Morgan v. Lones

Hayne, C. This was an action to quiet title as to several lots in Nevada City. As to some of the lots the court gave judgment for the defendant, and to the other [318]lots the court gave judgment for the plaintiffs, from which judgment the present appeal is taken by the defendant. The evidence is not brought up. The defendant contends that upon the findings the judgment should have been for him.

The material facts shown by the findings are as fob" lows: The plaintiffs’ testatrix, one Mary J. Lones, was ■the wife of the defendant. Before her marriage she had a “possessory title” to and was in possession of the lots in controversy on this appeal. • The land was then public land and the title was in the United States government. After the marriage, the tract covered by the town was conveyed by the government to the board of town trustees, “in trust for the several use and benefit of the occupants thereof.” And subsequently thereto the husband made application that said lots be conveyed to the wife, which was done. The sum necessary to be paid to the municipal authorities was paid by the husband out of his separate property. The difference between this case and that made on the other appeal (78 Cal. 58) is, that here the wife was in possession under “ possessory title” before the marriage, while there the husband entered into possession under deeds from prior occupants after marriage. Upon that state of facts it was held that under no view that could be suggestéd was the property the separate property of the wife. We think, however, that as to the lots involved in this appeal a, different conclusion results. It is true, as argued for the defendant, that mere possession of public land gives no right as against the government. But the government has chosen to convey,the land to trustees" in trust for the occupants; and we think that the -wife was one of the beneficiary class. She had therefore an equitable interest which was her separate property. This was held in the case of Eversdon v. Mayhew, 65 Cal. 183. The1 only difference between that case and this is, that- there the patent to the • municipal authorities had issued before [319]the marriage; here it was issued after the marriage. But we do not think that this alters the case. The question is, what was the class of persons whom the towm site act was intended to protect ? The act itself (quoted on the former appeal) designates such class as consisting of those by whom said lands have been “settled upon and occupied.” It must be taken from the findings that either the wife or those from whom she acquired her “possessory title” had settled upon and occupied said lands before. her marriage. The circumstances, therefore, which entitled her to the bounty of the government had occurred before the marriage. And this being so, we think that the conveyance of the government title to the town authorities was for her benefit, and that the fact that she married before the patent to the board of trustees had issued is immaterial.