Grotevant v. Dorrestein

This is an action in jactitation, converted into a petitory action by defendant, who has denied the slander of plaintiffs’ title in his answer, and set up title in himself to the property in dispute.

Plaintiff and defendant trace their respective titles to a common author, one Harry Ellis, patentee of the United States government, and holding title by virtue of a final certificate dated April 16, 1886, and patent dated October 5, 1897. Plaintiffs’ claim to title is by deed from the patentee to Thadeus Mayo, dated April 18, 1886, and through mesne conveyances from Mayo to William Byles, the…