Case Name: D. T. Murray and Mary Murray versus A. L. Webster
Court: New Hampshire Superior Court
Jurisdiction: New Hampshire
Decision Date: 1831-05
Citations: 5 N.H. 391
Docket Number: 
Parties: D. T. Murray and Mary Murray versus A. L. Webster.
Judges: 
Reporter: New Hampshire Reports
Volume: 5
Pages: 391–392

Head Matter:
D. T. Murray and Mary Murray versus A. L. Webster.
In trespass quare clausum fregit, the title of the defendant, or of the person under whom he entered, may be given in evidence under the general issue to show that the right of possession, which ⅛ necessary in trespass, is not in the plaintiff.
If one, who has a good canse of action, join, iri trespass quare clausum fre-git, with one who has no cause of action, the suit cannot be sustained.
This was an action of trespass for breaking and entering the house of the plaintiffs, in New-Chester, on the 28th September, 1828, and pulling down and demolishing the same.
At the trial of the cause here, at November term, 1830*, upon the general issue, it appeared in evidence, that for along time, and up to the day when the act, of which they complained, was done, the plaintiffs had been in possession of the house, mentioned in the declaration ; that at the superior court in this county, November term, 1826, E. Webster recovered judgment, in a writ of entry, against D. T. Murray, for the land, on which the house stood that a pluries writ of habere facias posses-sionem, issued upon that judgment, May 22, 1828, and was delivered to the defendant, who was a deputy sheriff, to be by him executed ; and that the defendant,, at the time of executing the writ aforesaid, by written directions from the said E. Webster, pulled down and demoi* ished the house, as alleged in the declaration.
On the part of the plaintiffs it was objected, that the judgment, execution, and entry of the officer, were not admissible in evidence under the general issue. But the evidence was admitted, and a non-suit entered, subject to the opinion of the court upon the foregoing case.
Upham and Bell, for the defendant.
Woodbury and Parker, for the plaintiffs.

Opinion:
Richardson, C. J.
delivered the opinion of the court.
It is contended, that evidence, which was inadmissible upon the general issue, was received in this case. What the defendant did in pulling down the house was done, not as an officer, but as the servant of E. Webster, after possession had been obtained under the execution. And it is well settled, that in trespass to real property, the title of the defendant, or the person under whom he justifies, may be given in evidence, under the general issue, to show that the right of possession, which is necessary in trespass, is not in the plaintiff. 1 Chitty's Pl. 492; 8 D. & E. 403, Argent v. Durrant; 7 Ditto, 354, Dodd v. Kyffin; 2 Manning & Ryland, 226, Johnson v. Howson.
The right of D. T. Murray to maintain the action was completely disproved. E. Webster had recovered a judgment against him for the land, and had obtained possession.
If Mary Murray had any title to the land, as a tenant in common, she may maintain trespass, quare domum freg-it, for pulling down the Jurase? Coke Litt. 200 ; 8 B. 6 C. 257, Cubitt v. Porter ; 7 Cowen, 229.
But whatever cause of action, she may have had, it is a fatal objection to a recovery in this case, that she has joined in the action with another, who had no cause of action. 1 Chitty's Pl. 54 ; 4 Pick. 234, Grozier v. Atwood; 7 J. B. Moore, 29, Steel v. Western.
Judgment on the nonsuit.