Case Name: J. J. R. WHITFIELD v. JOHN D. ROBERSON
Court: Supreme Court of North Carolina
Jurisdiction: North Carolina
Decision Date: 1910-03-09
Citations: 152 N.C. 97
Docket Number: 
Parties: J. J. R. WHITFIELD v. JOHN D. ROBERSON.
Judges: 
Reporter: North Carolina Reports
Volume: 152
Pages: 97–100

Head Matter:
J. J. R. WHITFIELD v. JOHN D. ROBERSON.
(Filed 9 March, 1910.)
Trespass — Dividing Line — Variation of Magnetic Needle — Questions for Jury — Line Trees — Evidence.
In an action oí trespass to determine the dividing line between the adjoining lands of the parties, there was evidence of a variation of the magnetic needle since the time of the original survey, and that to fix the line as given by the deed, by running from an admitted corner, without allowing for this variation, would establish the line contended for by defendant; there were other surveys made from this admitted corner to locate this line, allowing for the variation of the needle, and there was testimony that on one of them there were certain marked stumps, regarded as line trees. There was evidence on plaintiff’s part that he had been cultivating the land for fifty years in accordance with this .last-named line, and that it was the true dividing line: Held, (1) a question of fact for the jury; (2) it was not error to refuse defendant’s prayer for instruction that the line which was rtiji- without allowing for the’ variation of the magnetic needle should be established as the true line;' (3) the line stumps should be regarded as evidence tending to show the loca- ■ tion of the true line.
Appeal from O. II. Allen, J., at June Term, 1909, of Mab-TIN.
Tbis was an action of trespass to determine the dividing line between tie adjoining lands of plaintiff and defendant. Tie plaintiff claimed iis line to be A to D on tie map; tie defendant claimed tie line to be A to B; one of tie surveyors located it from A to 0. A was an admitted corner. Tiere were two pine stumps at tie cross on tie line from A to D wiici some of tie evidence tended to siow were line stumps; at B tiere was a hole in Mill Branci, called tie “Pewter Hole,” and tiere was evidence tending to establisi tiis as tie corner. Tie jury found A to D to be tie line, as contended for by plaintiff, and assessed plaintiff’s damages at $25. Judgment was rendered for tie plaintiff, and defendant appealed.
Martin & Critcher and A. 0. Gaylord for plaintiff.
H. W. Stubbs and A. R. Dunning for defendant.

Opinion:
MANNING, J.
Tie only exception in tie record is tie refusal of iis Honor to give tiis instruction prayed by tie defendant: "If tie jury find from tie evidence tiat tie Pewter Hole was tie dividing corner between tie Whitfield and Manning lands and tie survey under call in. plaintiff's deed, 'South one degree west to Mill Branci,' without variation, went to tie Pewter Hole, then they should answer tie first issue, from A to B." His Honor charged tie jury, in response to tiis prayer, as follows: "Tiat if tie tie jury should find from tie evidence tiat tie Pewter Hole was a comer between tie plaintiff's and defendant's land, and should further find from tie evidence tiat tiis was at point B, then their answer to tie issue should be A to B." Tie line sought to be located is described in tie deed as "south Io west to Mill Branci." Tie points, B, C and D, on tie plat, are each in or at Mill Branci.
One of tie surveyors testified that tiere was a known variation in tie needle of tie compass, and tiat he did not understand it. He testified, "tiat tie usual variation for tie time, according to my understanding, would be two degrees, and allowing tiis variation of two degrees, I'ran south 3° west— tie line A to C."
Tie plaintiff testified tiat, "A to D has always been tie line. Tie line ran between two stumps. I saw survey sixty years ago. It ran tiat line. Tie two pines were then chopped. Have worked up to tie line A to D for fifty years."
Tie defendant's evidence located tie terminus on Mill Branci at B, tie place known as tie Pewter Hole, and one surveyor testified tiat running tie call of tiis line, without allowing any variation in tie needle, B would be tie terminus.
Tie location of tie line was a matter for tie jury; and we think the modified form in which his Honor gave defendant's instruction was correct. Cherry v. Slade, 7 N. C., 82; Echerd v. Johnson, 126 N. C., 409; Hill v. Dalton, 140 N. C., 9. In the case of Gaylord v. Gaylord, 48 N. C., 367, to which our attention is called by the learned counsel for the defendant, this Court said: "The division line between them (plaintiff and defendant), when the partition was made in 1825, was the course indicated by the compass at that time, and it could not change with the variation of the needle." It cannot be understood from the above quotation that the learned jurist who wrote that opinion intended that the variations of the magnetic needle should be entirely ignored in the attempt to locate the lines of old boundaries by new surveys. That this cannot be done is a scientific fact well established, but the exact allowance for it is difficult of ascertainment; of course, the actual boundary does not change with the variation of the needle. The quid est demonstrandum would be reached by starting at ' A, a point fixed fifty years ago, to reach B, a point fixed by the same survey, and reading the course as recorded by the compass of to-day. It would indicate a different degree in the course of the line, assuming equal skill in the surveyor and equal accuracy in the instruments. The purpose of the present action was to have relocated the divisional line, as it was located in 1859 or prior thereto — the exact date of the original survey does not appear in the record. The two stumps between which the line ran when located, and which were marked as line 'trees, and these stumps being still existent, would, under the decisions cited, be influential in fixing the location of the line. A question of fact being raised for the determination of the jury, we think they were properly instructed by his Honor. Discerning no error, the judgment is affirmed.
No error.