Brown v. Thurston , 56 Me. 126 ( 1868 )

Appleton, C. J.

— This is an action of trespass for breaking and entering the plaintiff’s close, and carrying away therefrom three hundred bushels of potatoes.

It appeared in evidence that the defendant, then owning the premises upon which the alleged trespass was committed, verbally leased the same in the spring of 1864, to one William R. Goss, who entered upon the same, planted and cultivated, and harvested potatoes growing thereon, and carried them away. The entry by him as the servant, or by direction of the defendant, for the purpose of removing the potatoes on 31st October, 1864, is the trespass complained of.

The plaintiff, to show title in himself, offered a warranty deed of the premises from the defendant to himself, dated Oct. 8,1864, and proved that, on 11th of the same October, he entered into possession’thereof, where he has ever since remained.

The defendant was permitted to show that there was a verbal reservation of said potatoes growing on said land at the time of the execution of his deed to the plaintiff.

This evidence was inadmissible. A parol reservation of fixtures or growing crops, before or at the time of the delivery of the deed, is not admissible in evidence to alter or control the effect of the deed. If the agreement was befoi’o the execution and delivery of the deed, it is merged in the final determination of the parties as evidenced by the deed. If it was made at the time of the delivery, it must be regarded as an exception or reservation, and, being repugnant to the terms and effect of the deed, is void. Noble v. Bosworth, 19 Pick., 314. A parol reservation of the manure upon a farm, made either before or at the time of making the deed, cannot control the legal effect and operation of the deed; and parol evidence tending to show such a reservation is inadmissible to affect the force of the conveyance. Counce v. Foster, 9 N. H., 538; Austin v. Sawyer, 9 Cow., 39.

At the date of the defendant’s deed to the plaintiff, Goss was the tenant at will of the former. The tenant at will having planted during his tenancy, is entitled to the products of his planting. Neither party, by determining the tenancy, can unfairly prejudice the other in regard to rents or emblements. If the lessee terminate before the day on which rent is due, he must pay up the rent to that day; when the lessor determines the rent at such a time, he loses his rent. If the lessor determines • the tenancy before the wheat or other produce is reaped 'or gathered, the lessee shall have the emblements, and free ingress, egress and regress to take them away; but when the lessee determines the tenancy at such a time, he loses the emblements. Davis v. Thompson, 13 Maine, 209 ; Sherburne v. Jones, 20 Maine, 70; 1 Cruise on Real Estate, T. 9, c. 1, § 14; 4 Kent’s Com., 110.

When a tenant, holding for an uncertain time, sows the land, he is entitled to the crops as emblements. If the plaintiff had notice of the tenancy at will of Goss, at the time of the deed to him, he cannot defeat the right of Goss to his crops. Davis v. Brocklebank, 9 N. H., 73.

The ruling, that a parol reservation of the potatoes at or prior to the execution of the deed is valid, was erroneous, and a new trial must be had. Exceptions sustained.

Kent, Walton, Barrows, Danforth and Taeley, JJ., concurred.