Case ID: la_11/html/0140-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Bullard, J.,\n    ", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

CIRE ET AL. vs. RIGHTOR.
    Eastern Dzst.
    
      May, 1837.
    APPEAL FROM TIIE COURT OF THE SECOND JUDICIAL DISTRICT, THE JUDGE THEREOF PRESIDING.
    Where the affidavit of certain of the jurors in the case, was offered in support of a motion for a new trial, stating they were mistaken, and thought the verdict was for the plaintiff, instead of the defendant: Held., that the practice of permitting such affidavits ought not to he tolerated.
    The sale of a front lot does not carry with it the alluvion in its front, provided, that at the time of sale, the batture was formed of sufficient height and magnitude to be susceptible of private ownership ; and this is a fact proper for the finding of a jury.
    This is a petitory action. The plaintiffs allege that they are the owners of a lot of ground in the town of Donaldson-ville, fronting on the Mississippi river, which was sold by William Conway, now deceased, in 1812; that since said sale a considerable and valuable batture has arisen in front of said lot, which is the rightful property of the petitioners, which they are entitled to by right of accretion ; there being no batture at the time of the sale by Conway. They further show, that one Abraham F. Rightor has intermarried with one of the heirs of Conway, who claims the batture in question on behalf of said heirs. The petitioners pray to be declared the true owners by right of accretion.
    
      ^Whwe the af-of the jurors jlretfin support of a motion for n new trial stat-¡ng- they We thoughfthe ver-plaintiff instead of the defendant: j^íetioe^ermit-t!.”g .ic,h,affida' Tits offght not to he tolerated.
    The defendant and other heirs of Conway pleaded a general denial, and justified their right to the possession and ownership of the premises in contest.
    Upon these pleadings and issues the cause was submitted to a jury, upon the testimony adduced by the parties.
    The jury returned a verdict for the defendant.
    The plaintiffs filed an affidavit of two of the jurors, stating that they were mistaken in their verdict, that when they rendered it, they were under the impression it granted the land to the plaintiffs, etc.
    They then moved for a new trial, on the following grounds, viz:
    
      First, The jury did not understand the verdict they rendered in the case. The record shows the jurors were polled at the instance of the defendant, and answered separately “verdictfor Rightor.”
    
    
      Second, The verdict is contrary to the evidence.
    The motion for a new trial was 'overruled, and from judgment rendered therein, the plaintiffs appealed.
    The case was submitted exparle, by Thos. Slidell, for the appellee.
   Bullard, J.,

delivered the opinion of the court.

This is a petitory action, in which the plaintiffs assert title to a piece of alluvion or batture near the town of Donaldson-ville, which they allege has formed in front of a lot, purchased by those from whom they acquired title,fronrConway, in 1812. They allege that at the time the lot was sold by Conway, no batture existed susceptible of ownership, in front of the lot.

The heirs of Conway who are made parties, after excepting to the jurisdiction of the District Court, answered by a general ® denial. There was a verdict and judgment for the defendant, and the plaintiffs, after an unsuccessful effort to obtain a new trial, appealed.

The court very properly disregarded an affidavit produced in support of the motion for a new trial, by two' of the jurors, who swore that they were fully convinced that the heirs of , Conway had no right to the lot in dispute, and they thought the verdict they rendered was in favor of the plaintiffs. The practice of permitting such affidavits on the part of jurors ought not to be tolerated.

The sale of a front lot does not carry with it the alluvion in its front, provided, that at the time of sale the hatture was formed of sufficient height and magnitude to be susceptible of •private ownership, and this is a fact proper for the finding of a jury.

On the merits, this case is strongly analogous to that of Cochran et al. vs. Fort et al., and turns upon a question of. fact, to wit: whether i^!812, a batture had been formed of sufficient height and magnitude to be susceptible of private ownership. 7 Martin, N. S., 622.

The jury to whom this question was submitted, decided in favor of the defendant, and negatived the allegation in the petition, that at the time of the sale from Conway, no batture existed in front of the lot in question. The evidence on this point is before us, and after a careful examination of it, we are unable to pronounce that the verdict was erroneous.

It is, therefore, ordered, adjudged and decreed, that the judgment of the District Court be affirmed, with costs.