Laughlin v. McGarvey

By the Court, Rhodes, J.: Patents were issued by the United States to the plaintiff’s grantor in the year 1872, for the premises in controversy; and in the year 1873 a patent was issued by the State to the defendant’s grantor for the same lands. The defendant claims that the lands were selected on behalf of the State as lieu lands—that is, lands selected in lieu of a portion of a thirty-sixth section; that the selection was made prior to the passage of the act of Congress of July 23, 1866, and that the selection was confirmed by that act. The lieu lands confirmed to the State were such as had not only been se[171]lected by the State, but had also been sold by the State to purchasers, in good faith, under the laws of the State. It became necessary for the defendant to prove that fact—that the lands had been sold by the State to a purchaser in good faith, prior to the passage of the act of Congress. The only evidence offered upon that point was a certificate of purchase, dated June 24, 1878, issued by the register of the State land office, having the word “duplicate” written across the face thereof, which recites that it appeared from the report of the county treasurer that on the 17th day of September, 1861, the defendant’s grantor had paid twenty per cent, of the purchase-money and interest in advance, for the lands in controversy, and declared him the purchaser of said lands, etc. This evidence is not sufficient to prove the fact in question, as against a party claiming title from the United States, by patent issued before the date of the certificate. Evidence of the same character is required, as would be requisite in case of two contesting purchasers, each claiming the right to a patent from the State; that is to say, the defendant should have proved the performance of the series of acts required by law to entitle him to a certificate of purchase, and should have produced the certificate of purchase, or after having accounted for its absence, proved its contents.

Judgment and order affirmed.

Neither Mr. Chief Justice Wallace nor Mr. Justice McKinstry expressed an opinion.