Court Opinion

ID: 3981917
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2016-07-06 10:38:40.489621+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:44:13.448533
License: Public Domain

This is a suit of trespass to try title, by appellee against appellants. Defendants pleaded not guilty. The parties in the trial below admitted there was no question of title between them, and that the only question was as to the true boundary and location of the southern and eastern lines of the H.T. Callahan survey.
Several errors are assigned, but we deem it only necessary in disposing of this case to notice the assignment of error that complains of the following charge:
"The jury are instructed, that the witness Schleicher was, by a previous order of this court, directed to ascertain and report the true location of the boundaries in dispute between the parties plaintiff and defendant, and that report, which is now before them, must be regarded and taken by the jury as correct and true until it is shown to be erroneous, and the burden of proof is upon the defendant to show that this report is erroneous."
This charge is clearly on the weight of evidence, and it was error to give it. McAninch v. Freeman, 69 Tex. 448.
There is a conflict in the evidence as to the location of the eastern and southern lines of the Callahan survey. The verdict of the jury was in accord with the report of the surveyor Schleicher, referred to in the charge. The effect of this charge was to turn the scale in favor of the plaintiff. For the error in giving the charge, we reverse the case.
Reversed and remanded.
Adopted Much 25, 1892.