Shank v. Holmes

137 P. 871, 15 Ariz. 229, 1914 Ariz. LEXIS 141
CourtArizona Supreme Court
DecidedJanuary 14, 1914
DocketCivil No. 1309
StatusPublished
Cited by2 cases

This text of 137 P. 871 (Shank v. Holmes) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Arizona Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Shank v. Holmes, 137 P. 871, 15 Ariz. 229, 1914 Ariz. LEXIS 141 (Ark. 1914).

Opinion

CUNNINGHAM, J.

The appellee moved to strike appellants’ opening brief, for the reason-the brief was not filed within the time stipulated. The abstract of the record was filed February 28, 1913. Appellants had until March 30, 1913, in which to file their brief under the rule",'and by stipulation of counsel their time was extended for a period of 2Ó days additional, or until April 19, 1913. The brief was filed April 21, 1913. The prayer of the motion is that the brief be stricken and the appeal dismissed for the reason stated. 'The brief of counsel in support of the motion discusses the question of the insufficiency of the assignments of error to raise any question for consideration by this court on the •appeal. If the motion be considered one to strike the brief,for the reason it was not filed in time, as stated and prayed for in the motion, or if the motion be considered as going to the sufficiency of the assignments of error as discussed in the briefs of the parties, granting the motion would not work a dismissal of the appeal. The record would remain before this court for consideration as to manifest and fundamental error therein. Kinney v. Neis, 14 Ariz. 318, 127 Pac. 719.

The assignments of error are too general to raise any question for consideration on this appeal, with the possible exception of the first, viz.: “The court erred in its findings of fact, contained in the judgment, as to paragraph 9 thereof, for the reason that the same is contrary to the stipulation •of the facts; the said paragraph 9 of said findings of fací, being contrary to the law, and to the stipulation as to the facts.” Paragraph 9 of the findings of fact follows substantially the language of the stipulation of facts as to what the appellee would testify to if present. For that reason, it cannot be said that such finding is contrary to the stipulation, or contrary to the evidence. Upon the other hand, the finding is supported by the evidence.

If the judgment is responsive to the pleadings, and is supported by the findings of facts made and filed by the court, it must be affirmed.

The pleadings consist of the amended complaint, defendant’s plea in abatement, general demurrer, and answer and a pleading designated a cross-complaint.

[232]*232The amended complaint alleges in brief that plaintiff, J.. E. Shank, is a citizen of the United States, and that plaintiff' Charles Francen had declared his intention to become such, citizen prior to February 23, 1912; that all the parties-are residents of Mohave county; that on the twenty-third day of’ February, 1912, the plaintiffs entered upon the ground and premises formerly located as the Homestake and Jack Pot-lode mining claims, situated in the San Francisco mining-district, in Mohave county, Arizona, and located said premises as the Lucky Budge and Lucky Chance lode mining-claims; that they discovered mineral therein, and duly performed all the necessary acts required by law within the-time required by law to the due and complete location of such mining claims—the facts of location are sufficiently set forth in detail. It is then alleged that prior to December 8, 1910,. the defendant made application for a patent for the Home-stake and Jack Pot mining claims, and the ground covered by such application for patent is the same ground and premises covered by the Lucky Budge and Lucky Chance located by plaintiffs, and none other; that on September 15, 1911, said mineral entry for the said Homestake and Jack Pot-mining claims was canceled by the commissioner of the general land office; that subsequent to the cancellation of said mineral entry on September 15, 1911, the said defendant failed and neglected to do the annual assessment work, or-any work or labor whatever on the said Homestake or Jack Pot mining claims, or either of them during the year 1911,. and failed and neglected to do the annual assessment work, or any work or labor upon either of said mining claims at. any time during the year 1911, or at any time during the year 1912 prior to February 23, 1912; that on March 21,. 1912, the defendant made a different application for a patenfr for the Homestake and Jack Pot mining claims; that during-the 60 days’ publication of the notice of such application, on May 17, 1912, plaintiffs filed their -adverse claim to the-area and premises covered thereby. It is alleged that defendant wrongfully withholds the possession from plaintiffs,, to .their damage In the sum of $400, and this suit was commenced within 30 days after the filing of the adverse claim,, and in support of such adverse claim. The usual prayer for relief follows.

[233]*233The defendant answers by a plea in abatement, which attacks the right of plaintiff Charles Francen to maintain the action, for the reason he is not a citizen of the United States. This plea was not pursued, and no action seems to have been had on it. The record fails to disclose any action taken upon the general demurrer. It was evidently waived by defendant. The amended complaint sufficiently states a •cause of action.

The defendant further answers, denying the plaintiffs’ ownership and right to the possession of the lands described. He denies that plaintiffs lawfully entered upon such premises and located them as a mining claim, and thereby in any wise acquired any right, title, or interest therein under the laws of the United States, or otherwise. He denies that at the time of the attempted location the ground was open to mineral location, and alleges that the plaintiffs entered on said ground and made their pretended locations thereon as trespassers against this defendant, and not otherwise. He denies, upon information and belief, that the plaintiffs, within 90 days after February 23, 1912, or at any other time, performed the necessary location work on said claims; denies that on the twenty-first day of March, 1912, defendant wrongfully entered upon said mining claims, and alleges that the said ground has been lawfully held, possessed, and enjoyed by defendant as the Jack Pot and Homestake mining claims for more than five years prior to the commencement of plaintiffs’ action, and that neither of the plaintiffs has ever had and has not yet any right, title, or interest thereto; denies any damage resulting to the plaintiffs.

As a cross-complaint defendant alleges his citizenship and residence; that he, for more than five years last past, with his predecessors in interest, has been the owner of, and entitled to the possession of, the Jack Pot and Homestake lode mining claims, giving the place of record of the location notices, book and page; alleges the location of the claims more than five years prior to the commencement of this action, by the entry upon the ground, the discovery of mineral in place; that the ground was open and unoccupied mineral land of the United States; that the required monuments were erected, notices posted and recorded showing a due and regular location of the mining claims in detail, and the due re[234]*234cording of the notices of location. It is then alleged: That ever since the date of location the cross-plaintiff or his predecessors in interest have performed upon each of said mining claims at least $100' worth of work and improvements during each year following the year in which said locations were-made, until and including the year 1910. That on December 1, 1909, cross-plaintiff filed his application in the United States land office at Phoenix designated as mineral application 07574, for said Homestake and Jack Pot lodes, the official survey of which claims was numbered 2670.

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Bluebook (online)
137 P. 871, 15 Ariz. 229, 1914 Ariz. LEXIS 141, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/shank-v-holmes-ariz-1914.