Court Opinion

ID: 6518772
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-19 18:29:09.493214+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:55:05.735489
License: Public Domain

DOWDELL, J.
It is a well settled'principle that in suits for the recovery of land, whether by the statutory action of trespass to try title in the nature of ejectment or by the common law ejectment, the plaintiff must not only have title at the commencement of the suit, but also at the time of the trial. — Hairston v. Dobbs, 80 Ala. 589; Chandler v. Jost, et al., 81 Ala. 111; Bruce v. Bradshaw, 69 Ala. 360; Scranton, Barney & Co. v. Ballard, 64 Ala. 402. Other authorities might be cited, but it is unnecessary to encumber the opinion with further citations.
It is equally as well settled that the plaintiff in ejectment must recover on the strength of his own title and not upon the weakness of that of his adversary.
In the present action, which is the common law form ejectment, there are three demises laid in the complaint, one in the State of Alabama, another in the Tennessee and Ooosa Liver B. B. Co., and the third in Hugh Car-lisle. The defendant entered into the consent'rule, and-pleaded “not guilty,” and on this issue the cause Avas *666tried." No proof of title ivas offered by tlie plaintiff under .tire demise laid in Carlisle, and therefore there is no insistence upon this demise.
It was shown by the evidence upon the trial that at the commencement of the suit, the legal title to the land in question was vested in tlie ¡State of Alabama, as trustee under an act of Congress approved June 3,1856, granting lands in aid of the construction of certain railroads, in which was included the Tennessee and Coosa River Railroad Co., and that pending the suit and before the trial of the cause, the title passed out of the State of Alabama and became vested in the Tennessee and Coosa River Railroad Co.
Thus it will be seen that we have here the case presented of where the legal title to the land in question was in one of the lessors named in the complaint at the commencement of the suit, and in another lessor, under a separate and distinct demise, laid in the complaint, at the time of the trial; or, in other words, that.at the commencement of the suit, the legal title was in the lessor, the State of Alabama, and not at the time of the trial, but was in the lessor, the Tennessee and Coosa River Railroad Co. at the time of the trial, and which latter lessor had not the legal title at the commencement of the suit.
It is perfectly clear, under the principle above stated, that the plaintiff, in order to recover, must have the legal title both at the commencement of the suit and at the trial; that if the demise had been laid solely in the State of Alabama as lessor, under the facts there could have been no recovery, and the same is true if a single demise had been laid in the lessor, the Tennessee and Coosa River Railroad Co.
The question is, therefore, presented: Does the fact that there were two demises laid in the complaint, with the legal title in one lessor at the commencement of the suit and in another lessor under a different demise at the time'of the trial, vary or affect the principle above land down? It seems to us that this proposition is answered when it is determined who is the plaintiff in the action.
In the common law ejectment, any number of demises may be laid in the complaint and a recovery may be had *667upon any one of said demises when the evidence shows the legal title to the land in dispute in the lessor under such demise at the commencement of the snit and at the time of the trial. And herpin consists the advantage of the common law action over the statutory ejectment. Whenever doubt exists as to where the title is really lodged, different demises may be inserted in the complaint, and failing to recover on one, recovery may be had upon another. Mr. Tyler on Ejectment, page 388, forcibly states the advantages of common law ejectment as follows: “The demise must be laid in the name of the party who has the legal title, and when any doubt exists upon the point it is usual to declare upon several distinct demises by the several concerned in interest, and the claimants will not then be confined at the trial to one particular demise, but will be allowed to resort to any included in the declaration under which they may be able to prove title to the premises.” To the same effect is Tillinghast’s Adams, page 189. Each demise laid is a separate and distinct count in the declaration, and in the nature of a separate suit, since the lessor is the real party plaintiff, the fictitious person, John Eoe, being treated and regarded only as nominal plaintiff. The separateness of the demises is recognized in the case of Stringfellow v. Tenn. Coal, Iron & Railroad Co., 117 Ala. 250, and in Glidden v. Doe ex dem. Andrews et al., 10 Ala. 166. It logically follows that to support the right of recovery under one demise, the title of the lessor under another and separate demise cannot be looked to, since each demise must stand or fall upon the title of the lessor named therein.
