Court Opinion

ID: 7363699
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-27 23:49:32.370901+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:20:42.083522
License: Public Domain

SIMPSON, J.
— This was a bill to quiet title under tbe statute, filed by tbe appellant against tbe appellee. It is admitted that tbe respondent bolds tbe legal title, by several deeds going back to tbe original patent.
Tbe title of tbe complainant is deraigned by showing that in 1882 tbe complainant purchased from one Parker, who merely banded to him a deed which one Lee bad previously made to Parker, and Parker promised to make a deed whenever it was desired, but as a matter of fact never made any deed until June 13,1904.
Tbe land in question consists of 80 acres on which was a small log bouse, and a part of tbe land was inclosed and cultivated. Tbe decree of tbe chancellor gives to tbe complainant that part inclosed and cultivated, but holds that as to tbe remainder tbe complainant, not having proved pedis possessio, is not entitled to it. At tbe time be purchased from Parker, tbe complainant went into possession of tbe bouse, and through several successive transfers tbe possession has been kept up, finally coming back to tbe complainant; there being no deeds passed, except that, on each occasion of a charge of possession, tbe old deed (of Lee to Parker) was banded over. Tbe complainant claims that although be bad no deed conveying tbe land to' him, yet tbe contract of sale and tbe banding to him of tbe deed from Lee to Parker was sufficient to mark out tbe boundaries of bis possession, so as to operate as color of title to him and to tbe successors in possession.
Tbe transaction between tbe parties was nothing more than a verbal contract of sale, and while tbe deed which was handed over may have operated as a memorandum between tbe parties as to tbe land intended to be conveyed, yet it was in no sense color of title in tbe complainant. Although tbe decisions in other states are not harmonious, yet this court, after mature consideration, *46has held that the doctrine of “extending the adverse possession under a valid parol contract of sale to the boundary of the lands as fixed by the contract is limited in its application, as between vendor and vendee, or in case of execution sale, to the defendant in execution and the purchaser at such sale; ■ that, when no such relation exists between the parties litigant or their privies, the possession of the adverse holder is limited to his possessio pedis, unless he holds under written color of title.” —Tenn. Coal, Iron & R. R. Co. v. Linn, 128 Ala. 112, 138, 26 South. 245, 250, 82 Am. St. Rep. 108. “An instrument, in order to operate as color of title, must-purport to- convey the title to the claimant thereunder, or to those with whom he is in privity.” 1 Cyc. 1085. Under the rule established by this court, and which seems to be in accordance with the preponderance of authority, the complainant did not show that he held under color of title, and the evidence does not show that his possessio pedis extended beyond that part of the land which the-chancellor decreed to him.
The decree of the court is affirmed.
Tyson, C. J., and Haralson, and Anderson, JJ., concur.