{ "id": 1357157, "name": "Webb v. Spann", "name_abbreviation": "Webb v. Spann", "decision_date": "1923-02-26", "docket_number": "", "first_page": "328", "last_page": "332", "citations": [ { "type": "official", "cite": "157 Ark. 328" } ], "court": { "name_abbreviation": "Ark.", "id": 8808, "name": "Arkansas Supreme Court" }, "jurisdiction": { "id": 34, "name_long": "Arkansas", "name": "Ark." }, "cites_to": [ { "cite": "34 Ark. 313", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "58 Ark. 135", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "38 Ark. 481", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "20 S. W. 539", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "28 N. E. 747", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "N.E.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "8 Ark. 436", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8727609 ], "opinion_index": -1, "case_paths": [ "/ark/8/0436-01" ] }, { "cite": "30 Pac. 1089", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "P.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "62 Ark. 56", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "199 S. W. 119", "category": "reporters:state_regional", "reporter": "S.W.", "opinion_index": -1 }, { "cite": "131 Ark. 273", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1578665 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/131/0273-01" ] }, { "cite": "80 Ark. 575", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1491216 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/80/0575-01" ] }, { "cite": "80 Ark. 444", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1491199 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/80/0444-01" ] }, { "cite": "74 Ark. 520", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 8723219 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/74/0520-01" ] }, { "cite": "72 Ark. 549", "category": "reporters:state", "reporter": "Ark.", "case_ids": [ 1505525 ], "opinion_index": 0, "case_paths": [ "/ark/72/0549-01" ] } ], "analysis": { "cardinality": 432, "char_count": 9301, "ocr_confidence": 0.504, "pagerank": { "raw": 5.4033266686372354e-08, "percentile": 0.33862437539794793 }, "sha256": "a14dc69f2922740c79b8eb53aa9f9bbedf31240c434a636be4d6e23a6f11430a", "simhash": "1:a9e97814e679ce38", "word_count": 1594 }, "last_updated": "2023-07-14T17:48:13.496195+00:00", "provenance": { "date_added": "2019-08-29", "source": "Harvard", "batch": "2018" }, "casebody": { "judges": [], "parties": [ "Webb v. Spann." ], "opinions": [ { "text": "Smith, J.\nAppellee brought separate suits in ejectment against appellants, to recover certain parcels of land situated in section 22, township 14 north, range 12 east. The cases are identical, and were tried together and disposed of as a single case. The court made findings of fact, on all the issues raised, in appellee\u2019s favor, and the recital of these findings will explain and state the case. They were as follows:\n\u201c1. That the defendants are living upon and occupying land in the W\u00bd of section 24, township 14, range 12 east, and have been occupying and claiming the same since the year 1911, without color of title thereto.\n\u201c2. That the lands occupied by them are situated within the meander line of what is known as Hudgens Lake.\n\u2018 \u2018 3. That the plaintiff had color of title to and was claiming, clearing up and had actual possession of the lands occupied by the defendants at the time of and prior to the occupancy of the defendants.\n\u201c4. That after the defendants took possession of said lands, and within seven years, the plaintiff commenced an action in the chancery court of the Osceola. District of Mississippi County, Arkansas, against them to recover said land from them and quiet his title thereto, which action is still pending and undetermined.\n\u201c5. That after said action was commenced by the plaintiff in the chancery court, and within seven years after defendant took possession of said lands, the plaintiff and defendants entered into an agreement, whereby plaintiff and defendants agreed to let the ownership of the land abide the decision of the Department of the Interior, the defendants agreeing, in case the Department of the Interior decided in favor of the riparian owners, to vacate said lands immediately.\n\u2018 \u2018 6. That the Department of the Interior decided, in the year 1920, that there was no error in the original survey of Hudgens Lake and, including the lands claimed and occupied by the defendants, belonged to and were owned by the riparian owners, including the plaintiff.\u201d\nInasmuch as the case was heard by the court sitting as a jury, these findings must be accepted if the testimony is legally sufficient to support them, when given its highest probative value in appellee\u2019s favor, and we think it is sufficient for that purpose.\nIt is undisputed that appellants were squatters, who entered upon and occupied the land on the theory that it was government land and did not belong to the riparian owners. At the time of their entry it was insisted by them that the government survey was in error in showing the land which they entered upon to be a lake; and the Government Land Office was induced to verify this survey. A finding was made by the Department that no error had been made in the original survey. The Department of the Interior reviewed this finding, and affirmed it. The effect of that action was, of course, to conclusively determine the fact that at the time of the government survey the land in litigation was a lake, and was therefore owned by the riparian proprietors.\nIt is insisted by appellee that if the lake bed was apportioned among the riparian proprietors in accordance with the rules for such apportionment, the land in litigation would fall within the boundaries of appellee\u2019s land; but the court-made no finding to that effect \u2014 -the finding being merely that the lands covered by Hudgens Lake were owned by the riparian owners, including appellee \u2014 and we do not feel called upon to attempt to determine whether the land would fall to appellee in this apportionment. Indeed, the determination of that question would involve the validity of appellee\u2019s title as a riparian owner \u2014 a question which, we do not decide,' as the case must be affirmed upon other grounds.