Dunckle v. Wiles

6 Barb. 515

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: July 2, 1849
• Status: Published

Opinion

Hand, J.

One question in this case is, whether the record of recovery in Jackson v. Dunckle is an estoppel, so as to bar the plaintiff of the right to set up title to the premises in question? The bill of exceptions upon which a new trial was granted in this cause upon that point, is not before us. The particular state of the cause, as it stood upon that hearing, can only be gathered from the opinion given upon granting a new trial. From that, I presume there was no such request to charge, as appears here. Jackson, the plaintiff in the former suit, is the grantor of the defendant’s grantor. Consequently, if those deeds, in terms, cover the premises in question, or profess to convey all the rights of Jackson thereto, thére is such privity of estate, that if Dunckle would be estopped were Jackson the plaintiff, he is so now.

On the last trial of this cause, the defendant requested the justice holding the circuit, to charge the jury, that if they believed, from the testimony in this cause, that the trespasses for which Jackson prosecuted Dunckle were upon the seven acres in dispute in this suit, then, that recovery was a bar to this action. This request was denied; and if the defendant’s position was correct, a new trial must be granted.

Jackson sued Dunckle for trespass upon part of lots 4 and 5 of the 3d tier in the division of large lot No. 6 of Morris and others’ patent, and his declaration particularly described the parcel by metes and bounds, and stated that it contained over 100 acres. The 2d count was for trespass, without particularly describing the lands; and the 3d for cutting and carrying away the trees, &c. on the land of the plaintiff. The defendant in that suit pleaded that the land mentioned in the three counts were one and the same close, and that the part of it upon which the supposed trespasses were committed, was the close, soil, and freehold of the defendant (Dunckle) in that suit. Issue was taken upon this plea, the replication denying that the close, or any part of it, belonged to Dunckle; and a verdict was rendered therein that the close in the said declaration mentioned was not, nor was any part thereof, the close, soil, or freehold of Dunckle, and the jury assessed the damages at six cents. On the trial of this cause, there was proof tending to show that the land for which this suit was brought was comprehended within the parcel described in the declaration in Jackson v. Dunckle. The verdict, it will be observed, stated that no part of the close described in that declaration was the close, soil and freehold of Dunckle ; and if the seven acres now in controversy were included within the description in that declaration, of course it was covered by the verdict in that suit. On the other hand, as Dunckle pleaded that that part of the land upon which the trespasses were committed was his close, soil and freehold, and said nothing about the remainder, although the replication denied title to any part, the title to that part he had not trespassed upon was not strictly, or in terms, put in issue by the plea; and as that record does not state upon which part the trespass was committed, the verdict, it would seem, as to all not trespassed upon, is apparently, so far beyond the issue. The plea did not point out the partictilar portion trespassed upon, and deny trespassing upon the remainder; and in this respect, it seems, was quite unusual, and perhaps demurrable for uncertainty; as it would be difficult for the plaintiff to new assign so as to cover scattered parcels of the same close. But I think that point does not arise here. I understand the rule in relation to the plea of liberum tenementum to be, that it gives implied color to the plaintiff by admitting such possession in him as would suffice to maintain trespass against a wrongdoer, but to assert a freehold in the defendant, with a right to immediate possession. The plea is not supported by evidence of mere acts of ownership for less than 20 years, for by it the defendant admits that the plaintiff is in possession, and that the defendant is prima facie a wrongdoer; and he undertakes to show a title in himself that shall do away with the presumption arising from the plaintiff’s possession, by showing title by deed in the usual way, or possession for 20 years: (Rich v. Rich, 16 Wend. 663. Lempriere v. Humphrey, 3 Adol. & El. 181. Brest v. Lever, 7 M. & W. 595. Doe v. Wright, 10 Adol. & E. 781.)

