Wells v. Masterson

6 Minn. 566

• Court: Supreme Court of Minnesota
• Decided: December 15, 1861
• Status: Published

Opinion

By ike 'Court —

ElaNDrau, J.

— The complaint alleges that the Plaintiffs are the “absolute owners in fee” of the lands in controversy; that the Defendant is in the actual possession of them; that the Plaintiffs have demanded in writing of the Defendant that he surrender the possession to them ; that the Defendant has refused so to do, and that he wrongfully and unlawfully withholds the possession from the Plaintiffs. These facts are sufficient to entitle the Plaintiffs to recover. It is true that title in fee in the Plaintiff, and actual and lawful possession in the Defendant are not in any way incompatible and may coexist. And also when possession is alleged in a Defendant, it will not be presumed to be unlawful; but this complaint directly charges the Defendant’s possession after the notice to surrender to be unlawful, and that is sufficient with the title in fee to sustain ejectment. "We held exactly such a complaint good in the case of McClane vs. White, decided at the July term, 1861, 5 Minn., 178. This case undecided by that.

The judgment is reversed, and the case' remanded with leave to the Defendant to answer over within ten days after service upon him of notice of this decision on the payment of the costs of this Court.