Case Name: GRIFFITH v. EVANS et al.
Court: United States Circuit Court for the District of Pennsylvania
Jurisdiction: United States
Decision Date: 1815-10
Citations: 11 F. Cas. 42
Docket Number: 
Parties: GRIFFITH v. EVANS et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: Federal Cases
Volume: 11
Pages: 42–42

Head Matter:
Case No. 5,822.
GRIFFITH v. EVANS et al.
[Pet. C. C. 166.)
Circuit Court, D. Pennsylvania.
Oct. Term, 1815.
Ejectment — Evidence—Survey.
1. Ejectment for land in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. An extract from the books of the surveyor general of the land office, is not evidence.
2. Ex parte proceedings by the board of property, under which a survey was made, which in the opinion of the board ascertained the invalidity of a former survey, and in consequence of which the plaintiff’s survey was ordered to be struck from the records of the land office, cannot be read in evidence. Such proceedings have no effect on the plaintiff’s title.
[Another verdict in favor of the plaintiff for the same land was given in Case No. 5,823.]
This was an ejectment for land lying in Beaver county, Pennsylvania, on Beaver creek. The plaintiff produced a regular par per title, which was objected to by the defendants, on the ground that the survey was executed by Leets, the deputy surveyor of district No. 10, whereas the land lies in district No. 11: and to prove this fact, they offered to read the following evidence: First, an extract from the surveyor general’s book of Leets’ instructions. Second, an order of the board of property dated the 17th of June last, directing the surveyor to run the lines of districts Nos. 10 and 11, according to their true boundaries; ayid a survey and plot, made in pursuance of said order and returned to the office; which it was contended would show that the land in question lies out of district No. 10. Third, an order of the board of property, dated the 17th of October last, founded upon the above order and survey; declaring the survey in question to be void, having been executed by the surveyor of district No. 10, and directing it to be erased from the records of the board. The court overruled the first piece of evidence, because it was only an extract. Also the residue of the evidence, .because the whole proceedings of the board of property were ex parte; and the lessor of the plaintiff, who claims under a patent regularly issued, so far as appears to the court, cannot be affected by any such order or judgment of the board of property. If it was intended to controvert the validity of the survey, upon the alleged ground, the defendants [Evans and Lewis] should have produced witnesses before this court to establish their allegation; or should have had a survey made, under an order of this court, and upon notice to the adverse party.
[Reported by Richard Peters, Jr., Esq.]

Opinion:
THE COURT
directed a verdict to be found for plaintiff, which was done.