Skidmore v. Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Railway Co.

112 U.S. 33, 5 S. Ct. 9, 28 L. Ed. 626, 1884 U.S. LEXIS 1849

• Court: Supreme Court of the United States
• Decided: October 27, 1884
• Status: Published

Opinion

Mr. Chief Justice Waite

delivered the opinion of the court. He stated the facts in the.foregoing language and continued : •

■ ’ The judgment "below was clearly right. The Columbus, Chicago &, Indiana Central Company was, in equity, the owner of the property when the lease was made and when the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Company went into possession under it. The deed executed in February, 1872, pursuant to the contract of purchase, converted the equitable title of the Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central Company into a legal title, which at once, by operation of law, inured to the benefit of the Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Company under .its lease. All the rights of William B. Skidmore, as against1 the property, accrued long after those of tho Pitts-burg, Cincinnati &. St. Louis Company and are subject to tho title of that company. Such being the case, it is entirely unnecessary to inquire whether the Skidmores acquired a valid title to the property as against the Columbus, Chicago & Indiana Central Company. The Pittsburg, Cincinnati & St. Louis Company is entitled to the possession, whether that title be good or bad.

The judgment is affirmed.