It was formerly supposed that if the plaintiff failed as to any part, the verdict must be for' the defendant. (Hanks v. Bacon, 2 Taunt. 159.) But now the contrary seems clearly settled; while on the other hand, the defendant will have a verdict if he proves title to the part trespassed upon ; and is not bound in such cases to prove title to the whole close. (Rich v. Rich, 16 Wend. 663. Tapley v. Wainwright, 5 B. & Ad. 395. Richards v. Peake, 2 B. & C. 918. Basset v. Mitchell, 2 B. & Ad. 99, Smith v. Royston, 8 M. & W. 381.) In Tapley v. Wainwright it was held that the term “ close” in the words of the issue, “ the said close which,” &c. xvas a divisible allegation. Ld. Denman, O. J. likened it to assumpsit for goods, xvith a plea of infancy, and replication that they xvere necessaries; in which case the verdict xvould be for the amount shoxvn to b.e necessaries. In that case the verdict xvas alloxved to b.e entered, for the plaintiff for part, and for the defendant for the residue. And to the same point is Richards v. Peake, supra.

It is clear, then, that on the trial the plaintiff xvill recover if he show a trespass committed on any part of the close described in the declaration to which the defendant does n,ojt show title; and the defendant, although he has pleaded title to. the xvhole, xvill succeed if he shoxv title to that part upon xvhich he has trespassed, notxvithstanding he has no title to the remainder of the close. And if the plaintiff shows trespasses on different parts, and the defendant title to some of them, the defendant xvill have judgment as to those parts to xvhich he has title, and the plaintiff as to the others. And xvith this agree the cases of Rich v. Rich, (16 Wend. 663,) and King v. Dunn, (21 Id. 253.) The plaintiff is not bound to shoxv a trespass upon the whole, premises, nor the defendant that he has title to the xvhole,. in. order to succeed; but each may succeed pro tanto, according to the proof. But there is another question : in case of a general verdict for either, what is the presumption? Judge Cowen said, in Rich v. Rich, that the plaintiff was entitled to nominal damages without proof. (16 Wend. 674.) This is upon the principle of implied admissions in a special plea, xvhich confesses and avoids. We have seen that this plea admits possession in the plaintiff, which is prima facie evidence of title. Upon principle and analogy, then, it seems to me, that if but one close is set out and described, and judgment passes against the defendant upon the sole plea of liberum tenementum, the record is ;prima facie evidence of title in the plaintiff. That it may be fairly presumed, in that case, that there is unity of title to the whole close, and consequently, a presumption against the defendant having title to any part of it. And on the other hand, if a general verdict be in favor of the defendant, that the same presumption arises in his favor. In both cases, however, the presumption may be rebutted by showing what was actually in controversy on the trial upon this plea. And I understand the language used by Ld. Tenterden, C. J., and Littledale, J., in Bassett v. Mitchell, (supra,) to refer to cases where each party had succeeded as to part. Such was that case ; the defendant in his plea setting up a right to 6 acres and 2 roods, part of the close, but without specifying what part. And Littledale, J. adds: “ The record would be evidence of a former decision as to part of the place in dispute; and it may be shown by proof which part that was. If this imposes any hardship on the plaintiff it may well be said on the other hand, that a defendant is subjected to hardship, because a plaintiff may recover by proving a trespass committed on any part of the close mentioned in the declaration; since that declaration, unexplained by evidence, loould be conclusive against the defendant afterwards, as to the whole close.” If this be not so, no matter what unity of title and possession the plaintiff may have in an entire parcel; if the plaintiff take an inquest at the _ circuit, with nominal damages, or the defendant entered upon but one square rod of a lot of 100 acres, the record would be no evidence of his title in one case, and of only one rod (and that upon proof aliunde) in the other, against a defendant who had pleaded title in himself to the whole. If the defendant pleads, title to a portion, specifying the quantity but not the location, and succeeds, then perhaps, under the decision in Bassett v. Mitchell, the onus of identifying the parcel in another suit, is upon the plaintiff. The language used by the judges there, may lead to that inference, Though that question did not arise, as the jury found for the defendant, in Bassett v. Mitchell, on the issue he had tendered, and the plaintiff was moving to set aside the verdict and enter a verdict for the plaintiff. All that was said on the question of estoppel was obiter. The only difficulty I have on this part of the case, is on account of the plea being, by its terms, a plea of title to only those parts trespassed upon; and may be said to leave any particular portion wholly in doubt, and afford no means of identifying the portions, the title to which was put in issue. But as the defendant failed altogether, thus distinguishing this case from Bassett v. Mitchell, under the special finding of the jury, that the defendant had title to no part of the close mentioned in the declaration, I think the presumption remains against him. It follows, that if the defendant in this cause proves that the conveyances from Jackson to Root and from Root to him, in terms, include the land described in the declaration in Jackson v. Dunckle, or that portion of it which must include the land now in question, if included at all; or purport to convey all the right which Jackson had at the time of commencing his suit, and that this land now in suit is a portion of that described in said declaration, prima facie the record is evidence that the title to this parcel was in controversy in that suit, and was found not to be in the plaintiff in this suit. And if it be proved that this parcel was the land, for trespass upon which that suit was brought and recovery had, then the record will be conclusive. This is the ground,, substantially, upon which the defendant desired the case put. And this, I presume, clearly distinguishes this motion for a new trial from the former one.

