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16 Cal. 383

Roach v. Gray

California Supreme Court

Decided July 1, 1860

California Supreme Court · decided 1860-07-01

Suit for possession of certain mining claims; plaintiffs claiming under parties who located the claims in 1854. Defendants claim under a location made by them in 1858; they contending that plaintiffs had forfeited their rights, by non-compliance with the mining rules of the district, adopted in December, 1856, to take effect February 1st, 1857— the previous rules of 1855 being abolished. These rules were read in evidence by defendants ; plaintiffs objecting.

Decided 1860-07-01

Cope, J. delivered the opinion of the Court

¶1Field, C. J. concurring.

¶2This is an action to recover possession of certain mining claims. The trial seems to have been fairly conducted, and the evidence was sufficient to justify the verdict. The plaintiffs asked a number of instructions, which were given by the Court; and the effect of these instructions was not impaired by those afterwards given at the instance of the defendants. We do not see that the plaintiffs were prejudiced by the introduction of the mining rules of the district; nor do we see any valid objection to the admissibility of these rules. It is claimed that they were adopted after the rights of the plaintiffs had attached, and that such rights' could not, therefore, be taken away or affected by them. Admitting this to be true, their incompetency as evidence does not follow. The defendants claimed under them, and for the purpose of determining the nature and extent of this claim, they were not only competent but proper and necessary evidence. Their effect upon preexisting rights was sufficiently guarded by the instructions of the Court.

¶3We see no reason for disturbing the judgment, and it is, therefore, affirmed.

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