Proctor v. Miller

273 S.W. 327, 1924 Tex. App. LEXIS 1349
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedJune 6, 1924
DocketNo. 8523.
StatusPublished
Cited by1 cases

This text of 273 S.W. 327 (Proctor v. Miller) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Texas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Proctor v. Miller, 273 S.W. 327, 1924 Tex. App. LEXIS 1349 (Tex. Ct. App. 1924).

Opinions

LANE, J.

This suit was instituted by plaintiff in error, J. W. Proctor, against G. D. Miller, Mrs. Loudie J. Douthit, and others who are not involved in the matters presented by this appeal.

The plaintiff’s petition is in the usual form of petitions in suits of trespass to try title, and the prayer is for the recovery of 167 acres of land alleged to be a part of the John Brown survey in Brazoria county, Tex. The plaintiff asserts title to said land under a chain of title from the sovereignty of the soil, and by the statutes of limitation of three, five, and ten years.

The John Brown and contiguous surveys, hereinafter referred to, are shown on the above map or sketch practically as it appears in certain maps introduced by plaintiff in error. The land in controversy is shown by the dotted lines in the map and is described in the plaintiff’s petition as follows:

“All that certain tract or parcel of land situated in Brazoria county, state of Texas, being in the John Brown survey, abstract No. 153, in said Brazoria county, Tex. Being a tract of land containing 167.2 acres out of the John Brown purvey, described by metes and bounds as follows: Beginning at the northwest corner of the said John Brown survey, which is also a corner of the J. M. Musquez survey, on the east line of the T. W. Grayson 273 varas south of the northeast corner of said Grayson survey; thence south with east line of the T. W. Grayson survey 828 varas to a point for corner on said east line; thence east 1,140 varas to a point for southeast corner of this tract; thence north 828 varas to an interior corner of the John Brown survey, which is also the southeast corner of the first tract herein described; thence west with the north line of the John Brown survey; and the south line of Musquez survey 1,140 varas to the place of beginning, containing 167.2 acres of land more or less.”

[328]*328The defendants answered by pleas of not guilty.

The cause was tried before a jury. The sourt refused to submit the issue of limitation pleaded by the plaintiff and submitted to the jury but two questions, to wit: ■

(1) “Is the land described in plaintiff’s petition, or any part thereof, on the John Brown survey?”

' (2) “Is the land described in the plaintiff’s petition, or any part thereof, on the J. M. Musquez survey?”

The jury answered the first question, “No,” and the second, “Yes,” and upon the verdict of the jury the court rendered judgment that the plaintiff take nothing by his suit. From such judgment J. W. Proctor has appealed.

We shall first dispose of the contention of plaintiff in error that the court erred in refusing to submit the issue of limitation to the jury.

After a careful examination of the facts as disclosed by the statement of facts, we find no evidence which raises the issue of limitation. We are therefore of opinion that the court did not err in refusing to submit such supposed issue.

We are now brought to a consideration of the one -.remaining question, to.wit: Is the evidence such as would require at the hands of the trial court, or of this court, a finding as a'matter of law that the land in controversy is a part of the John Brown survey, as contended by plaintiff in error?

The John Brown survey was located by Ohas. Schoolfield on the 5th day of April, 1838, and its location field notes are as follows :

“Beginning at the northwest corner of one-third of a league of land surveyed in the name of W. T. Brannum. Then south 4,811 varas to a stake and mound, the northeast corner of a league of land surveyed for Edwin Waller, Ass. of John Williams. Then west and part his north boundary line 4,655 varas to a stake and mound, and southeast corner of one-third of a league of land surveyed for Thomas W. Gray-son. Then north 2,613 varas to a stake and mound. Then east 1,140 to a stake and mound. Then north 5,096 varas tó a stake and mound on the bank of the bayou. Then with the meanderings of the bayou to the place of beginning. Containing in the described boundary one league of pasture land.”

The W. T. Brannum was located by Chas. Schoolfield April 1, 1838, with field notes as follows:

“Beginning on the south bank of Bastrop bayou at a stake and mound the northwest corner of a survey of one-third league made for John C. Williams, Assee. Then south 4,217 varas to the southwest corner of said third. Then west with the south line of said third 1,623 varas to a stake and mound.' Then north 6,652 varas to a stake and mound on the bank of the bayou. Then with the meanderings of the bayou to the place of beginning. Containing in the above-described boundary one-third of a league of land, all of which is pasture land.”

The Edwin Waller was located by Chas. Schoolfield on March 30, 1838, with field notes as follows:

“Beginning at the place where the east boundary line of Stephen E. Austin’s half league crosses the creek, 1,610 varas north of said Austin’s southeast corner of said half league. Then north 1,390 varas to a mound the N. E. corner of said half league. Then east 730 varas to a stake and mound Groces S. E. corner. Then north with Groces east boundary line 5,000 varas to a stake and mound Groces corners. Then east 3,516.varas to a stake and mound. Then south 5,050 varas to a stake and mound. Then N. E. corner of Branch T. Archer’s league. Then south 52 degrees west with his line, 3,381 varas to a live oak tree, on the east bank of Oyster creek. Then with the'meanderings of the creek to the place of beginning. Containing within the above-described survey one league of land three labors of which are arable land, the ballanee pasture land.”

The T. W. Grayson was located by Chas. Schoolfield March 21, 1838, with field notes as follows: .

“Beginning at the southeast corner of S. E. Austin’s quarter league, a stake and mound, thence north 2,886.75 varas to a stake and mound, thence east 2,SS6.75 varas to a stake and mound, thence south 2,886.75 varas to a stake and mound, thence west 2,886.75 varas to a stake and mound at the beginning, containing within the above-described boundary one-third of a league of land — two labors of arable land and the balance pasture land.”

The J. M. Musquez survey was originally located by Hennell Stevens in March, 1874, with field notes as follows:

“Beginning at a stake on the south bank of Bastrop bayou, being the N. W. corner of the John Brown league. Thence south 5,441 vrs. with Brown’s west line to his corner. Thence west with his north line 1,140 vrs. to his corner on the east line of the Grayson survey. Thence north with said line 273 vrs. to the N. E. corner of the Grayson survey. Thence west with the north line of the Grayson tract 2,841%vrs. to a stake. Thence north 4,075 vrs. to a stake on Bastrop bayou. Thence down the bayou with its meanders — to the place of beginning, containing 18,126,243 sqr. vrs., being the balance of the above certificate, all pasture land.”

In 1898 a resurvey of the J. M. Musquez was made by Surveyor J. A. Donaldson. In this survey the field notes thereof were made as follows:

“Beginning at a pine post on the south bank of Bastrop bayou at the N. W. corner of the John Brown league from which the mouth of the upper of two small creeks on the north side of said bayou bears N. 23 deg.

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Related

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230 S.W.2d 328 (Court of Appeals of Texas, 1950)

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Bluebook (online)
273 S.W. 327, 1924 Tex. App. LEXIS 1349, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/proctor-v-miller-texapp-1924.