United States Supreme Court Cases & Opinions

U.S. Supreme Court

Denise v. Ruggles, 57 U.S. 16 How. 242 242 (1853)

Denise v. Ruggles

57 U.S. (16 How.) 242

Syllabus

Where a grant issued in 1722, by the French authorities of Louisiana, cannot be located by metes and bounds, it cannot serve as a title in an action of ejectment, and it was proper for the circuit court to instruct the jury to this effect.

Page 57 U. S. 243

The case depended on the construction of an old French grant which is stated in the opinion of the Court. It would not be possible to explain the nature of the dispute to the reader, without the introduction of maps, and as the decision in this case cannot possibly serve to illustrate any that may hereafter occur, it is not deemed expedient to increase the size of this volume by their introduction, or the arguments of counsel to show that the grant could or could not be located.