Hall v. Doran , 13 Iowa 368 ( 1862 )

Weight, J.

By reference to 6 Iowa, 433, it will be found that this cause was before us in 1858, and remanded, for the reason that the issue determined in the court below was an immaterial one, settling no question upon which to predicate a decree. Since that time, the parties have prepared the case, had it referred to a master, who found the equities in favor of respondents, and this being confirmed by the court below, complainant again appeals.

No argument has been made by appellant. An examination of the evidence, and arguments filed with the master, however, has brought us to the conclusion that the decree below should be affirmed.

The question is, who was the occupant, and entitled to a deed to the lots in controversy, at the time the conveyance was made to the respondents by the County Judge, on the 2d of June, 1854 ? By occupant, as here used, is not meant, simply, the person who, at the time, may be in the possession of the premises. That is to say, if the deed was made to one in possession wrongfully or by fraud, against tbe person actually and legally entitled to it, tbe grantee would become the trustee for tbe beneficiary, bolding tbe property subject to tbe paramount equity, and would be decreed to convey. And, therefore, tbougb complainant was not in possession, and tbougb respondents were sucb occupants, yet if tbeir possession was in fraud of complainant’s rights, this should not avail them. For it'was tbe intent óf the Act of Congress and the law of this state, to settle the actual rights and equities of tbe parties, and not to leave tbe right to tbe accident of possession or occupancy at the time tbe deed was made.

If satisfied, therefore, that the possession of respondents was wrongful, as against the rights of complainant, at tbe time tbe County Judge made tbe deed, we should not hesitate to decree that sucb possession should be surrendered, and that they be required to convey to the equitable owners.

But, in our opinion, tbe master puts tbe case upon the true ground, when' he finds that complainant, and those under whom he claims, had neglected and failed to assert tbeir right, or to enforce ownership to tbe property, for sucb a length of time, and under such circumstances, as to estop him from now questioning respondent’s legal title. The person in actual possession is, in tbe absence of testimony, presumed to be the rightful occupant. And unless those attacking this possession, and tbe legal title based thereon, can overcome this presumption by clear testimony, tbe legal title must prevail. And therefore, where, as in this case, the testimony tends very strongly to show that respondents, and those under whom they claim, bad for several years been in uninterrupted possession, that the' possessory right had, for a valuable consideration, been transferred, from time to time, by conveyances made and recorded with tbe knowledge of complainant, that he took no steps to enforce his rights, that respondents made valuable improvements thereon, without sufficient knowledge of any adverse claim, notwithstanding complainant lived near the premises and had knowledge of many, if not all, these facts, — we say that when all these matters are taken in connection with the fact that respondents have the legal title, that complainant asserts his superior equity, and upon him, therefore, is the burden of proof, we think that the master and court below might well conclude that the bill should be dismissed.

Affirmed.