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33 S.C.L. 97

Wilson v. Douglas

Court of Appeals of South Carolina

Decided December 15, 1847

Court of Appeals of South Carolina · decided 1847-12-15

Before Mr. Justice Richardson, at Abbeville, Fall Term, 1847. The Presiding Judge. This was an action of trespass quare clausum fregit. Held: and so charged the jury, that this action would not lie against one in actual occupation of land, by one who was in prior constructive possession. 6. Because the verdict was contrary to the law and the evidence.

Decided 1847-12-15

O’Neall, J.

¶1delivered the opinion of the Court.

¶2The first ground of appeal cannot be maintained. For although it is true, that if the grantor or lessor have no interest in the suit, he may be examined touching any fact in the case, yet here, the lessor was offered to prove his own title, so as to enable his tenant to recover on his own demise. This was in fact and in law to testify in his own case. He was therefore clearly incompetent.

¶3The 2d ground presents no difficulty when explained. The record of the former recovery was received in evidence. The presiding Judge held, and I think very correctly, that it could have no effect on this suit. For if it were conceded that by it Kennedy was the owner of the locus in quo, still the plaintiff could not recover. For at the time of the demise to the plaintiff the defendant was in possession, and the plaintiff’s *101lease 'Could not give him such a constructive possession of •land in the possession of another as would enable him to maintain trespass. This view of the case, sustained as it is by Amick v. Frazier, Dudley, 340, precluded the defence of title on which the plaintiff relied, and the verdict for the defendant, under the very proper instructions of the Judge below, was altogether right. The motion is dismissed.

Richardson, J. Evans, J. Wardlaw, J. Frost, J. and Withers, J. concurred.

¶4Motion dismissed.

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