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32 Tex. 329

Jones v. Leath

Texas Supreme Court

Decided July 1, 1869

Texas Supreme Court · decided 1869-07-01

<p>Appeal from Bell. Tried below before the Hon. A. J. Evans.</p> <p>The opinion of the court sufficiently discloses the facts.</p>

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently June 1937

2 state decisions

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1869-07-01

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Morrill, C. J.

¶1This is an action of trespass, to try title and to ascertain boundaries.

¶2Wiley Jones obtained a patent for twenty-six labors of land, in the form of a square, each side being 5.099 varas.

¶3Leath claims three hundred and twenty acres, patented to his remote vendor, beginning at a mound of rocks and dirt on the Wiley Jones north line, a live oak marked H bears south 87°, east 19 varas; thence north 19°, east 1267 varas; thence south 72°, east 1425 varas; thence south 19°, west 1267 varas ; thence south 71°, west 1425 varas to the beginning.

¶4The defendant claims a tract of land lying between the lands of Jones and Leath, or at least he insists that the land he claims is south of the land of plaintiff, and in that case it would be between the land of plaintiff and that of Jones, or entirely in Jones’ tract, provided the patented tracts join.

¶5An order of survey was made by the court, when it was found that starting from the southeast and beginning corner of Jones’ survey agreeably to the patent, and running agreeably *330to the calls, north 71° west, there being no marked corner at the termination of 5.099 varas, they continued on 5.666 varas, where they fonnd a course- thence north 19° west 5262 varas found a corner, thence south 71° east 5.666 varas, thence south 19° east 5262 varas.

¶6It seems, from the report and testimony of the surveyors, that there were three old lines, running eastwardly, and it was doubtful which of these three lines was the real and true north boundary line of Jones’ survey. One of the surveyors believed the southern line, the other the middle line, to be the true line, while other witnesses testified that some of the parties claimed the north line.

¶7The jury found that “the old league line” was the true line, but as they did not find -which of these three lines is the old league line, the verdict is a nullity for uncertainty.

¶8When the surveyors were ordered to make a survey of plaintiff’s land, instead of doing so, they surveyed a tract adjoining it, from the supposition, it is supposed, that this Jones survey necessarily controlled the survey of plaintiff. It is true that plaintiff’s petition calls for Jones’ line, but it also calls for marked trees and corners equally descriptive and more easily identified. And if it should appear that plaintiff’s corners, calling for fixed, known and identified objects, should be inconsistent with what is supposed to be a line of another survey, the former would be the controlling call, and especially' where this line is of doubtful location.

¶9As it is impracticable for the court to render a judgment upon the verdict, in order that the orders of the court may be carried into effect, by having the lines of plaintiff’s survey established, and such a verdict be found as will enable the court to render a judgment of certainty, the judgment is reversed and remanded.

¶10Beversed and remanded.

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