Terrazas v Holmes

• Docket Number: Case No. 43.
• Date: 01 January 1925
• Court: Texas Supreme Court

Supreme Court of Texas.

Case No. 43.

Terrazas (plaintiff)

and

Holmes (defendant).

Recognition of Governments — Effect of — Validity of its Acts and Decrees in Foreign Court — Decrees of Mexican Carranza Government.

The Facts.—The ranches and cattle of plaintiff in error were confiscated and taken possession of by the military forces of Carranza under a decree of that General on their obtaining control of the State of Chihuahua during a revolution in Mexico. Possession of the property was never regained by plaintiff in error, but it passed first from the agents of the Carranza government to the forces of Villa (see Case No. 47, Ramos v. Bartlesville), and then to defendant in error. The Villa forces were never recognised by the United States as a Government, while the Carranza régime became the de jure Government of Mexico and was recognised as such by the United States government. In an action to recover possession of and title to the property, it was—

Held: for defendant in error. The plaintiff's title was extinguished by the decree and seizure by the Carranza Government; such Government being recognised by the United States, the...