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53 Cal. 239

Cruz v. Martinez

California Supreme Court

Decided July 1, 1878

California Supreme Court · decided 1878-07-01

This was a contest in an action of ejectment between two patents from the United States to the City of Los Angeles for pueblo lands. On the 9th of August, 1866, a document purporting to he a patent from the Government to the City of Los Angeles for its pueblo lands was made out in due form, but was silent as to the publication of the survey, and thut document was duly recorded, but never issued from the General Land Office.

Cited by 2 later decisions — most recently June 1892

2 state decisions

Relies on Johnson v. Towsley · French v. Fyan · Doll v. Meador

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Decided 1878-07-01

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By the Court :

¶1The patent to the City of Los Angeles, bearing date the 9th day of August, 1866, having been duly signed and recorded in the proper boob in the General Land Office, vested in the city the legal title to the lands therein described. This proposition is fully sustained by Chipley v. Farris, 45 Cal. 527 ; Le Roy v. Clayton, 2 Sawyer, 496; Le Roy v. Jamison, 3 Ibid. 391; Miller v. Ellis, 51 Cal. 74; Houghton v. Hardenburg, ante, p. 181.

¶2The plaintiff, who claims under the city, for the purpose of-showing that the patent is void, offered evidence to prove that the survey therein recited had not been published as required by law, but it was excluded by the Court. The patent is regular on its face. It is not required to recite that the survey had been published, and assuming that the law required a publication of the survey, it will be presumed, in support of the patent, that the proper officers of the Land Department determined, prior to the signature of the patent, that due publication of the survey had been made, The question whether they erred in such determination is not open to inquiry in this action. Upon that question the patent is conclusive upon the city and also upon the plaintiff claiming title under her. ( Chipley v. Farris, supra; Johnson v. Towsley, 13 Wall. 72; French v. Fyan, 93 U. S. 169; Doll v. Meador, 16 Cal. 324; Durfee v. Plaisted, 38 Cal. 80.)

¶3The evidence was properly excluded.

¶4Judgment affirmed.

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