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20 S.C.L. 311

Darant v. Cabbage

Court of Appeals of South Carolina

Decided March 15, 1834

Court of Appeals of South Carolina · decided 1834-03-15

Tried before Mr. Justice Earle, at Beaufort, Fall Term, 1883. Trespass to try titles. The land in dispute had been conveyed to the wife of defendant, and her infant children, George, John and Edward Cabbage, as joint tenants. By virtue of a judgement and execution against the defendant, the land had been sold, or his interest in it, and purchased by the plaintiff, who brought this action to dispossess him.

Decided 1834-03-15

Harper, J.

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

Treville, for the motion.Dawson, contra.

¶2If the case were, that the plaintiff had purchased the defendant's interest in the land, and defendant’s children were in possession along with him, I should think the motion ought to have been granted. By his purchase, plaintiff became tenant in common with the children, and one tenant has no right, by action, to dispossess the rest. If his action were defeated, it would be by his own fault, who had misconceived it. So if defendant were in possession, as natural guardian of his children. . The presiding judge, however, reports that “ the defendant was in possession, by virtue of his own interest, whatever that may be, and not as trustee for the infants.” By this we are bound. One tenant in common may maintain an action against a stranger, and recover the entire possession; and defendant, after his interest was divested by the sheriff’s sale, was a stranger to the title. The motion is therefore refused.

O’Neall, J. concurred.Johnjson, J. absent.
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