Ernsting v. Gleason
| Decision Date | 16 February 1897 |
| Citation | 39 S.W. 70,137 Mo. 594 |
| Parties | Ernsting, Appellant, v. Gleason |
| Court | Missouri Supreme Court |
Appeal from Holt Circuit Court. -- Hon. C. A. Anthony, Judge.
Affirmed.
L. R Knowles for appellant.
The following facts are clearly established by the admissions of the defendant and the evidence in this case to wit: (1) At the commencement of this action plaintiff was the owner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 34 township 62, range 40, in Holt county, Missouri, and the land in controversy is a part of same, and the defendant was in the possession of the land in dispute. (2) The plaintiff and defendant are adjoining proprietors. (3) A fence was erected by the defendant and a former owner of plaintiff's said land upon what they supposed to be the true boundary line between their lands and that the defendant and the several owners of plaintiff's said land have since the erection of said fence supposed the same was on the boundary line until the line was established by surveyor Morris. (4) The evidence of the defendant clearly and conclusively shows that he did not claim at any time title to any land beyond the true boundary line. (5) The evidence nowhere shows that the plaintiff or his ancestors intended to surrender title to any land belonging to them or to their said land by the erection of said fence. Under the well settled law in this state, this land in controversy belongs to the plaintiff and he is entitled to possession of it. McWilliams v. Samuel, 123 Mo. 659; Jacob v. Moseley, 91 Mo. 457; Schad v. Sharp, 95 Mo. 573; Krider v. Milne, 99 Mo 145; Skinker v. Hoagman, 99 Mo. 208.
John W. Stokes for respondent.
Ejectment for the possession of a strip of land twelve feet in width and forty rods in length on the south end of the west half of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 34, in township 62 of range 40, in Holt county, Missouri.
The petition is in the usual form. The defenses set up in the answer were a general denial, and a plea of the ten-year statute of limitations.
The case was tried by the court, a jury being waived. As a result, there was judgment for defendant and plaintiff appealed.
Both plaintiff and defendant claim title through the same source. On the trial it was admitted that plaintiff owns the west half of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 34, township 62, range 40. The evidence tended to show that the strip of land in question is a part of that tract. But it was shown on behalf of defendant that he had been in the actual possession of the land for over twenty-five years claiming it as his own, and adversely to all others. That he bought the land adjoining it on the south from Jackson Briniger in the spring of 1867, who at that time owned it, as well also as the land described in plaintiff's petition. That at that time there was a division fence between the two tracts, which has remained in the same place ever since, and which Briniger pointed out to defendant as being the division line between the two tracts, and which was agreed upon by them as being the line, and which was always thereafter recognized by them as such.
Plaintiff prayed the court to declare the law to be as follows:
First. If the court believes from the evidence that the land described in plaintiff's petition is within the boundary lines of the land owned by the plaintiff, to wit: The west half of the northeast quarter of the northwest quarter of section 34, in township 62, range 40, the court will find for the plaintiff (which instruction the court gave in a modified form by adding thereto the following:), unless the court should further find that there was an agreement between Jackson Briniger, the former owner of the adjoining land, and defendant Gleason, that the line on which the fence stood should be the line between their lands, and occupied their lands with that intention.
Second. That although the plaintiff, and those under whom he claims and the defendant claimed the fence mentioned in the evidence as the division line between them, supposing the same to be the true line, they are not bound by such line but must conform to the true line when the same is ascertained. If the court believes from the evidence that the line surveyed by Morris is the true line between the plaintiff's land and the defendant's land, your finding must be for the plaintiff. (Which instruction the court gave by erasing the words "your...
To continue reading
Request your trial