz-indctapp-1918.