The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1882-12-26
HEADACHES OF DECISIONS
sUfaakssME COURT OF FLORIDA.
IaRe Term. A. ID. 1852.

Jamei q Grooyer, Everette p Groover, q al,
Appellants. vs. Andrew j. Coffee, Appellee
Ap3eas from Jefferson county.
RAINFALL, C. j..
1. Documents purporting to be issued by the
ExecSH$a of another State, bearing its seal, are
recogthed without other proof of their execu'
ton tsnr the inspection of its seal.
2. A. grant by the Governor of Georgia in
1S42 pf Sand lying on the boundary between
Georfa and Florida, which land was then, and
for Enx time prior thereto, had been considered
by hes Within the territorial limits of Georgia,
and ineofporated within one Of her Counties and
over wha,h the authorities of that State had long
exercised the usual powers of government may
be retf4ysd as evidence in the chain of title al
though Upon final location of the boundary
line bJ agreement between the States, ratified by
Congress- the land falls within the present bours
barry sf Florida.
8. Thsre the subscribing witnesses are dead.
or betoDA the Jurisdiction of the Court, the exc
cutiot MA deed may be proved by evidence that
the signatures of such witnesses are genuine
4. h died nf the Trustees of the Internal I'm
provelnet,t Fund is prsBaa fac evidence of title
in thtegNntee, b,t such title may be overcome
by superior title.
5. Aartificate of the Commissioner of Lands
and IHln:}graiion, stating that certain lands had
been ta.kuted by the United States to this State,
is pTiiha ftscis evidence with respect to owner
ship By tie State or the Trustees of the Internal
mprfenent Fund, under chapter 2063, laws Of
1875. NHcC Digest 5l5, g. 10.)
o. A Certificate of the Commissioner of Lands
and I.nEhgrati0h, that sale Of certain land
descnfst.. had been made TO a person named at
previous dale, such certificate not being deed,
agreement or contract for the sale of lands or
copy ttefe0f, is pot evidence under the statutes
(McC. pfg. i515l
of lands a the land Office had been issued and
had b4en assigned by the purchaser Is NOT ad-
missibss, illess II be shown that the writing has
been ivssnt destroyed, or is in possession Of the
Opposite party.
8. Teesarvey of the boundary line as locates
and mArxed by Or and Whitner under the au-
thority oa the States of Georgia and Florida, hav
ing heTs' adopted by the Legislatures Of the two
States tst the 9th Of February, 1881, as the true
boundufg line, aud the same having been sub
stantially ratified by Congress In 1872 that line
is regaf5Ed as the settled boundary between the
two Ssfas from the junction Of the Flint and
Chaitatsa,6hee rivers 70 Ellicott's Mound on the
st. Mays nver.
8. TIE State Of Georgia, long prior and subse-
quentto the year 1642, was In actual possession.
exercising its jurisdiction and sovereignty Of the
territory south OF the boundary line a. now set
tied and north Of Pa called the ~Watson
line" Ia that year lated quantity Of land
BOUNDED by the Watson line the grantee en-.
tered iE.a actual possession under the grant, and
he and hip grantees have been IN the actual oc-
cupatqa and have cultivated the land from that
date uh ssa recent period, when they were dis.
possessed by ore claiming title under patent
issued E,N Che United States Land once to ne
State 81 Florida and Sedeed nom The Trustees o.
the IntJnlsl Improvement Fund. The boundary
line between Georgia and Florida had been In
doubt Ind in dispute between theee States since
18z2, uitil;it was settled BY agreement 10 1901
bctweck ihe tive States and the sanction Of Con
gress ii H379 and located north Of the Watson
line; I3aIS:
(a) Tat grants by government Dc facie Of
parts Of disputed territory in It's possession
are valN Ind the rights to property 90 acquired
are reapScted and sacred
o. TSst upon this principle of the law OF ma,
tons thS trantby the State Of Georgia conferred
. right ioIIhe property conveyed TO the GRANTEE
(c) Tha4a Subsequent patent issued % . tnIIo
person a the United States covering me se M
land d6,aa not divest the parchaser nom tns
State oftSeorgiH or his grantees Of The title ana
right Of jpssesslon claimed under the Geofs's
Judgt{ssot reysfsed and new trial awarded
pnecc14e Palmer and q. w. 6ievouss for apps
lants; 5iSus Paterson, for appsllee