But again; I am inclined to think that the learned justice who tried the cause, laid too much stress upon the descriptions in several instruments of conveyance through which the plaintiff deduced title, of the location of Brodt and Livingston’s patent. Testimony in relation to the location of that patent was admissible, on the points of acquiescence and adverse possession. But as the Morris patent was first granted, the description of the land in a subsequent patent could be no evidence of the boundaries of the first; nor could the first patentees be affected thereby. And the same rule would apply to a practical lo.cation by the subsequent patentees. For the purpose of showing acquiescence or adverse possession, the evidence was admissible, but could not affect the claimants of the Morris patent in any other way. (See the remarks of Chancellor Walworth in Adams v. Rockwell, 16 Wend. 299; also Van Wyck v. Wright, 18 Id. 157.) The whole charge of the judge is not given; but I am inclined to the opinion that the qualifications to this part of the case, necessary to prevent a misunderstanding on the part of the jury, were not fully stated. The judge said the evidence would not be conclusive, but laid considerable stress upon the two basswood trees mentioned in Brodt and Livingston’s patent, and refused to charge that the descriptions of the land found in the conveyance, proved on the part of the plaintiff, of that patent and of lands in that patent, were not evidence of the boundaries of the Morris patent. On a bill of exceptions, where it appears the charge or omission to charge may have mi,sled the jury, it is error. As to the evidence of the true line it is conflicting, and does not so far preponderate as to require us to interfere upon that ground.

If the patent to Morris and others was granted before the actual location or survey of either of the patents to them, (which perhaps is not to be presumed, as a deficiency in the first, it would seem had been ascertained,) then there are but two natural and actual monuments mentioned in the grant of that one, the lines of which are in question, Indian hill, (now so called,) and the Mohawk River.. The starting point had not been ascertained, and the lines are given by courses and distances until the hill is mentioned. This hill must be the north-west comer; and if it can be ascertained, will control at that point; and the course southerly from that, should have been run at the proper angles with the cardinal points as given in the grant, without reference to the magnetic pole or the declination of the needle. The judge was not sufficiently explicit on this point, in answer to the request made by the defendant’s counsel. However, if there are lines purporting to be the boundary lines between the two patents which are more than a century old, as contended in this case, they bear great intrinsic evidence from their antiqtiity alone, although their origin and history are now unknown. If there be in truth two, and both very ancient, they in some measure neutralize each other; and if long disputed, are entitled to less consideration. Considering the length of the lines and the uncertainty in the use of the compass, and particularly if they were run by different surveyors under different employers, the discrepancy is not so surprising. But if the question of actual location shall again arise in the cause, these are matters for the consideration of the jury.

Willard, J.

