Chaves v. United States

168 U.S. 177, 18 S. Ct. 72, 42 L. Ed. 426, 1897 U.S. LEXIS 1715
CourtSupreme Court of the United States
DecidedNovember 15, 1897
Docket4
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 168 U.S. 177 (Chaves v. United States) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of the United States primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Chaves v. United States, 168 U.S. 177, 18 S. Ct. 72, 42 L. Ed. 426, 1897 U.S. LEXIS 1715 (1897).

Opinion

Mr. Chief Justice Fuller,

after stating the case, delivered the opinion of the court.

By the Spanish law in force at the time of the alleged grant of 1788, lots and lands were distributed to those who were intending to settle, and it was provided that when said settlers shall have lived and labored in said settlements during the space of four years, they are hereby empowered, from the expiration of said term, to sell the same, and freely to dispose of them at their will as their own property.” But confirmation by the audiencia, or the governor, if recourse to the audiencia was impracticable, after the four years had elapsed, was required in completion of the legal title. Laws Indies, Lib. IY, Tit. 2, Law 1; Boyal Order of 1754; 2 White’s New Becop. 48, 62. This is admitted except that it is said that confirmation was not needed, and was not usually had, until the settler sought to exercise the power of disposition.

It was also provided that it should “ not be lawful to give or distribute lands in a settlement to such persons as already possess some in another settlement, unless they shall leave their former residence and remove themselves to the new place to be settled, except where they shall have resided in the first settlement during the four years necessary to entitle them to fee simple right, or unless they shall relinquish their title to the same for not having fulfilled their obligation.” Lib. IY, Tit. 12, Lavv 2; 2 White, 49.

*189

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

Related

O'Rielly v. Colbert
120 P. 321 (New Mexico Supreme Court, 1911)
Grainger v. Douglas Park Jockey Club
148 F. 513 (Sixth Circuit, 1906)
United States v. Elder
177 U.S. 104 (Supreme Court, 1900)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
168 U.S. 177, 18 S. Ct. 72, 42 L. Ed. 426, 1897 U.S. LEXIS 1715, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/chaves-v-united-states-scotus-1897.