McCay v. Parks , 201 Ala. 647 ( 1918 )

The action was in trover for the conversion of timber, and was tried by the court without a jury.

It has been decided that, where the evidence adduced before the judge trying without a jury was developed ore tenus, or partly so, the findings of the trial court will not be disturbed "unless the conclusion below is plainly contrary to the great weight of the evidence." Ahlrichs v. Rollo, 76 So. 37;¹ Hackett v. Cash, 196 Ala. 403, 72 So. 52; Finney v. Studebaker, 196 Ala. 422, 72 So. 54; Gen. Acts 1915, p. 824.

There is no merit in appellant's contention that a sale of the premises after the action of trover had accrued defeated the suit for the damage for converting the chattel severed from the freehold. Hood v. Southern Railway Co., 133 Ala. 374,31 So. 937; S. N. A. R. R. Co. v. A. G. S. R. R. Co.,102 Ala. 236, 14 So. 747; Evans v. S. W. R. R. Co., 90 Ala. 54,7 So. 758; Prouty v. A. G. S. R. R. Co., 174 Ala. 404,56 So. 980; Dunklin v. Wilkins, 5 Ala. 199; Goodwyn v. Lloyd, 8 Port. 237; Brown v. Lipscomb, 9 Port. 472, 479; Foy v. Cochran, 88 Ala. 353, 6 So. 685; Long v. Kansas City, M. B. R. R. Co., 170 Ala. 635, 54 So. 62; Hood v. Com. G. T. S. Bank, 12 Ala. App. 511, 67 So. 721; McElmurray v. Harris,117 Ga. 919, 43 S.E. 987; Willis v. Burch, 116 Ga. 374, 375,42 S.E. 718; 38 Cyc. 2050.

The undisputed evidence is to the effect that defendant was in the open and adverse possession of the land under color of title at the time the logs were severed and removed. Being a purchaser of the land at a regular tax sale, defendant assumed and held possession thereof under the tax deed, which was valid on its face, that he had received as such purchaser. It has been declared that a tax deed valid on its face, though insufficient of itself to convey a perfect title, will constitute color of title to the lands described therein and taken and held under a bona fide claim thereunder (Southern Railway Co. v. Cleveland, 169 Ala. 22, 27, 53 So. 767; Brannan v. Henry, 142 Ala. 698, 39 So. 92, 110 Am. St. Rep. 55; Florence v. Warren, 91 Ala. 533, 9 So. 384; Boykin v. Smith, 65 Ala. 294); and in Dillingham v. Brown, 38 Ala. 311, Mr. Justice Walker delivering the opinion, it was held that "the tax collector's deed was color of title, and the possession taken and held under it was adverse possession" (Ladd v. Dubroca, 61 Ala. 25; Southern Railway Co. v. Cleveland, supra; Doe v. Clayton, 81 Ala. 391, 2 So. 24; Stovall v. Fowler, 72 Ala. 77; Crowder v. T. C., I. R. R. Co., 162 Ala. 151, 50 So. 230, 136 Am. St. Rep. 17).

The authorities hold that, when a part of the freehold, such as coal, mineral, gravel, trees, crops, and the like, has been severed, it becomes personalty, and that actions therefor — trover or detinue or other appropriate personal action — may be brought to recover the severed property as a chattel. Aldrich Co. v. Pearce, 169 Ala. 161, 167, 168, 52 So. 911, Ann. Cas. 1912B, 288; Id., 192 Ala. 195, 68 So. 900. While such an action can be maintained by a plaintiff in the constructive possession of the land, it cannot be maintained against one in the actual possession and holding adversely to the plaintiff. Pearce v. Aldrich Co., 184 Ala. 610, 64 So. 321; Aldrich Co. v. Pearce, 192 Ala. 195, 68 So. 900. The possession and assertion of adverse claim by a defendant to land from which he has severed a part of the freehold must have been in good faith, to relieve the severance of the element of trespass or conversion; that is to say, a possession of land which is merely transitory, or for the purpose of committing a trespass to, or severance from, the freehold, by a party not in either actual or constructive possession, will not defeat a recovery by the owner of the freehold in either actual or constructive possession. Stewart v. Tucker, 106 Ala. 319, 321,17 So. 385; Aldrich Co. v. Pearce, 169 Ala. 161, 52 So. 911, Ann. Cas. 1912B, 288; Young v. Herdic, 55 Pa. 172. These authorities are rested on the ground that two persons cannot be in the hostile actual possession, adverse to each other, of the same land at one and the same time.

The legal title to real properties draws to the owner and holder the constructive possession of such of the lands as he may not be in the actual possession of, provided the actual possession be not in another; whereas the possession of a naked trespasser without color of title, is limited to his actual possession. Bell v. Denson, 56 Ala. 444; Normant v. Eureka Co.,98 Ala. 181, 12 So. 454, 39 Am. St. Rep. 45; Black v. T. C., I. R. R. Co., 93 Ala. 109, 9 So. 537. It is also settled law that the possession of one claiming under color of title is coextensive with the boundaries described by the written instrument under which he holds and makes his bona fide claim of ownership. Marietta Fert. Co. v. Blair, 173 Ala. 524, 527,528, 56 So. 131; Dothard v. Denson, 72 Ala. 541; Childress v. Calloway, 76 Ala. 128; Stovall v. Fowler, 72 Ala. 77; Lucy v. T. C., I. R. R. Co., 92 Ala. 246, 8 So. 806; Normant v. Eureka Co., supra. This constructive possession under bona fide claim of ownership and under color of title, where the conveyance is of two distinct and separate tracts of land, is subject to the exception disclosed in Woods v. Montevallo Coal Transportation Co., 84 Ala. 560, 566, 3 So. 475, 5 Am. St. Rep. 393; Henry v. Brown, 143 Ala. 446, 39 So. 325; Crowder v. T. C., I. R. R. Co., 162 Ala. 151, 50 So. 230, 136 Am. St. Rep. 17; Marietta Fert. Co. v. Blair, supra.

Being in possession of the land under color of title and bona fide claim of ownership, defendant was not guilty of trover when he cut and removed the trees or timbers therefrom. Trover did not lie for the damages sustained by the owner of the legal title through the severance and removal of the trees from her lands. Cooper v. Watson, Adm'r, 73 Ala. 252; Lyons v. Stickney,170 Ala. 134, 54 So. 496; Quinn v. Pratt Co., 177 Ala. 434,438, 59 So. 49; Pearce v. Aldrich Co., supra. The remedy in such cases is trespass quare clausum fregit, or an action for damages recoverable in ejectment, as the case may be.

The judgment of the circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded.

Reversed and remanded.

ANDERSON, C. J., and MAYFIELD and SOMERVILLE, JJ., concur.

¹ 200 Ala. 271.