Laird v. Coach

71 N.W. 160, 112 Mich. 628, 1897 Mich. LEXIS 1023

• Court: Michigan Supreme Court
• Decided: May 11, 1897
• Status: Published

Opinion

Grant, J.

Suit in trover for the conversion of the timber cut and removed from certain land to which plaintiff claimed title.

The case was tried before the court without a jury, and no finding of facts and law was requested or made. We cannot, therefore, review the case on the evidence.

One exception was taken, to the introduction of a deed from one Williams to the defendant, and upon this error is assigned. Plaintiff had introduced deeds which conveyed to him the original title to the undivided two-thirds of the land. These deeds were unrecorded when defendant purchased through Williams, who is claimed by plaintiff to have been defendant’s agent. Plaintiff had also introduced two tax deeds, one of which conveyed to him the undivided three-fourths of the land for delinquent taxes of 1888, and was on record when defendant purchased ; and the other, an undivided one-third for delinquent taxes of 1889. It cannot be said that these tax deeds conveyed the entire title to plaintiff. He had shown the original title to only two-thirds. ■ His declaration covered all the timber cut and removed. It was competent for defendant to show title to any interest in the land, and the deed was admissible for the purpose. Its admission was therefore not error.

Judgment affirmed.

The other Justices concurred.