OZARK LAND CO. V. LEONARD.
881
OZARK LAND
Uo.
V. LEONARD.
U]irtJ'dt OOU1't, F.
n.
Arkunql.
April Term, 1884.)
1.
EJECTMENT-POSSESSIO:-< BY DEFE:-<DAN1'-ARKANSAS RULE.
In Arkansas, before the plaintiff can recover in ejectment, he must show that at the time of the commencement of the action the defendant was in possession. The mere act of clltting timber on land, and hauling it off, is not such posof the land as Will entitle the owner to maintain ejectment against the trespasser, and occasional intrusions of this sort do not constitute possession, whether done under claim of title or not.
2.
POSSESSION-CUTTING AND HAULING OFF TIMBER, NOT.
In Equity. John B. Jones, for plaintiff. T. W. Brown and O. P .. Lyles, for defendant. . CALDWELL, J. This a suit to remove a cloud from title to lands. The defendant has demmred to the bill. All the questions raised by the demurrer have been decided in Lamb v. Farrell, 21 FED. REP. 5, save one. The one question remaining to be decided arises on this clause of the bill: "Your orator further represents that no person whatever is in the actnal possession of said lands; that your orator, by virtue of being the legal owner of said lands, is in constructive possession thereof; that said lands are wild and uncultivated lands, and chiefi,Y valuable for the timber standing and growing thereon; that said lands are well timbered, and valuable for such timber. Your orator further represents that said J. ,V. Leonard is trespassing on saill lands, and cutting and hauling off the most valuable trees, and is using said clouds, and pretending to be the owner of said lands by virtu!' of said conveyances."
And as a basis for an injunction (not moved for) it is further alleged that the defendant is a non-resident and insolvent. It is said this clause of the bill shows the defendant is in possession of the lands, and that as the plaintiff claims to hold the legal title he has an adequate remedy at law. The statute of this state requires the action for the recovery of real property to "be brought against the person in possession;" and to entitle the plaintiff to recover, he must show "that at the time of the commencement of the action the defendant was in possession." Gantt, Dig. §§ 2251, 2258. Whether the defendant was in possession at the commencement of the suit is an issuable fact; and unless the plaintiff proves the affirmative to the satisfaction of the jury, he must fail in his suit. Tyler, Ej. & Adv. Enj. 472; Owen v. Fowler, 24 Cal. 192; Owen v. Morton, Id. 373; Pope v. Dalton, 31 Cal. 218; Williamson v. Orawford, 7 Blackf. 12; Pope v. PendergrtMt, 1 A. K. Marsh. 122. The bill alleges that no one is in possession of the lands, and that they are wild and uncultivated. It is true. the bill further alleges v.20,no.14-56
FEDERAL REPORTER,
that the defendant is trespassing on the lands by cutting and hauling off timber. But the mere act of cutting timber on land,and hauling it off, is not such possession of the land as will entitle the owner to maintain ejectment against the trespasser. Occasional intrusions of this sort do not constitute possession, whether done under claim of title or not. It is not a claim of title, but "possession," that the statute of this state makes essential to the successful maintenance of an action of ejectment. It is clear, the facts set ont in the bill would not amount to adverse possession on the part of the defendant. "Going upon land from time to time, and cutting logs thereon, does not give possession. Snch acts are mere trespasses upon the land against the true owner, whoever he may be. '" '" lit But it never was supposed that the hunter had possession of the forest through which he roamed in pursuit of game; and no more can a wood-chopper be said to possess the woods into which he enters to cut logs." Thompson, v. Burha.ns, 79 N. Y. 93; Austin v. Holt, 32 Wis. 478, 490; Washburn v. Gutter, 17 Minn. (Gil.) 335; 3 Washb. Real Prop. 133, 134. There is nothing on the record to show the land is not susceptible of actual occupation, cultivation, and improvement. The case ig not within the rule of Ewing v. Burnet, 11 Pet. 41, and Door v. Schooldist. 40 Ark. 237. Under thE) consent rule, in the old form of the action of ejectment, the defendant was compelled to confess lease, entry, and possession, 01' pay the costs of snit, and the plaintiff could bring another action, (3 Bl. Comm. 205; Tyler, Ej. 458, 472;) and in many of the states, by statute, actions of ejectment may now be brought against persons claiming title or interests in real property, although not in possession. Harvey v. Tyler, 2 Wall. 328, 348; Tyler, Ej. 458, 472. But neither of these rules, as we have seen, have application here. In this state a verdict and judgment in ejectment is final and conclusive on the title and right of possession put in issue by the pleadings. 'Where this is the rille it is difficult to perceive why the possession of the land by the defendant should be an indispensable prerequisite to the plaintiff's right to have the merits of their respective titles tried at law. It is probably another instance of the continuance of a rule after the reason for it has ceased to exist, and after it has become an obstruction rather than an aid to the administration of justice. However this may be, the old rule is imbedded in the statute law of this state, and the courts are powerless to change it. Section 723 of the Revised Statutes of the United States provides that "suits in equity shall not be sustained in either of the courts of the United States in any case where a plain, adequate, and complete remedy may be had at law;" but the supreme court say: "This is merely directory of the pre-existing rule, and does not apply where the remedy is not plain, adequate, and complete; or, in other words, where it is not as practical and efficient to the ends of justice, and to
LIGGETT & MYER TOBAOCO 00. V. HYNES.
888
its prompt administration, as the remedy in equity." Oel-richs v. Spain, 15 Wall. 211,228. On the face of the bill it is not "plain" the plaintiff could successfully maintain an action of ejectment against the defendant, if he should, as he probably would, deny his possession. On the contrary, it is quite plain the defendant would have the verdict on that issue. Demurrer overruled.
LIGGETT
&
MYER TOBACCO
Co. v.
HYNES.
'District (Jourt, W. D. 1. TRADE-MARX-INFRINGEMENT.
May Term, 1884.)
In a case where it is claimed that a trade-mark has been infringed, to constitute an infringement it is not necessary that the device complained of should be afac simile of the devicd of complainants. There may be an infringement without exact similarity. SAME-RESEMBJ,ANCE.
Two trade-marks are substantially the same in legal contemplation, if tlle resemblance is such as to deceive an ordinary purchaser, giving such attention to the same as such a purchaser usually gives, and to cause him to purchase the one supposing it to be the other. SAME-LIABII,ITY TO DECEIVE.
3.
The resemblance need not be such as would deceive persons seeing the two trade-marks placed side by side, or as would deceive experts.
4. SAME-INTENTION 'TO DECEIVE.
There may be an infringement without a specific intent to deceive the public. If the effect of the device, when considered alone or in connection with the shape, size, cbaracter, and appearance of the article upon which it is placed, is to deceive, the party adopting it must he held to have intended deception; as every man is held to have intended the necessary, natural, and probaLle consequences of his own acts.
This is a bill in equity, brought here on account of citizenship of the respective parties, to perpetually restrain the defendant from using the mark attached to complainant's exhibit, "Robert S. Hynes' Plug Tobacco," on plug tobacco, complainants claiming to have an established right to the use of the mark of a. "star" affixed to plugs of tobacco as a trade-mark, and complainant's mark is shown on complainant's exhibit, "Liggett & Myer's Plug Tobacco." Specimens or samples of both the complainant's and defendant's goods are produced in court and offered in evidence; also wood engraving of the same in the brief of the complainant. Paul Bakewell, for complainant. Clendenning et Sandels, for defendant. PARKER, J. The law is well settled that a party who has appropriated a particular trade-mark to distinguish his goods from other similar goods has a right or property in it which entitles him to its exclusive use, and that this right is of Buch a nature that equity will