land called Bishop's contrivance, the courses of which
correspond with those in the paper produced as signed by Calder,
but in which boundaries are mentioned which are not
contained in the said paper.
It is not necessary for the chancellor to express his opinion
as to the question of interest in the caveator, as his case falls
within other rules which are considered to be firmly
established.
It is a rule to refer the parties to a jury trial in all cases
where a caveat, instituted on the ground of interference with
a patented tract, is not clearly and satisfactorily supported:
the same rule, or nearly the same, has been laid down in other
cases, as follows;¾that unless the caveator who alledges that
the land is contained in his grant can support his allegation
beyond doubt the matter shall be referred to a jury;¾and that
inasmuch as the admission of the caveat puts an end to the
pretensions of one party, and a dismission leaves both parties
in a condition to have a fair and full trial by jury the caveat
shall not be ruled good unless the chancellor shall be
thoroughly satisfied that the land has been already patented.
It has also been the practice not to decide on litigated
points of law, which after such decision might in any way
come before the judges of law: and where, with respect to
location, questions of law are blended with questions of fact,
they are most proper to be decided by a court of law.
The chancellor is not satisfied that the land deeded to the
caveator is properly located; or that a deed was the proper
conveyance; or as to the evidence on which the location stated
in the deed was founded; ¾or with the evidence produced to
prove the running as contained in the deed.¾There is no
proof that the land, when sold by the intendant, was
described by metes and bounds, and when the caveator produced
his deed, it was incumbent upon him to be secure in the
location expressed therein, because it might have been made
certain, if it existed by a survey returned to the land office.
It is urged by the caveator that the location given to
Bishop's contrivance by the defendant is fictitious, and
fraudulent, as tending to evince a belief that there are two doubtful
locations: ¾but, if so intended, it could not answer the
purpose, as no evidence is produced in support of it, and if the
defendant is right in his objections, it could not have been
located with certainty by him.
It appears to be used merely as a counter-location, to put
the caveator upon the proof of his; though the necessity of
it, in that view, may at least be doubtful, as it has been
considered as a principle established that, in a caveat, the
defendant must succeed of course unless affirmative evidence is
produced by the caveator.
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