\nAppellee had color of title to the land in litigation; and we think the testimony shows he had actual possession thereof at the time appellants entered; in fact, he had cleared about one hundred acres of land in the south half of the section, and had it about ready for the plow when appellants entered upon it.\nIt is undisputed that, after appellants took possession of the land, and within seven years, appellee commenced an action in the chancery court to recover the land from them and to quiet appellee\u2019s title thereto; and this action is pending and undetermined. This was the court\u2019s fourth finding of fact, and it is insisted that it is conclusive of the case.\nWe think, however, this fact is not of controlling importance, and would not operate to prevent the running of the statute of limitations against this suit, considered by itself; and, while the pendency of that suit would prevent the running of the statute of limitations against it, its pendency would not prevent the running of the statute of limitations against this one, as there was no connection between the two cases, and- no nonsuit had been filed in the first one. Such is the effect of the holding of this court in the case of Hill v. Pipkin, 72 Ark. 549, and Wallace v. Swepston, 74 Ark. 520.\nIn 25 Cyc. p. 1290, it is said: \u201cThe defense of the bar of the statute of limitations applies strictly to the particular action to which it is pleaded, and hence if that suit be not brought within the statutory period, the bar of the statute cannot be avoided by showing that another action had been brought by plaintiff against defendant on the same cause of action within the period limited by the statute.\u201d Numerous cases are cited in support of the text quoted, including- the two cases from this court mentioned above. See also 2 Wood on Limitations (4th ed.) p. 1197; 8 C. J., sec. 166.\nThe fifth finding- of fact is, however, decisive of the question of limitation'; and we think there was testimony legally sufficient to support that finding. Appellee testified that, after the suit in chancery had been brought, he discussed the suit with appellants, who insisted that they made no claim to the land except that it was government land and was subject to entry for homestead purposes, and appellee stated to them that, if the land was government land, he had no claim to it, and was willing for appellants to perfect their homestead claims, and with this understanding, and because of it, he did not press the suit until the character of the land had been finally determined by the Federal Government. This finding of the Department of the Interior was made on December 18,1920; but appellants refused to vacate, and thereafter these suits were brought in the spring- of 1921.\nWe think this agreement \u2014 which the court found the parties h\u00e1d made-^operated to prevent the running of the statute of limitations until the character of the land had been determined by the Department of the Interior; \u2022and, with the period of time covered by this agreement excluded, the statute of limitations could not have run against this suit. Shirey v. Whitlow, 80 Ark. 444; Hudson v. Stilwell, 80 Ark. 575.\nAppellee had possession under color of title. He was therefore entitled, as against appellants (who, under the facts of this record, were mere trespassers), to maintain this suit. Cotton v. White, 131 Ark. 273. The^ judgment of the court below is therefore affirmed.", "type": "majority", "author": "Smith, J." } ], "attorneys": [ "T. J. Crowder, for appellants.", "J. T. Coston, for appellee." ], "corrections": "", "head_matter": "Webb v. Spann.\nOpinion delivered February 26, 1923.\n1. Appeal and error \u2014 findings of trial court. \u2014 Findings of the trial court sitting as a jury must he accepted on appeal if the testimony is legally sufficient to support them.\n2. Limitation of actions \u2014 effect of pendency of another suit. \u2014Where a suit to recover land and quiet title was begun within seven years after defendants took possession of plaintiff\u2019s land, its pendency would prevent the running of the statute of limitations as against it, hut would not prevent the statute from running against an action of ejectment where there was no connection between the two suits, and no nonsuit had been filed in the first suit.\n3. Limitation of actions \u2014 agreement tolling limitations.\u2014 Where, after a suit to quiet title was begun, the parties agreed to let the ownership abide the decision of the Department of the Interior, the agreement operated to prevent the running of the statute of limitations till the decision of the Interior Department was made, and plaintiff\u2019s action brought within time thereafter was not barred.\n4. Ejectment \u2014 plaintiff\u2019s possession under color of title.\u2014 Plaintiff, having possession of land under color of title, can maintain ejectment against mere trespassers.\nAppeal from Mississippi Circuit Court, Osceola District; W. W. Bandy, Judge;\naffirmed.\nT. J. Crowder, for appellants.\nJ. T. Coston, for appellee.\n1. Prior possession, with or without color of title, is sufficient to sustain a judgment against a mere trespasser. 199 S. W. 119; 62 Ark. 56.\n2. Appellants are in no position to plead the statute of limitations (1) because of the pendency of the suit against them in chancery, and (2) because they ag'reed to vacate the premises in case the Department of the Interior decided adversely to them. However, appellee really owned the land in controversy, as was demonstrated to the lower court from a map which has not been brought into the record here. It must be presumed that the trial court was correct in its finding. 30 Pac. 1089; 8 Ark. 436; 1 Peters, 23; 28 N. E. 747; 20 S. W. 539; 38 Ark. 481; 58 Ark. 135; 34 Ark. 313." }, "file_name": "0328-01", "first_page_order": 350, "last_page_order": 354 }