gno.law

Rathbun v. Alexander

California Supreme Court · No. 2398 · 1871-04-13 · Published · 1 Cal. Unrep. 664

S. RATHBUN v. J. H. ALEXANDER

Area
civil
Panel
Joseph B. Crockett (author), Richard W. Rhodes, Jackson Temple, Sprague, William T. Wallace

Analysis

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Opinion — Crockett

CROCKETT, J.

— If the plaintiff established the actual possession of any portion of the mining ground in controversy at the time of the defendants’ entry, the nonsuit was improperly granted. As against a mere intruder, having no better right of entry than himself, if the plaintiff had the actual possession, he is entitled to be protected in it; and this court has had occasion in several eases to consider what acts of dominion will constitute an actual possession of mining' ground: English v. Johnson, 17 Cal. 107, 76 Am. Dec. 574; Hess v. Winder, 30 Cal. 349. I think the plaintiff brought himself clearly within the rule established in these eases as to a portion, if not to the whole, of the ground in contest. The testimony certainly tended strongly to establish the actual possession of the plaintiff as to a portion, at least, of the demanded premises; and this made out a prima facie case against the defendants as to this portion, at least. The nonsuit was improperly granted.

Judgment reversed and cause remanded for a new trial.

We concur: Rhodes, C. J.; Wallace, J.; Sprague, J.; Temple, J.

Cites, in this corpus