Court Opinion

ID: 4933330
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2021-09-24 01:11:03.479957+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:14:34.258876
License: Public Domain

Appleton, C. J.
This is an action of trespass quare clausum.. It comes before us on a motion to set aside the verdict as against' law and evidence.
It appears that the legal title under which the plaintiff claims lain his wife. The jnry have found by their verdict that the plaintiff was in the actual possession of the locus in quo.
*268The objection is taken, that notwithstanding the possession was in the husband, inasmuch as the legal title was in the wife, this action cannot be maintained. But this objection cannot be sustained.
Trespass quare clausum is a possessory action. To maintain it, it is only necessary to show the act done and the plaintiff in possession. The action lies, however temporary the plaintiff’s interest may be, even though it be merely in the profits of the soil as vestura terree, if it be in exclusion of others. The wife can transfer her title by deed. She can give a valid lease to her husband, (Freeman v. Underwood, 66 Maine, 229); and he can maintain trespass for an invasion of his possessory right. Neither can it matter how such right may be acquired, whether by written or ■verbal agreement.
The jury have found by their verdict that the plaintiff was in possession of the premises in controversy irrespective of any rights acquired by virtue of the marriage relation, and he is equally entitled to vindicate his possessory right when illegally interfered with, whether title to the soil be in his wife or in anybody else.
No exceptions are taken to the charge of the presiding justice, which was clear, full and sufficiently favorable to the defendant. There was much conflicting evidence as to numerous questions at issue, but there was no such preponderance of proof on the part of the defendant as would require or justify our interference with the decision of the jury.

Motion overruled.

DigkeesoN, DaNtokth, Peters and Libbey, JJ., concurred.
Virgin, J., concurred in the result.