Case Name: Charles Chambers et al., Plaintiffs in Error, v. William McGiveron, &c., Defendants in Error
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1862-10
Citations: 33 Mo. 202
Docket Number: 
Parties: Charles Chambers et al., Plaintiffs in Error, v. William McGiveron, &c., Defendants in Error.
Judges: Judges Bay and Dryden concur.
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 33
Pages: 202–203

Head Matter:
Charles Chambers et al., Plaintiffs in Error, v. William McGiveron, &c., Defendants in Error.
Instruction. — An instruction, “ that under the evidence, in this case, the jury should find for the defendant,” held improper, as the court thereby usurped the whole province of the jury.
Error to St. Louis Land Court.
Glover and Wickham, for plaintiffs.
McDonald, for defendants.

Opinion:
Bates, Judge,
delivered the opinion of the court.
This is an action of ejectment for the recovery of a tract of land in the county of St. Louis. The plaintiffs gave evidence tending to prove legal paper title in themselves. The defendants gave evidence tending to prove title by length of possession, under the acts of limitation.
The court instructed the jury, that, " under the evidence in this case, the jury should find for the defendants." This instruction, under the circumstances, was evidently improper, as the court thereby usurped the whole province of the jury.
The plaintiffs ask seven instructions, which were refused ; but we do not think it necessary to examine them, as they may not be applicable to the case which may be made upon a new trial, and because they involve only questions which we think are made sufficiently clear by decisions already rendered by this court.
Judgment reversed and cause remanded.
Judges Bay and Dryden concur.