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99 Wis. 525

Webster v. Killen

Wisconsin Supreme Court

Decided May 3, 1898

Wisconsin Supreme Court · decided 1898-05-03

This is an action of ejectment to recover possession of 680 acres of land, which were and are wild and unoccupied. 'The defendants, by answer, denied withholding possession of the lands, and disclaimed all title thereto, and alleged that, prior to the commencement of the action, they had .sold and conveyed all their right and title to said premises to one R. H. Markham.

Cited by 1 later decisions — most recently January 1901

1 state decisions

Relies on Sherman v. Bemis

Good law ✅— No negative treatment on recordhow we know

Reversed · Decided 1898-05-03

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Winslow, J.

¶1The question is whether the original owner of wild and unoccupied lands can maintain ejectment against one who disclaims title, but who at one time held a recorded tax-title deed of the lands, and, before the commencement of the action, had conveyed his title to another; such last-named conveyance not being recorded until after the filing; of the Us pendens. Upon both principle and authority, this question must be answered in the negative. The case of Sherman v. Bemis, 58 Wis. 343, seems to be conclusive upon the point. Ejectment may be brought against the actual occupant, or, if there be no occupant, against the person exercising acts of ownership or claiming title thereto or some interest therein at the time of the commencement of the action. R. S. 1878, sec. 3075. The defendants here neither occupied the property nor claimed any interest therein nor ownership thereof at the time of the commencement of the *527action. When they conveyed their interest to another, their recorded tax deed ceased to be an assertion of title in themselves. They had no power to compel the grantee to put his deed on record.

¶2By the Court.— Judgment reversed, and action remanded with directions to render judgment for the defendants in accordance with this opinion.

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