Chastain v. Higdon

Blandford, Justice.

This was a petition for partition of a certain tract of land in the county of Eannin. The plaintiffs claimed under a sheriff’s deed, which recited that two thirds of the land had been sold by the sheriff under an execution for State and county taxes against Samuel Rutherford, and that the same had been purchased by E. W. Chastain and William Morris. They also claimed under a writing in which one Beaver acknowledged himself to he the tenant of Chastain and Morris for an undivided two thirds of the land. Beaver claimed to have bought an undivided third of the land. Beaver held the land for fourteen years prior to the commencement of the proceedings in this case, holding for the plaintiffs as well as for himself. He sold his interest in the land to Higdon and son. The court below nonsuited the case, and the plaintiffs excepted.

We think it is quite clear that as to Beaver, who had sold his interest to Higdon and son, the plaintiffs were entitled to a partition; and if the defendants claimed under Beaver, they would occupy no better position than Beaver. So we are of the opinion that as the case then stood before the court, it was error to grant a non-suit. Judgment reversed.