Wall v. Wall. , 142 N.C. 387 ( 1906 )

The locus in quo is an island in the Pee Dee River, called Martin's Island, containing about six acres of land. The evidence tends to prove that the island is separated from the Anson County mainland by a narrow "thoroughfare" of the river about eighty feet wide, which can be easily forded. The main body of water which flows between the island and the Richmond County side is three hundred yards wide. The island is on the Anson County side of the "thread" of the stream. Plaintiff claims title under a grant from the State to plaintiff dated 1 April, 1879, which describes the island. Defendant claims under deed dated 15 December, 1843, from William (389) Locke and wife to Stephen Wall, from whom defendant derives title.

We will not consider the twenty-nine exceptions in the record seriatim, but will group the contentions of the parties under three heads: First. Does the description in the deed from William Locke and wife to Stephen Wall cover the island in controversy? Second. Is the defendant esstopped to deny the State's title by the introduction of the grant of 1882? Third. Was there sufficient evidence of adverse possession on the part of the defendant?

1. The description in the deed is as follows: "Beginning at a black-oak southwest of Pee Dee River, William W. Koy's corner tree, and runs with W. Koy's line south 15 chains to a pine, etc.; then east 29 chains to the river; then up the various courses of said river to the beginning, containing 300 acres." It appears in evidence that Stephen Wall owned and occupied the land on both sides the Pee Dee River opposite Martin's Island.

It was decided as long ago as 1831 that the Pee Dee at this point was not a navigable stream and that the owners of the land on each side of it have a right to the middle of the river. Ingram v. Threadgill, 14 N.C. 61. The same is the law in respect to rivers which divide nations. Handlyv. Anthony, 5 Wheaton, 374. It is not disputed that if the call of the deed is extended to the thread or middle of the stream and then up the various courses thereof to the beginning, the land in controversy is included in its boundaries. There is no rule of the common law better settled, and more universally adopted in this country, than that which prescribes that a grant of land bounded in terms by a creek or river not navigable carries the land to the grantee usque ad filum aquae, to the middle or thread of the stream. Wilson v. Forbes, 13 N.C. 30; Ingram v. Threadgill, supra;Williams v. Buchanan,23 N.C. 535; Rowe v. Lumber Company, 128 N.C. 303, and 133 N.C. 433. The evidence shows conclusively that the (390) thread of the Pee Dee is the dividing line between Richmond and Anson counties, and that it runs between Martin's Island and the Richmond side of the river. In fact, the plaintiff's grant describes the island as located in Anson County.

2. The defendant introduced a grant from the State to Stephen G. Wall dated 20 December, 1882, for a tract of 130 acres of land. During the argument plaintiff's counsel contended that by this grant it was shown that both plaintiff and defendant claimed under a common source; that defendant was estopped to deny the State's title, and that plaintiff, having the older grant, is entitled to recover. There is nothing upon which to base such contention. Neither plaintiff nor defendant had offered any evidence locating said grant of 1882, and there is nothing on its face which indicates per se that it covers Martin's Island. The defendant stated it did not cover the island in controversy, and the Court permitted him to withdraw it as evidence. As its relevancy to the matter at issue is not disclosed, we see no error in this. It was a matter within the sound discretion of his Honor. Besides, the plaintiff did not ask to be permitted to reintroduce this grant and to offer evidence locating the island within its boundaries.

3. The evidence tends to prove that Stephen Wall owned and was in possession of the land on both sides of the river opposite Martin's Island for some years prior to the war, and that his possession extended one-half mile or more up and down the river on the Anson side and for two or three miles on the Richmond side, and that he was in possession of it at the time of his death in 1845. Stephen Wall devised "to my brother James Wall's two youngest sons, to-wit, those by his last wife, all the land I own in Anson County, supposed to be about 500 acres." The sons by the last wife of James Wall were A. G. and S. G. (391) Wall, under whom defendant justifies his right to possession. As Stephen Wall was the owner and in possession of the lands on both sides of the river, he is presumed to have title to the island between. Prima facie, the title to the bed of an unnavigable stream to the thread thereof, and to islands between the mainland and said thread, is in the owner of the adjacent mainland. Where the lands on both sides the stream belong to the same person, the entire bed of the stream and all the islands therein between such lands belong to him. 17 A. and E. Ency. Law (2 Ed.), 532, and cases cited; Granger v. Avery, 64 Me. 292; Stolp v. Hoyt,44 Ill. 220. Independent of such presumed title, there is abundant evidence of such actual possession of the island as ripens the color of title under the Locke deed into an indefeasible title. The evidence tends to prove that the defendant and those under whom he claims took possession in 1845; that they got timber off the island constantly for various purposes; that after 1854 the island was used more than any other part of defendant's land for getting timber; that goats were placed there and cattle pastured on it, and that in 1899 defendant cleared two acres of the land; that from 1890 until the trial defendant used the island all winter every year for cattle pasturage.

Upon a review of the entire record, we are of opinion that the case was well tried, and there is

No Error.

Cited: Guano Co. v. Lumber Co., 146 N.C. 188.

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