Court Opinion

ID: 6605615
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-20 20:11:54.013946+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:58:10.523324
License: Public Domain

Lyon, J.
In many respects this case is similar to that of Lamson v. Moffat, 61 Wis. 153, on the authority of which, doubtless, the question of the intention of the parties in executing the instrument of April 19, 1881, was submitted to the jury. The evidence is sufficient to support the special finding that such instrument, under which the plaintiff claims title to the wheat, is what on its face it purports to be, a lease, and hence not a mere security for a debt. Being a lease, there can be no doubt, we think, that the crop of wheat growing upon the leased premises when the instrument was executed, and which matured during the term of the lease, became the property of the lessee,— the same not having been reserved by the lessor. This must necessarily result from the rules of law that the tenant is vested with all the rights incident to possession, and the use and enjoyment of all the privileges appurtenant to the leased premises, and may maintain an action against any person who *508disturbs bis possession or trespasses upon the premises, even though it be the landlord. The latter has no right to enter, during the term, to repair or to remove crops, unless he has stipulated with the lessee for such right. See Tayl. Landl. & Ten. § 178; Hisey v. Troutman, 84 Ind. 115. Had the question related to the crop of grass growing upon the premises when the lease was executed, no one would contend that it did not pass by the lease to the lessee, who might lawfully pasture his cattle upon it or harvest it for his own use. The fact that the crop is wheat instead of grass cannot change the rule.
The case was tried throughout by both parties on the theory that if the instrument of April 19th was a lease, the plaintiff must recover. The plaintiff having succeeded in establishing it a lease, if that theory be adhered to the judgment should not be disturbed. Yet a point has been raised and argued in this court by counsel for defendants outside this theory, which will now be noticed.
The plaintiff, on his direct examination, testified that, as agent of his intestate in her life-time and at the time the lease was executed, he employed Pampauch to put in the crops on the leased premises. On his cross-examination he further testified that the agreement was that if Pampauch did the work faithfully he was to receive one fourth of the crops for his services. On redirect examination he stated that Pampauch was to receive one fourth the value of the crops for such services. On this testimony counsel maintains that Pampauch was tenant in common of the crop with plaintiff’s intestate, owning an undivided one fourth thereof, and hence, if the plaintiff can recover in the action, the recovery should be limited to the value of three fourths of the wheat in controversy.
It is very doubtful, to say the least, whether the wheat then growing on the farm was included in this contract, conceding it to be as stated in such cross-examination. That con*509tract seems to be limited to -crops'put in after the execution of the lease. But, however that may be, the- fair interpretation of the whole testimony is that the terms of the contract were as stated and explained by the plaintiff'on his redirect examination, which negatives the- claim that Pam-pauch retained any interest in the wheat in controversy. Pampauch was a witness in the case, bis deposition having been read on the trial in behalf of the defendants. lie denied that the plaintiff’s intestate had any interest in the winter wheat under her lease, and testified' that after she was .paid the balance of the proceeds of the farm was to belong to him. His testimony was most favorable to the defendants, and was submitted to the jury on the question of the character of the instrument of April 19th. No point seems to have been made on the trial to the effect that, even if such instrument was a lease, still Pampauch had- an interest in the wheat in controversy. No instructions or questions were proposed with reference to any such view; but, on the contrary, the court and both parties acted throughout upon the hypothesis that'if the 'jury should determine the instrument to be a lease the plaintiff should recover for all of the wheat taken and converted by the defendants. "We-are satisfied that such hypothesis is fully sustained bjr the proofs. "Were its accuracy more doubtful than it is, or even were it inaccurate, we should hesitate, under the circumstances above stated, to disturb the judgment for that reason.
By the Court.— The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed. - ..