The main question on this appeal, to which (743) nearly all the exceptions are directed, is the constitutionality *Page 531 of chapter 248 of the Acts of 1889 amending section 2522 of The Code. This act was held to be unconstitutional in Parish v. Cedar Co., 133 N.C. 478; and after renewed consideration we deem it our duty to reaffirm our decision to that effect. This destroys the defendant's chain of title, but does not necessarily perfect that of the plaintiff or render the defendant liable for trespass. The plaintiff brought a civil action in the nature of trespass, alleging its ownership of the land in question and the defendant's trespass thereon. The jury found in substance that the plaintiff owned a part of the lands described in the complaint, but that the defendant had not trespassed upon those particular lands. This was the practical result of the verdict, and its legal effect was to entitle the defendant to a judgment that it go without day and recover its costs incurred in the action. we do not think that any judgment should have been given deciding the title to the land, as that was not the essential question involved in the action. Trespass is essentially an offense against the possession, and an action therefor can be maintained by one not holding the fee. On the contrary it makes no difference who owns the fee if the defendant has committed no trespass thereon. If both issues had been found in favor of the plaintiff, it may be that he would have been entitled to a judgment on his title as a necessary requisite to his recovery; but as he is not entitled to a recovery a simple judgment for the defendant should have been entered. The judgment of the Court below will be modified by striking out that part decreeing the plaintiff to be the owner of the lands therein described, and then affirmed.
Modified and affirmed.
Cited: S. c., 137 N.C. 445; Daniels v. Homer, 139 N.C. 253; LumberCo. v. Lumber Co., 140 N. c., 438.
(744)