Case Name: Richardson and others v. Murrill and others
Court: Supreme Court of Missouri
Jurisdiction: Missouri
Decision Date: 1842-05
Citations: 7 Mo. 333
Docket Number: 
Parties: Richardson and others v. Murrill and others.
Judges: 
Reporter: Missouri Reports
Volume: 7
Pages: 333–333

Head Matter:
Richardson and others v. Murrill and others.
Trespass guare clausum, fregit. Plea, that the close, &c. was the freehold of the United States, and not the freehold of plaintiff. Held: that the plea was bad, as possession, without title, is sufficient to maintain this action against a wrong doer.
Trespass the cl°?e’ ofthe Sd^not^the that the P,ea was as possession, without title, is sufficient to , mamta-n this action against a wrong doer.
Error to the Washington County Circuit Court.
Cows for Defendant in Error.
Beicjoby for Plaintiff in Error.

Opinion:
Opinion of the Court, delivered by
Napton, Judge.
This was an action of trespass, guare clausum fregit, brought by the plaintiffs in error, against the defendants. Defendants pleaded not guilty, and a special plea, alleging that the close, u pon which the supposed trespasses were committed, was not the freehold of plaintiffs, but the freehold of the United States. Plaintiffs demurred to this last but the court overruled the demurrer, and gave judgment for deiendantsj the plea of not guilty, having oeen ly withdrawn; from this judgment plaintiffs appealed.
As possession, without title, is sufficient to maintain an action of trespass against a wrong doer, the pie» of erty in the United States was bad. '
judgment .reversed, and case remanded.