Hays v. Hinkle , 193 S.W. 153 ( 1917 )

By the first assignment of error it is contended that the court erred in admitting in evidence the deed from Wyngate Truitt to T. B. McReynolds, of date August 30, 1860. It is thought that this deed is not void, as was heretofore ruled, for insufficiency of description of the land. Hinkle v. Hays, 162 S.W. 435. And there is evidence tending to show that the description of the land purported to be passed by the deed applies on the ground to the land sued for. Therefore this assignment, and also the second assignment of error, are overruled.

The appellant made a statutory demand, before the trial of the case, of appellee for an abstract in writing of the claim or title to the land in suit upon which he relies. Article 7743, Vernon's Sayles' Stat. Appellee filed an abstract, which, besides stating certain deed, stated "statute of limitation of three, five, and ten years — that is to say, possession from 1860 to 1885 — as contemplated by the statute." And appellee offered in evidence, over appellant's objection thereto, a certificate of the comptroller stating, as shown by the records of his office, the assessment for taxes of the Alexander Nevill survey for the years 1855 to 1869, inclusive, and also tax receipts issued by the tax collector for the years 1878 to 1910, with the exception of the years 1884 and 1885. The appellant predicates error upon the ruling of the court, because the certificate of the comptroller and the tax receipts of the tax collector were not included nor given in the abstract filed. The statute provides (article 7746) that:

"In all cases the documentary evidence of title shall, at the trial, be confined to the matters contained in the abstract of titles."

And the "documentary evidence of title," as used in the article, is meant to apply, we think, only to such character of writing as relates to title, claim, or interest in land. For according to the language of the statute (article 7745) the abstract of title shall state:

"(1) The nature of each document or written instrument intended to be used as evidence, and its date," and "(3) Where recorded, stating the book and page of the record."

As, for instance, besides conveyances or contracts to convey, a power of attorney (Smith v. Powell, 5 Tex. Civ. App. 373, 23 S.W. 1109), a will (Martin v. Kosmyroski, 27 S.W. 1042), a lease (Hayes v. Groesbeck,69 S.W. 237), a deed of trust (Skov v. Coffin, 137 S.W. 450), and the like, in the chain of title. And as a muniment of right, title, or interest in the chain of title is required to be shown by the writing itself, and is a subject-matter of registration, the abstract of title should embrace such "documentary evidence of title." But such mere matters of fact as assessment of land for taxes and the payment of taxes are authorized to be shown by parol evidence, and are not required to be proven by any writing itself. A tax receipt is merely evidence of a verbal fact of payment of the tax. McDonough v. Jefferson County, 79 Tex. 535,15 S.W. 490. And the certificate of the comptroller, made competent evidence by statute (article 3708), is but a convenient way for the production of evidence of mere matters of fact of assessment of land for taxes and payment of such taxes. Hence tax receipts and a certificate of the comptroller that the assessment of land for taxes and the payment of such taxes are shown by the records of his office are not such writings as by the terms of the statute are required to be embraced in the abstract of title.

It is thought the evidence shows adverse possession under the deed in evidence, and occupancy and cultivation of a part of the land on the part of T. B. McReynolds from October, 1860, to his death in February, 1870, and by his heirs through tenants from February, 1870, to and through the year 1879. This would complete the 10-year statute of limitation, after excluding the period of time limitation was suspended by law. Consequently the court did not err in submitting this issue to the jury. But, excluding the evidence of Mrs. M. T. McReynolds, which the court should have done, we think, upon the ground of being hearsay, there is not evidence, we conclude, to present the issue of the 5-year statute of limitation, and therefore the court erred in submitting this issue to the jury, for the evidence shows payment of taxes from 1877, inclusive, to 1883, inclusive, with possession of the premises only appearing to the year 1879, inclusive.

And as the five-year statute of limitation has not application to the case, then the interest of the heirs of Alexander Nevill, deceased, except Thomas Nevill, would not in the record be barred of recovery by appellant, holding their interests by deed; for such heirs, except Thomas Nevill, were, according to the undisputed proof, under the disabilities, respectively, of coverture and minority in October, 1860, when the adverse possession of the land was begun by T. B. McReynolds. But as adverse possession of the land was begun by T. B. McReynolds in October, 1860, the interest of Thomas Nevill, who was of age at that time, would be barred under the 10-year statute of limitation, as found by the jury to be complete. And the one-half community interest in the land of Mrs. Elizabeth Nevill, wife of Alexander Nevill, would be barred by the 10-year statute of limitation, for she was living in October, 1860, when adverse possession was begun by T. B. McReynolds. The adverse possession so begun against Mrs. Nevill was not legally stopped by the disabilities of her heirs to whom her title descended. Johnson v. Schumacher,72 Tex. 339, 12 S.W. 207. And since it appears that Mrs. Nancy Carter died without issue in 1869, after her mother, then all her interest would go equally to her brothers and sisters. But the interest of Mrs. Nancy Carter so inherited by her brothers and sisters would not be barred by limitation, as shown by the record; for, as limitation had not begun to run against her at the time of her death, it would not begin to run against her interest until it was cast by descent. And as to her interest the 5-year statute ax as not shown to exist.

We have considered the other assignments, and do not think they present reversible error. They are therefore overruled. As the statute of 10-year limitation was, as found by the jury, complete, the one-half interest in the land of Mrs. Elizabeth Nevill, and the Interest of Thomas Nevill, which was one-twentieth of the whole, were barred, and appellee was enabled to recover the same. The interest of Thomas Nevill, inherited by him on the death of Mrs. Nancy Carter, would not be barred by the 10-year statute of limitation. And as the five-year statute of limitation has not, in the evidence, application, the interest of all the other heirs of Alexander Nevill, deceased, would not be barred by limitation, and the appellant is entitled to recover the same.

Therefore the judgment of the district court is reversed, and judgment is here rendered in favor of appellee, in virtue of the ten-year statute of limitation, for eleven-twentieths, and in favor of appellant, in virtue of his deed, for nine-twentieths of the land in suit as described in the deed to McReynolds. The costs of appeal will be taxed against appellee.

On Rehearing. It is Insisted that the deed under which the limitation of 10 years is claimed was not filed for record until December 3, 1860, and therefore appellee may not recover to the extent of the deed. It is believed that article 5676, Vernon's Sayles' Statutes, does not require that a deed be registered. Craig v. Cartwright, 65 Tex. 423; Simpson Bank v. Smith,52 Tex. Civ. App. 349, 114 S.W. 445; Bringhurst v. Texas Co.,39 Tex. Civ. App. 500, 87 S.W. 898. In the latter case the court overruled the former cases of Doom v. Taylor, 79 S.W. 1086, and Watts v. Bruce, 31 Tex. Civ. App. 347, 72 S.W. 260. The findings of fact requested are corrected and made to appear in the original opinion. The judgment of the court does not include fieldnotes, further than given in the deed to McReynolds.

Motion for rehearing overruled.