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6 P.R. 519

Ex parte Rieger

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico

Decided May 12, 1904

Supreme Court of Puerto Rico · decided 1904-05-12

Appear from the District Court of San Jnan. STATEMENT OE THE CASE. Held: after service of citation- upon the Fiscal, the attorney for the petitioner appeared and alleged such matters as he deemed proper in support of his claim. ‘ ‘ The examination of the witnesses held does not fulfill the requirements upon which to base a rational opinion regarding the establishment of ownership in law, since the…

Decided 1904-05-12

' Mr. Chief Justice Quiñones,

¶1after stating the foregoing facts, delivered the opinion of the court.

¶2The findings of fact of the judgment appealed from are accepted.

¶3The evidence taken does not present sufficient grounds upon which to base the declaration of ownership requested, inasmuch as the petitioner merely shows that he was in possession of the lands in question for three months, which is not sufficient time to acquire the ownership of real property by prescription; and although the witnesses produced add that the predecessor in interest of the petitioner was in the quiet and peaceable possession of the property for more than twenty years, under a proper title, the nature of the same is not indicated in such manner as to enable the court to determine whether it was sufficient for the acquisition of ownership. Neither do the witnesses give reasons for their statements nor do they state their true age, but limit themselves to testifying that they are of legal age, this being a material defect in the testimony of witnesses when it is sought to establish facts which occurred at such a remote date. ■,

¶4Having examined article 395 of the Mortgage Law and the other legal provisions applicable to the case, we adjudge that we ought to affirm and do affirm the judgment appealed from, with costs against the appellant.

Justices Hernández, Figueras, Sulzbacher and MacLeary concurred.
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