Court Opinion

ID: 9830803
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-01 20:30:36.307055+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:43:27.132568
License: Public Domain

On Motion for Rehearing.
[8] Appellant reiterates with some amplification the questions presented in its brief. Probably we should discuss more in detail the assignment based upon the exclusion of the judgment referred to in the original opinion. The bill of exception to the exclusion of this testimony shows that judgment had been rendered in favor of J. and P. Robertson and Guy Fleming against certain named defendants for the title and possession of the 640 acres of land described in this case as survey No. 381. In giving the field notes the calls are practically the same as those contained in the patent. The fourth corner, the one here in dispute, was located on the bank of Trinity river, and the last call is, “thence 62%° E. with the meanderings of Trinity river about 1,002 varas to the place of beginning.” The judgment further awards to same plaintiffs all of that survey against Henry Payne, R. P. Hull, and J. A. Pruitt, except three described tracts aggregating 360 acres. The first tract of 160 acres, claimed by Payne, is described substantially as follows:
“Beginning at the W. corner of survey 331; thence N. 45° E. along its N. W. line 2,834 varas to a stake; thence S. 45° E. 396 varas; thence S. 45° W. about 2,217 varas to a stake on the bank of Trinity river or a large slough which was taken for said river in locating said survey; thence N. about 60° W. with the meanderings of said slough to the place of beginning.”
The second tract, set apart to Hull, begins on the line of the tract above described, and also calls in a similar manner for the slough. The same description calling for- the slough is contained in the third tract, which was set apart to Pruitt. These three tracts are situated in the west or southwest end of Harris on survey No. 331. It will be noticed that the beginning corner of the first tract above described is the west corner of survey 331, which is the corner here in dispute. In locating that corner it was necessary to consult the field notes of the patent. Hence, if the patent located it upon the bank of the Trinity river, that must be the place of beginning in making these three subdivisions. The call for the river, or slough taken for the river, is in the location of the last or fourth corners in making those'subdivisions. The record shows that the appellees acquired all the land in that portion of Harrison survey 331; so that if under the terms of the judgment a part of it was omitted in the award to Payne, Hull, and Pruitt, the appellees would not thereby be estopped, for they deraigned title under the former owners who held any interest in the land. The judgment was not relied upon as a necessary link in their chain of title; it merely settled a controversy between claimants of subdivisions of the land with which the appel-lees had no concern.
The motion for a rehearing is overruled.