This was an action of ejectment, brought to recover about seven acres of land, which the plaintiff claims as a part of lot No. 10 in the Livingston patent, in the town of Canajoharie and county of Montgomery. The plaintiff deduced a regular paper title to the premises, traced back to the original patent granted in 1738. The defendant, as one ground of defense, gave in evidence an exemplified copy of a record of judgment of this court in an action of trespass cfiare clausum Jregit brought by Samuel Jackson against Adam Dunckle, the now plaintiff, for breaking and entering the close of the plaintiff and cutting timber therein, fob. foe. on the 1st of January, in the year 1827, and on divers other days and times between that day and the commencement of this suit, describing the premises as part of lots No. 4 and 5 in the third mile or tier of lots in a division of large lot No. 6, in a patent granted to Tan Horne, Morris and others, and therein describing the premises by metes and bounds, and stating them to be one hundred and five acres. The declaration was in the usual form of a declaration in trespass quare clausum Jregit for breaking and entering and cutting down and carrying away timber. To this declaration the defendant, Dunckle, pleaded liberum tenementum, viz. that at the time when, dec. the said described premises were and still are the soil and freehold of him, the said Adam Dunckle. The plaintiff took issue upon that plea. The issue so joined was tried in Montgomery county, in November, 1833, before Judge Cowen-, then circuit judge, when the plaintiff obtained a verdict foi six cents damages and the costs, and judgment was perfected on the said verdict at the January term, 1834. The defendant deduced a regular paper title to the premises described in the declaration in the said action of trespass, from Samuel Jackson, the plaintiff therein, and proved by a surveyor that the seven acres sought to be recovered in this suit, are embraced within the description of the premises set forth by metes and bounds in the declaration in the aforesaid trespass suit. It was shown that on the trial of the trespass suit before Judge Corven, in 1833, no witnesses were sworn, but that the defendant permitted the plaintiff to take a verdict for the nominal sum of six cents.

In reference to this branch of the case the counsel for the defendant requested the judge to charge the jury, that if they believed, from the testimony in this cause, that .the trespasses for which Jackson prosecuted Adam Dunckle were upon the seven acres in dispute in this suit, then that action was a bar to this action. The court refused so to charge, and the defendant’s counsel excepted.

It was proved on this trial, by Matchin, the surveyor, that he surveyed the premises in question, for Jackson, preparatory to the trial of the trespass cause in November, 1833. That it was charged by Jackson at that time, that the suit was brought by him for trespass by Dunckle on the seven acres now in controversy. That Dunckle came out to the premises, while the witness was surveying, and said he had cut timber between the two lines, and that Jackson had sued him for it. The seven acres in question lie between two lines, one of which was claimed by the one party and the other by the other, as the true line. There was, therefore, evidence from which the jury might well have found that the trespasses for which Jackson sued Dunckle in 1833, were committed on the premises now in dispute. The learned judge therefore did not refuse the prayer of the defendant’s counsel, upon the ground that there was no testimony authorizing the jury to find that the trespasses for which Dunckle was prosecuted by Jackson, were committed upon the same seven acres, now in dispute ; but upon the ground, that assuming the fact to be so, it formed no bar to the action. If the judge was wrong in thus refusing to charge, there should be a new trial.

The general rule laid down in Chief Justice Eyre’s judgment in the Duchess of Kingston’s case is, that the judgment of a court of concurrent jurisdiction, directly upon the point, is, as a plea in bar, or, as evidence, conclusive between the same parties upon the same matter directly in question in another court. (1 Phil. Ev. 333.) And it is evidence for or against privies in blood, privies in estate, and privies in law, as well as for or against the parties to the suit. (Id. 324, 325.) A judgment is final for its own proper purpose and object, and no further. A recovery in any suit, upon issue joined on matter of title, is conclusive upon the subject matter. Thus a finding upon title, in trespass, not only operates as a bar to the future recovery of damages for a trespass founded upon the same injury, but operates also as an estoppel to any action for an injury to the same supposed right of possession. (Id. 335.) This is expressly shown in the elaborate opinion of Lord Ellenborough in Outram v. Morewood, (3 East, 346,) where the whole doctrine is fully discussed. As the former judgment can not be pleaded by way of estoppel, in an ejectment suit, the defendant is entitled to the same advantage of it as evidence under the general issue. (Dame v. Wingate, 12 N. Hamp. Rep. 291.) When the evidence of a former recovery is properly received under the general issue, it is just as conclusive as though the matter had been specially pleaded by way of estoppel. (Per Bronson, J. in Young v. Rwmmell, 2 Hill, 480, 481.)

