Volume 200, Volume 4, Page 161 View pdf image (33K) |
GOODWIN VS. CATON. 161 THE CHANCELLOR: It must be assumed in this case, that the title of John Warms- ley was transferred to Richard Goodwin, it appearing from an examination of the debt books that the quit rents were paid by the latter from the year 1755 to 1775, and the evidence show- ing that Goodwin, and those claiming under him, held possession of the property for upwards of fifty years. It is said by the counsel for the caveatee that the recital in the escheat warrant of the death, without heirs, of John Warms- ley and John Goodwin, is prima facie evidence in favor of the state's title, and the case of Lee vs. Hoye, 1 Gill, 200, is re- ferred to in support of the position. The case cited, by no means establishes the position, though it does prove that where a certificate has been regularly returned upon an escheat war- rant, which has remained long enough in the land office without caveat to justify the emanation of a grant, a reasonable prima facie presumption arises that the land is escheatable. In this case the certificate was returned on the 10th of July, 1845, and was caveated the same day. To allow the mere recital in the warrant to raise the presumption contended for, would be to permit parties Interested to fabricate evidence for themselves in opposition to the general rule which forbids it. The Court of Appeals evidently put the matter upon a different ground, making the presumption rest upon the acquiescence of the pub- lic, that acquiescence being shown by the omission to object to the patent for the required period after the certificate has been returned to the office. In the case of Casey's Lessee vs. Inloes et al, 1 Gill, 434 and 510, the Court of Appeals say an escheat grant is prima facie evidence that the land granted is liable to escheat, but I am satisfied, that no case can be found in which it has been decided, or even intimated, that the mere recital in the warrant, which is the act of the party himself unsupported by any concurring circumstances, has been considered as raising any presumption that the land is liable to escheat, so as to throw the burden of proving the contrary upon the party who resists the patent. There is in this case, then, no prima facie evidence ill favor |
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Volume 200, Volume 4, Page 161 View pdf image (33K) |
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