Case ID: sc_91/html/0348-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Mr. Justices Woods.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

8197
    WINDHAM v. HOWELL.
    Real Property—Rents.-—Where the evidence shows that a husband and wife went into possession of land under claim in the wife, the occupancy will be referred to her claim and she will be held bable for the rents, but where the evidence is that the husband went into possession and: took the rents and profits of land in which his wife had an interest he will be held liable for rents.
    Before DeVore, J-, Darlington, January, 1910.
    Affirmed.
    Action by A. H. Windham el al. ag'ainst George C. Howell et al. Plaintiffs appeal.
    
      Messrs. Geo. W. Brown and R. W. Shand, for appellants.
    
      .Mr. Shand cites: Allegation of sole ozvnership in one tenant ■amounts to ouster of others: Freem. on Co. & P., secs. 235, 230, 238; Cowp. 217. The ousting tenant is liable for rent: 17 Eney. 694; 1 Hill Oh. 86; 14 S. C. 307; 16 S. C. 479. .Admissions by pleading cannot be upset by evidence: 31 S. C. 340; 36 S. C. 400; 40 S. C. 100, 455; 8 Rich. 117.
    
      Mr. B. O. Woods, contra.
    No citations.
    April 29, 1912.
   The opinion of the- Court was deliv•ered by

Mr. Justices Woods.

In this action, which has resulted in a partition of the land described in the complaint between Lula Windham and Louisiana Howell, as life tenants, the sole question now before the Court is whether the rents fixed by the master shall be charged against Louisiana Howell or her husband, George C. Howell. The master and the Circuit Judge concurred in finding that George C. Howell, and not his wife, had held the possession and was responsible for the rents and profits. The complaint alleged: “That the said G. C. Howell and Louisiana Howell, his wife, are in possession of said tract of land, pretensively claiming the same under deed from Eliza J. Windham, and receiving the rents and profits since the death of Eliza J. Windham, which are reasonably worth three hundred dollars per annum.” The answer denied this allegation, along with several other averments of the complaint, but alleged that Louisiana Howell was the owner in fee of the land under a conveyance from Eliza J. Windham.

If the proof had shown that George C. Howell and his wife, Louisiana Howell, entered and held the entire tract under the deed from Eliza Windham to Louisiana Howell, or under the claim of cotenancy with Lula Windham, then it would have followed, under the authority of Sibley v. Sibley, 88 S. C. 104, that the occupancy should be referred to the wife’s claim and she-would be responsible for rents; and, subject to the mortgages given by her, the Court should have provided for an adjustment of the rents with her cotenant "before allowing- her to have her portion of the land. Vaughn v. Langford, 81 S. C. 382, 62 S. E. 316. But the answer does not admit possession of either George C. Howell or Louisiana Howell, and the evidence adduced was that George C. Howell himself was in possession and had taken the benefit of the rents and profits. It may be that the witnesses, in speaking of the possession of George C. Howell, meant a possession taken by him as the agent of his wife, under her claim of ownership, but we have tried in vain! to find anything in the evidence which would warrant us in saying so.' To sáy the least of it, the evidence does not preponderate against the conclusions of the master and the Circuit Judge.

It is the judgment of this Court that the judgment of the Circuit Court be affirmed.