Court Opinion

ID: 3677564
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 06:23:51.331286+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:25:49.381460
License: Public Domain

FROM MECKLENBURG.
[EDITORS' NOTE:  THE FIGURE IS ELECTRONICALLY NON-TRANSFERRABLE.], SEE 13 N.C. 164.]
One the part of the lessors of the plaintiff it was proved that their father, George Smart, died in 1810; that Purser was then in possession of a field containing about three acres, which is laid down in the (259)  plat, and represented by the lines a, b, c, and d; that the executors of Smart being about to commence a suit against him, he, on 16 July, 1814, executed the following instrument:
"On or before 1 January next I promise to pay or cause to be paid unto the executors of George Smart, deceased, their order or assigns, at the rate of one dollar per acre for the rent of a certain piece of land under my enclosure, belonging to the heirs of said deceased, supposed to be about three acres." *Page 165 
The defendant then offered to prove that after 1814, and up to the time of the deed of Purser to him, in 1823, the possession of the land included within the lines G, H, I, K, L, and M had been abandoned; that the defendant took possession after receiving his deed, and that Purser had been in the actual adverse possession of the land represented by the last mentioned lines for more than 7 years before 1814. But his Honor, Judge NORWOOD, being of opinion that Purser, and all claiming under him, after the year 1814, were estopped to deny the title of the lessors of the plaintiff, rejected the evidence.
Upon this, as the title of the lessors of the plaintiff was the oldest, and 7 years' possession by the defendant under his deed from Purser was not pretended, a verdict was returned for the plaintiff, and the defendant appealed.
The Court below held the lease by Purser conclusive evidence against the defendant. I think that was erroneous, though it was probably evidence to some purpose.
It is not to be clearly gathered from the bond whether the land leased by Purser in 1814 was within the lines of his own deed or not. The words are, "for the rent of a certain piece of land under my enclosure, belonging to the heirs of Smart, supposed to be about   (260) three acres." The field, as laid down in the plat, included a small portion within Purser's lines, and another small portion without them, but within the lines of Smart's deed. The bond does not specify for which of those two pieces the rent was to be paid; nor does the other evidence make it more specific; for the case states only that the land leased is situate within Smart's boundaries. But that is the fact with respect to both parts.
If, in fact, Purser did not lease any part of the land covered by his own deed, his lease was not evidence to any purpose in this suit. It proved nothing touching the tenure or title to his own tract, as it related to one wholly distinct.
But I suppose it is a fair inference, from the opinion of the Judge, that the land leased was that part of the field lying within Purser's lines. In that case the lease was evidence. It forms a circumstance in a question of boundary. It also proves a fact, from which, in a question of title, a jury may infer, as it is supported or rebutted by other circumstances, the true nature of the previous possession by Purser of that and other parts of the tract. The inference would be very strong or very weak, according to those attendant circumstances, and *Page 166 
as it might be applied to the particular part leased, or other parts of the land. If, for instance, it were proved that Purser had at a previous time treated with Smart for the occupation of the very same field, the bond would be very cogent proof that he always held that field under Smart, although the precise contract of lease might not be proved. But when applied to other parts of the tract, the whole force of it would be repelled by proof that Purser was actually living on and improving large portions of it independent of Smart. Purser might rather surrender three acres than be involved in litigation. His doing so is no evidence that he held the whole as tenant of another. On the (261)  contrary, the lease is evidence, and strong evidence, if he was actually occupying the residue, that he held that residue in his own right. For why create a tenancy, expressly for a small part, if it was not intended to exclude the rest? In this point of view the contract of 1814 was evidence in this suit. But for aught that appears it might be as effectual on one side as the other.
But it by no means follows that because it is evidence it is conclusive evidence, even as to the three acres; much less as to the whole tract. The doctrine of estoppel has been applied very beneficially to the relation of landlord and tenant, whether created by indenture or parol. It has been properly extended to embrace all cases. It is intended to insure honesty and protect the landlord against the faithlessness of the tenant. The principle is that a possession acquired under a particular person shall not be used to defeat the right of that person. It shall never be turned against him while the term, according to the express words of its creation, continues; or, after its expiration, while the same possession continues; as if the tenant holds over, the tenant shall not be permitted to deny the right under which he entered by showing a better right in another, or even himself. Honesty forbids that he should obtain possession with that view, or after getting it, thus use it. Until, therefore, the tenant yields back the possession he shall not be heard in asserting that possession, derived under his landlord, to be adverse to him. But the utility and fairness of the rule go no further. For if good faith forbids the tenant from perverting a possession gained by another's permission, into the means of defying the landlord, the latter is equally restrained by it from alleging that the true owner of the land forfeits it, or passes his title to it, by ignorantly leasing his own land. Having parted with the possession for a certain term, upon a contract that at end of the term that possession should be restored to him, he can ask such restoration. But he can ask nothing (262)  more. He then gets back all he parted from. He can properly claim that his right shall not be impaired by his tenant. But he cannot claim that it shall be enlarged by the previous and independent *Page 167 
title of the tenant himself. Whenever, therefore, the term expires, and the relation of landlord and tenant ceases by the surrender or abandonment of the possession, the parties are set at large again. They then stand upon their original rights — or rather, upon their rights as in fact existing, and not as resting in estoppel. The tenant can then sue the landlord upon his own title. The same reason holds for defending himself upon that title, if he acquires a new possession, independent of hisquandam landlord. It will be readily perceived that when I speak of the surrender of the possession by the tenant I mean a real and not a colorable departure by the tenant — not merely going out one day, animorevertendi, and coming back the next.
There is, however, no room for a cavil upon that point here. For Purser leased in 1814, and at the end of that year left the land, and the possession remained vacant for nine years. It is impossible to say that the possession gained or taken under Smart had not determined. The estate created by the lease expired, and the estoppel growing out of it expired with it.
PER CURIAM.                                   New Trial.
Cited: Williams v. Wilson, 32 N.C. 484; Freeman v. Heath, 35 N.C. 500;Farmer v. Pickens, 83 N.C. 552; Davis v. Davis, Ib., 73; Campbell v.Everhart, 139 N.C. 514.
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