It is, however, insisted by counsel for appellee that plaintiff; having shown legal title to the premises in the ¡átate of Alabama, under the demise laid in that party as lessor, at the 'commencement of the suit, that the failure of title at the time of the trial was defensive' matter which could be set up only under a special plea of puis darrein continuance, and was not available under the plea of not guilty. As a general rule defensive matter arising after the institution of the suit must be set up by a special plea of puis darrein continuance, but it seems from tlie weight of authorities that this rule is relaxed in actions of ejectment.
*668In Sedgwick and Waite on Trial of Title to' Land (5th ed.), p. 341, it is said: “It is certain that a most liberal tendency prevails in the courts to favor this plea (not guilty) and to admit evidence of available legal defense of. almost every class or nature under it.”
In Doe ex dem. Alexander v. Collins, et al., 7 Ala. 480, where the action was common law ejectment, a plea of puis darrein continuance was filed, setting up the failure of plaintiffs title after the institution of the suit. The plea was held good on demurrer, but it was also said in that case that the defense was available under the general issue.
In Bynum v. Gold, 106 Ala. 427, speaking of the plea of not guilty, McClellan, J., says: “That the title is put in issue by this plea and under it the defendant may show any fact going to title, whether in denial and disproof merely of title relied on by plaintiff or in support of a superior and independent right., however acquired, in defendant.”
In Richardson v. Stephens, 114 Ala. 242, Haralson, J., speaking for the Court, says: “The only appropriate plea in an action of this kind is ‘not guilty,’ under which a defendant may introduce any evidence which will bar plaintiff’s right to recovery; and it is the only plea on which the plaintiff can be required to take issue.” The action in this case was the statutory action of ejectment, but the principle is the same.
In Smith v. Cox, 115 Ala. 506, which was the common law ejectment, this court, again speaking through Haralson, J., says: “The only appropriate plea in this action is ‘not guilty,’ and under it, anything -which operates as a bar to the action may be given in evidence.”
In Pollard v. Hanrick, 74 Ala. 334, which was a statutory action of ejectment, it was said: “When the order of the probate court, was executed, ordering Crenshaw to convey the lands to Gamill, the title of the heirs was divested (and this was subsequent to the institution of the suit), and this was' necessarily vital to the successful maintenance of their suit when set up by plea of puis *669darrein continuance, which was a proper method of raising the issue”; citing Feagin v. Pearson, 42 Ala. 332, which latter case, however, was an action in detinue.
In Lomb v. Pioneer Savings & Loan Co., 106 Ala. 596, it was said by Brickeld, O. J.: “The scope and extent of the plea of ‘not guilty’ in an action of ejectment is well defined. It casts upon the plaintiff the burden of proving a legal right to the possession of the premises in dispute, and of consequence, whatever operates a bar to his right of possession causes him to fail, entitling the defendant to a verdict. Unless it be a matter puis darrein continuance, the defendant may not plead any other plea. It is unnecessary and f oreign to the nature of the action.” i , ;
The seeming conflict in the above cases may be reconciled by the statement that while defensive matter, arising subsequent to the commencement of the suit, may be set up by a special idea of puds darrein continuance, such defensive matter may likewise, in actions of ejectment, be available under the plea of the general issue. If the plaintiff, to entitle him to recover, must have and show a title to the land at the time of the trial, and upon this proposition the authorities are unanimous, it seems that there can be no good reason for saying that this essential element .to the right of recovery may not be put in issue by the plea of “not guilty.” In this connection we cite, in addition to the above authorities, Tillinghast’s Adams, pp. 229-270, and notes on p. 229; Brown v. Galloway, 1 Peter’s Cir. Ct. Rep., 291-299; Reegan v. Philips, 4 Yates’ Rep. 382; Dale v. Frisbie, 59 Ind. 530; 3 Bacon’s Abridgement, p. 293; 2. Selwvn’s Nisi Prins, 736 and note; Wicks v. Smith, 18 Kans. 508.
Moreover, no objection appears to have been made to the evidence in the lower court showing that the title had passed out of the lessor, the State of Alabama, after the commencement of the suit, and with this evidence before the court, showing that plaintiff was without title at the trial, under the above authorities there could be no recovery.
*670Eor the reasons above stated, the judgment of the court below must be reversed. The cause having been tried by the court without the intervention of a jury, a judgment will be here rendered such as should have been rendered in the court below.
Reversed and rendered.