Morgan v. Perkins , 94 Ga. 353 ( 1894 )

Simmons, Justice.

1. In February, 1885, Morgan sold to Perkins all the saw-timber measuring twelve inches and over in diameter at the stump on lot of land number 93 in Pulaski county, and a conveyance of the timber was made in writing, in which it was stipulated that the timber was to be cut off the land by December 25th, 1886. Perkins died before that time, and his administrator sold the timber that had not been cut to Thompson & Company. Morgan, the vendor, is not concerned with the question whether Thompson & Co. cut and appropriated the timber as purchasers, or only as licensees. If they cut the timber within the time agreed upon, it was the same thing to Morgan as if the administrator had cut it by himself or his servants. If he had sold it and received payment for it, it made no difference to him whether the administrator cut it, or whether Thompson & Company cut it, if it was cut in the stipulated time.

2. As before stated, it was stipulated in the writing conveying the timber that it would be cut and removed by the 25th of December, 1886. Perkins having died prior to that date and the timber not having been cut and removed, Morgan entered into a parol agreement with the administrator, extending the time for its cutting and removal. The evidence seems to be conflicting as to the length of time the privilege was extended, Morgan insisting that it was cut and removed after the time had expired, and the administrator of Perkins contending that it was cut and removed within that time, and that whether it was or not, it made no difference, as he had a right to cut and remove it after the time agreed on had expired. Morgan contends that the timber not having been cut within the time agreed upon, the administrator forfeited his right to enter upon the land and cut and remove the timber, and that when Thompson & Co. did so they committed a trespass, and are liable to him (Morgan) in damages. The courts in some of the States have held that where standing timber is sold, and a time is agreed upon in which it is to be removed, and it is not removed within the time agreed upon, the purchaser does not lose his right, after the expiration of that time, to enter upon the land and remove it. See Hart v. Stratton Mills, 54 N. H. 109, 20 Am. Rep. 119; Irons v. Webb, 12 Vroom, 203, 32 Am. Rep. 193. These rulings are based upon the ground that standing timber is personalty and not realty. If it is personalty, these decisions are right; but this court has held that standing timber is not personalty, but realty. Coody v. Gress Lumber Company, 82 Ga. 793, 797. The timber being realty, the purchaser acquires by the written conveyance an interest in the laud subject to be divested if he fails to remove the timber within the time limited by the conveyance. This is a limitation upon the estate granted, and if the timber is not removed within the time prescribed in the limitation, the estate terminates. On this subject see: McIntyre v. Barnard, 1 Sandf. Ch. 52; Boisaubin v. Reed, 2 Keyes (N. Y.), 323; Pease v. Gibson, 6 Me. 84.

If the time limited in the conveyance had expired, and Morgan, the seller, agreed orally or in writing with the administrator to extend the time, this waiver on the part of Morgan of the first limitation, and the new limit agreed on between him and the administrator, took the place of the former one (Colcord v. Carr, 77 Ga. 105); and if the administrator or his vendees. cut and removed the timber within the time fixed by the new limit, they would not be liable to Morgan for a trespass. Morgan, having assented to the extension of the time, cannot complain of their entering upon his land and cutting and removing the timber. If, however, they entered upon the land after the new limit expired, they would be liable to him. This seems to be the controlling question left in the case, viz: whether the fund in court was produced by timber cut before the new limit expired, or not until afterwards. Let the new trial as to the ownership of the fund be confined to the detérmination of this question.

3, 4. Other questions in the case are ruled by the head-notes. Judgment, reversed, with direction.