Woody v. Timber Co., 141 N.C. 471 (1906)

May 22, 1906 · Supreme Court of North Carolina

141 N.C. 471

WOODY v. TIMBER CO.

(Filed May 22, 1906).

Deeds — Standing Timber — Injunctions.

Where a deed makes an absolute conveyance of so many trees marked and branded, with a right of way for their removal, and contains no clause limiting the time within which they may be removed, the court properly dissolved a temporary injunction, restraining the purchaser from cutting and removing the trees.

AotioN by A. A. Woody against Intermont Iron & Timber Co., pending in the Superior Court of Yancey, and heard by Judge M. H. Justice, at chambers at Rutherfordton, N. C., on April 21, 1906, upon a motion to continue a temporary injunction to the hearing.

Action to declare void a certain deed and to restrain the defendant from cutting timber on the land described in it. The -following is a copy of the deed:

Eor and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and thirty-two dollars and seventy-five cents ($132.75) in hand paid by the grantee to the grantors, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, A. A. Woody and wife, Lydia, have bargained and sold and by these presents transfer and convey to Tate L. Ernest, agent, the following described timber standing in the tree, as follows, to-wit: 36 poplar and 7 ash of the diameter of 24 to 30 inches in diameter, and 45 poplars 30 inches and .over, and 2 ash 30 inches and over, and the following other trees 24 inches and over in diameter, 9 encumbers, 13 lynn, 111 chestnut oaks, 11 white oaks and 25 other oaks, making a grand total of 153 trees, all of which said trees are standing at this date on the following described land of the grantors, to-wit: Situated on Brush Greek of Toe River and adjoining the lands of Moses Box and others, W. II. Deyton and others, containing 100 acres, more or less, situated in the county of Yancey and State of North Carolina, which trees are branded thus:

To have and to hold to said grantee, and successors and assigns, with usual covenants of seizin, right to convey, unin-cumbrances and general warranty, together with the right-of-way over, through and upon any lands belonging to said grantors, for the removal of any timber belonging to said grantee or successor or assigns, provided adequate and reasonable damages are paid for any injuries done to any growing crops which may then be upon said lands. Should the grantors clear any of the lands on which said timber stands, they, shall be at liberty to deaden such trees as stand within such cleared land after the lapse of five years from this date, provided they shall first give the owner of the timber six months’ written notice of their intention to deaden; and in consideration of the foregoing. premises the grantors agree to protect said timber as long as it may remain upon said lands.

Witness our signatures and seals, this .day of March, 1900. A■ A. Woody, (L. S.)

Lydia Woody, (L. S.)

From an order dissolving the temporary injunction, the plaintiff- appealed.

J. W. Pless and J. T. Perlcins for the plaintiff.

McBrayer & McBrayer for the defendant.

Brown, J.

It is contended that the deed is void under the authority of Hobbs’ case, 128 N. C., 46. The instrument construed in that case is unlike this in every respect. This is an absolute conveyance of so many trees marked and branded, and contains no clause limiting the time within which they may be removed. It is possible the courts may so construe the meaning of the deed as to require the grantee or those claiming under him to remove the trees within some reasonable time. Bunch v. Lumber Co., 134 N. C., 116. But as it is plain that the time within which the defendant may enter and remove the trees has not yet expired, the injunction was properly dissolved.

If the plaintiff desires to clear the land, he may give the six months’ notice required in the instrument and compel the removal of the trees, or he may deaden them with impunity.

Affirmed.