Wickizer v. Williams

173 S.W. 1162, 1915 Tex. App. LEXIS 55
CourtCourt of Appeals of Texas
DecidedFebruary 25, 1915
DocketNo. 5376.
StatusPublished
Cited by5 cases

This text of 173 S.W. 1162 (Wickizer v. Williams) 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
Wickizer v. Williams, 173 S.W. 1162, 1915 Tex. App. LEXIS 55 (Tex. Ct. App. 1915).

Opinion

RICE, J.

Appellant has filed a motion for rehearing, assailing the judgment heretofore rendered by this court herein for many reasons, but chiefly on the following alleged grounds: (1) That appellee’s possession was not continuous for a period of 10 years prior to the institution of this suit; (2) that, ap-pellee having made an acknowledgment of tenancy prior to the running of the statute, he was thereby prevented from setting up title by limitation; (3) that there was a disclaimer on the part of appellee, for which reason he was estopped from setting up such title; (4) that the affidavit and acknowledgment of tenancy made by appellee, Williams, operated as a release and relinquishment of his claim to the land; (5) that the pleadings and evidence did not authorize the verdict and judgment rendered; and (6) that the court erred in holding that Lewellyn and Foster were not necessary parties to the suit.

We have carefully reviewed the entire record, together with the authorities cited by appellant, and have reached the conclusion that the motion for rehearing is not well taken. Without undertaking to detail the evidence as to the continuity of appellee’s possession, we think the testimony shows that he and his wife went into possession in 1896 or 1897 of the part of the survey sued for, erecting a house and clearing a part of the land, which they inelosed and put in cultivation; that they raised crops upon the premises during each year from that time until this suit was filed, which was in December, 1912; that while they were absent from the place during parts of the years 1898 and 1899, yet they had tenants upon it during said period, who cultivated and made crops thereon; that after 1899 the evidence on tlie part of appellee shows that he and his wife were continuously in possession from that time until this suit was filed, adversely claiming 160 acres thereof, including the improvements. It is true that in 1904 the premises were occupied about two months by some tie cutters with his consent; but, within two weeks after they abandoned possession, he, together with his wife, returned to his home, where he continued to live, as above stated. This evidence of himself and wife is corroborated by other testimony; and, while there is a conflict in the evidence with reference to these matters, still the jury have seen fit to return a verdict in favor of ap-pellee, and the trial court has declined to disturb it.

[1,2] The evidence, if credible, is sufficient upon which to predicate a verdict in their behalf under their plea of 10-year limitation. The possession by a tenant is sufficient to support the plea of limitation under the 10-year statute. See Carlo0ck v. Williard, 149 S. W. 363. And peaceable and adverse possession of only a portion thereof, with claim to 160 acres, gives title by limitation. See Fischer v. Giddings, 74 S. W. 86. The acts constituting adverse possession are not always susceptible of definition; each case must depend upon its own facts. See Dunn v. Taylor, 107 S. W. 952. Temporary vacancy, when it is evident that there was no intent to abandon the premises, will not prevent the running of the statute; and the proof in this case showed that there was no such intention, the parties always claiming it as their home. See Collier v. Couts, 45 S. W. 485.

The issue as to whether or no appellee had made an acknowledgment of tenancy prior to the expiration of the 10-year period of *1163 limitation was clearly and distinctly submitted to the jury for their consideration, and their verdict determined that question adversely to appellant; and, there being ample evidence to support their conclusion in this respect, appellant has no just ground of complaint on this score.

It is not asserted that appellee had filed any disclaimer, but it is contended that his written acknowledgment of tenancy, made subsequent to the ripening of his title by limitation of 10 years, would have this effect. We think the authorities in this state amply support the conclusion of this court that a mere acknowledgment of tenancy after the title had ripened under the 10-year statute would not defeat appellee’s title to the land. A written acknowledgment of tenancy is of no greater dignity than a verbal statement to that effect. Such statement, whether written or verbal, may be used as evidence on the question as to whether appellee’s possession was adverse or not. See Barrett v. McKinney et al., 93 S. W. 240; Williams v. Rand, 9 Tex. Civ. App. 631, 30 S. W. 511; Williams v. City of Galveston, 58 S. W. 552; Bruce v. Washington, 80 Tex. 368, 15 S. W. 1104; Thayer v. Clark, 47 Tex. Civ. App. 61, 104 S. W. 196.

Nor does the affidavit in the present case, as contended by appellant, operate as a release to the land in question. It is a mere acknowledgment of tenancy, and the case of Davis v. Moye, 155 S. W. 962, does not support appellant’s contention in this respect, because in that case Moye had released and relinquished all claim to the land by the instrument in question for a valuable consideration, and that suit was brought by him against Mrs. Davis, the record owner of the land, for the purpose of setting aside this release on the ground of fraud, which plea the court held was not sustained by the proof.

[3] It is true that in the amended petition, upon which appellee went to trial, he sought to recover a specific 160 acres described by metes and bounds, including his improvements; but it is also true that he prayed in the alternative that, should he be not entitled to recover and have awarded him said 160 -acres so described, then that he have and recover of the defendant title and possession to 160 acres out of the Hunter survey, to be so segregated as to include his improvements, and asking, in such event, for the appointment of commissioners to partition same in accordance with such decree, requiring said commissioners to report their action to the court, and such commissioners were appointed. The evidence showed that plaintiff’s improvements were situated on the northeastern part of the survey, but only showed that he claimed 160 acres of said land, including his improvements, without designating any specific portion. The verdict of the jury was:

“Wo, the jury, find in favor of plaintiff for the land in controversy upon his plea of limitation of ten years.”

Upon which judgment was rendered in his favor for 160 acres out of the Hunter 640-acre tract, to be so surveyed as to include his improvements, which improvements are located on the northeast portion of said tracts, describing the Hunter survey by metes and bounds, and appointing commissioners to so apportion the land and report their action to the court. This proceeding followed the holding of the Supreme Court in Louisiana & Texas Lumber Co. v. Kennedy, 103 Tex. 297, 126 S. W. 1110, and other holdings of the Courts of Civil Appeals, made in accordance therewith. See Louisiana & Texas Lumber Co. v. Kennedy, 142 S. W. 990; Same v. Stewart, 130 S. W. 199; Ball v. Filba, 153 S. W. 685; Bering v. Ashley, 30 S. W. 838. In Louisiana & Texas Lumber Co. v. Stewart, supra, Mr. Justice Pleasants, in discussing the holding in Louisiana & Texas Lumber Co. v. Kennedy, 103 Tex. 297, 126 S. W. 1110, says:

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Bluebook (online)
173 S.W. 1162, 1915 Tex. App. LEXIS 55, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/wickizer-v-williams-texapp-1915.