Case Name: C. H. SEYMOUR v. L. W. WOOD et al.
Court: Supreme Court of California
Jurisdiction: California
Decision Date: 1878
Citations: 53 Cal. 303
Docket Number: No. 5354
Parties: C. H. SEYMOUR v. L. W. WOOD et al.
Judges: 
Reporter: California Reports
Volume: 53
Pages: 303–304

Head Matter:
[No. 5354.]
C. H. SEYMOUR v. L. W. WOOD et al.
Verdict against Evidence.—Where the plaintiff in ejectment for a mining claim, on cross-examination, admitted that he had not worked the claim for several years, but had during that time followed mining in Mexico: held, that the testimony established abandonment, and the verdict for plaintiff was against the evidence.
Appeal from the District Court of the Fourteenth Judicial District, Nevada County.
Ejectment for a mining claim. At the trial, the plaintiff, on his cross-examination, admitted that he had not worked the claim for several years, but had during the time followed mining in Mexico, the machinery having been removed from the claim. It appeared, also, that he was aware the defendants had applied for a patent, and made no opposition thereto. The defendants were in possession under a patent. The question of abandonment was submitted to the jury, and they returned a verdict for the plaintiff. Judgment was rendered accordingly. Defendants moved for a new trial, which was denied, and they appealed.
J. N. Thorne, for Appellants.
Hupp & Crowley, for Respondent.

Opinion:
By the Court :
The verdict of the jury is attacked on the ground that the evidence affirmatively established that plaintiff had abandoned the premises in question. Upon looking into the record, we are of opinion that the verdict should have been set aside and a new trial granted on that ground. The abandonment was .clearly established at the trial.
Judgment and order reversed, and cause remanded for a new trial. Remittitur forthwith.