Tompkins v. County Court of Kanawha County

This is a suit to enjoin the county court of Kanawha county from committing further alleged trespass on what plaintiffs claim to be a private lane over an alleged forty-nine acre tract owned by them, and for general relief from certain alleged injuries already committed thereon by said county court. Its demurrer being overruled, the defendant answered, denying every material allegation of the bill, and setting up the public character of the roadway in question. The circuit court found for the plaintiffs and perpetually enjoined said county court from entering upon said lane, assuming any control over the same or interfering with plaintiffs in the free and full use thereof.

Ownership of the forty-nine acre tract and the alleged private lane described in the bill was put in issue by defendant's answer, and the right to possession is directly challenged, so far as the roadway is concerned, by evidence as to its public character. "A party seeking equitable relief against one alleged to be a trespasser must allege and prove at least a possessory title in himself to the locus in quo." 1 Spel. Ex. Rel. § 364. There is no proof in the record showing that the plaintiffs have any present title or right to possession whatsoever to that portion of the property upon which they claim trespasses were committed, or that the tract described in the bill belonged to them. The decree must therefore be reversed and the cause remanded. Since both sides may develop their respective contentions more fully on a retrial, we do not deem it necessary to comment on the probative force of the defendant's evidence relating to the public character of the road.

Reversed and remanded.