“ For example,” says Bronson, J. in the same case, “ the defendant may give the judgment in evidence under not guilty, in ejectment.” “ The judgment is only evidence by way of bar when the same matter was directly in question in the former suit. The record must show that the same matter might have been in question on the former trial, and then the fact that it did come in question, may be shown by proof aliunde.” (Id. 481.) The record in the suit between Jackson and Dunckle put in issue the title only. It admitted the possession of Jackson, and the trespass by the defendant. The verdict of the jury found this title in Jackson. Whether this was founded upon the testimony of witnesses, or the concession of the counsel on the trial, is immaterial. It was proved expressly that the suit was brought for trespasses on the land in question. Hence, there are the requisite averments in the record, and proof aliunde in this case to make it conclusive.

There is a difference, it has been said, between real actions and personal actions, as to the conclusiveness of a judgment. In a personal action, as debt, account, <fcc. the bar is perpetual; for the plaintiff can not have an action of a higher nature, but has no remedy except by error. But if a plaintiff be barred in a real action by judgment on a verdict, demurrer, confession, &c. yet he may have an action of a higher nature, and try the same right again; because it concerns the freehold and inheritance.” (Outram v. Morewood, 3 East, 359.) The case of Wade v. Lindsey, (6 Metc. 407,) was decided upon this distinction. It was a writ of entry, averring that the demandant was seised within thirty years, and had been disseised by the tenant. At the trial the demandant gave in evidence a judgment recovered by him in May term, 1839, against the tenant in trespass for breaking and entering the demandant’s premises and pulling down a building thereon, and converting the materials to his own use. In that action the defendant, (tenant in this,) pleaded the general issue, and filed a notice that he also claimed title to the premises described in the plaintiff’s declaration. The jury found the defendant guilty, and assessed the damages at sixteen dollars and fifty cents, and they also found that the defendant had no title to the land, and that the soil and freehold were in the plaintiff. The demandant relied upon this judgment, among other things, to establish his title, in this writ of entry. On this branch of the case, Wilde, J. in delivering the judgment of the court, says, “ This undoubtedly is good evidence of the demandant’s right of possession; but it is no conclusive proof of his right of property, or of his title to maintain a writ of entry.” Had this action been ejectment to establish a possessory right, instead of a writ of entry brought for the mere right of property, it would follow, from the reasoning of the learned judge, that the former recovery in the suit in trespass, where the title was put in issue and found for the plaintiff, would have been conclusive.

It remains to consider the effect of the revised statutes upon the rights of these parties. By those statutes writs of right were abolished, and the action of ejectment retained, and allowed to be brought in the same cases in which a writ of right might then (1830) be brought by law to recover lands, tenements or hereditaments; (2 R. S. 303;) and by any person claiming an estate therein, in fee or for life, either as heir, devisee or purchaser. As the plaintiff derived his title through the will of his ancestor, bearing date 7th January, 1838, he could not have maintained a writ of right, as the law stood prior to the revised statutes. He must have counted on the seisin of his testator, in order to overreach the recovery of Jackson in the trespass suit. This he could not do by law. (See Williams v. Woodard, 7 Wend. 250.) The present action, therefore, stands on the footing of an ordinary ejectment, and is controlled by the 3d section of the act. (2 R. S. 303.) By that section it is enacted that no person can recover in ejectment, unless he has, at the time of commencing the action, a valid subsisting interest in the premises claimed, and a right to recover the same, or to recover the possession thereof, or of some share, interest or portion thereof, to be proved and established at the trial. The recovery by Jackson in the trespass suit in 1833, shows that the plaintiff has no subsisting title to the possession of the premises.

I am not aware that any thing has been said hitherto which is in conflict with the decision of the supreme court when they sent this cause down to a new trial.

(a) It probably did not appear, in the former case, that the suit was for trespasses on the seven acres in question. Beardsley, J. says, in order to make the record an estoppel on the question of title to the seven acres, it must be shown by extrinsic evidence that the title to said seven acres was directly in controversy on the trial of the action of trespass, and that the jury passed upon that question. The record, as has been already said, shows that title was the only question, in issue; and the proof was ample for the jury to find that the trespass for which the suit was brought was committed on the seven acres. The jury must, therefore, necessarily have passed upon the question of title; and whether the right of recovery, on that trial, was proved by witnesses, or conceded by the counsel, is unimportant.

I think, therefore, the learned judge erred in not charging as requested. And for this error there should be a new trial, with costs to abide the event.

Paige, J. concurred.

New trial granted.

See 5 Denio, 396..