Temple Lumber Co. v. Arnold

14 S.W.2d 926
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedFebruary 12, 1929
DocketNo. 1757.
StatusPublished
Cited by23 cases

This text of 14 S.W.2d 926 (Temple Lumber Co. v. Arnold) 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
Temple Lumber Co. v. Arnold, 14 S.W.2d 926 (Tex. Ct. App. 1929).

Opinions

In this cause appellees recovered against appellant the title to the timber upon the land described in their petition and $325 as damages for a small quantity of the timber wrongfully cut and removed. We have no statement of facts, but the trial court filed the following conclusions of fact and law in support of its judgment:

"Findings of Fact.
"1. Plaintiffs conveyed to W. F. Goodrich by deed dated July 30, 1920, the timber in controversy. It also stipulated in said deed that the grantee should have six (6) years from the date thereof within which to cut and remove said timber. It was further stipulated in said deed:

"The grantors herein hereby further give to the grantee his heirs and assigns, the right and option of extending such time for removal from year to year after the expiration of six years hereinabove given and granted *Page 927 for cutting and removing said timber by payment of fifty cents (50¢) per acre for each year such extension is so desired, such right and option to be for a period of not exceeding four years from and after the date of the expiration of the six years time hereinabove given and granted for cutting and removing said timber from said land. Paymentsfor such extension as above provided, to be made on or before the 1st dayof July, of each and every year such extension is so desired, and payments may be made by the grantee, his heirs or assigns, by depositing the amount due for such extension for each year in the First National Bank of Hemphill, Texas, or the State Guaranty Bank of Hemphill, Texas, to the credit of Grantors, their heirs or assigns.'

"2. Goodrich conveyed said timber to defendant, Temple Lumber Company, long prior to the expiration of said six year period.

"3. Prior to the expiration of said six year period Temple Lumber Company did not cut and remove any portion of said timber.

"4. Prior to the expiration of said six year period Temple Lumber Company did not elect to exercise its option to extend the time for the cutting and removing of said timber, and did not give plaintiffs any notice of such election and did not on or prior to the expiration of said six year period pay to plaintiffs, or deposit to their account in the Bank mentioned, the 50 cents per acre for an extension of time.

"5. About thirty (30) days, or more, after the expiration of said six year period Temple Lumber Company informed Plaintiffs that it had failed to exercise its option and to make said payments, and asked plaintiffs if they would then accept said payment for said extension, which plaintiffs refused. Since then, and after the filing of this suit, Temple Lumber Company tendered to plaintiffs said 50¢ per acre for an extension of said time for said cutting and removing said timber, and said tender was by plaintiffs refused.

"6. During the month of December, 1926, Temple Lumber Company went upon the said land and cut and removed sixty five thousand (65000.) feet of timber and appropriated same to its own use and benefit.

"7. The stumpage value of said timber was $5.00 per one thousand feet.

"Conclusions of Law.
"I conclude, as a matter of law, as follows:

"1. The deed from plaintiffs to Goodrich conveying the timber in controversy, which afterwards passed to Temple Lumber Company, conveyed only such timber as was cut and removed within the said six year period, and that the stipulation for an extension of time for said cutting was an option in favor of Temple, and should be strictly construed against Temple Lumber Company; that when Temple Lumber Company failed to exercise said option by an election and payment as provided, it forfeited all of its right and title in and to said timber and same reverted to plaintiffs.

"2. That the cutting of the said 65000 feet of timber in December, 1926, by Temple Lumber Company was a trespass, and by reason thereof it became liable to plaintiffs for the value thereof in the sum of $5.00 per 1000 feet.

"3. Plaintiffs showed a common source of title as against defendant and is entitled to recover the timber sued for.

"Therefore, I conclude that all of the facts and the law are in favor of plaintiffs and that they should recover said timber and damages in the sum of Three Hundred Twenty five ($325.00) Dollars, together with the costs of this suit."

"Supplemental Findings of Fact.
"1. That on July 28, 1926, defendant's agent made inquiry of plaintiff, Clyde Fuller, to ascertain if they would then accept the rentals provided for in the deed and was advised that they would not accept them.

"2. That plaintiffs never made any demand of the defendant for the rentals, although it has at all times been ready, willing and able to pay them.

"3. * * *

"4. That defendant claimed the timber by deeds outside of and not connected with common source.

"5. * * *

"6. That the plaintiffs received $9666.00 in cash for the timber described in the deed to W. F. Goodrich.

"7. That Plaintiffs' deed conveying the timber to W. F. Goodrich contained, in addition to the clause quoted in the finding number 1, already made, a grant of ingress and egress to remove said timber, and the following clause:

"`To have and to hold the above described timber, together with all and singular the rights and appurtenances thereto in anywise belonging unto the said W. F. Goodrich, his heirs and assigns, for and during the period of time hereinabove given and granted for cutting and removing same from said lands.'

"8. That prior to the expiration of said six year period Temple Lumber Company did not cut and remove any portion of said timber other than a few trees that were blown down by storms.

"The above findings are from the undisputed evidence, but I regard them as being immaterial."

The conclusion that appellants were holding under appellees made appellees the common source of title, relieving them of the burden of deraigning title from and under the original grantees. Proof of common source establishes a prima facie case. Rice v. Ry., *Page 928 87 Tex. 90, 26 S.W. 1047, 47 Am.St.Rep. 72; Ogden Johnson v. Bosse, 86 Tex. 346, 24 S.W. 798. This proof raises the presumption that common source owns the title of all previous owners. McBride v. Loomis (Tex.Com.App.) 212 S.W. 480. However, this presumption is not absolute and conclusive, but is subject to rebuttal. Authorities above cited; Campbell v. McLoughlin (Tex.Civ.App.) 270 S.W. 257. The issue is one of burden of proof (Howard v. Masterson, 77 Tex. 41, 13 S.W. 635), and when established shifts the burden to the defendant to show a superior title under the common source, or to show that he holds under a superior title not connected with the common source, or to show that the true title is outstanding, or to show prior possession under deeds not connected with the common source. The presumption that common source owned all titles relates to title, as distinguished from a mere claim. "Title" is thus defined by 38 C.J. 336: "In reference to property, that which constitutes a just cause of exclusive possession or which is the foundation of ownership of property."

This "just cause of exclusive possession" is the issue established by proof of common source.

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Bluebook (online)
14 S.W.2d 926, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/temple-lumber-co-v-arnold-texapp-1929.