Lawson v. United States Mining Company

This suit was commenced in the circuit court of the United States for the district of Utah by the United States Mining Company, claiming to be the owner of certain mining property, and praying that its title thereto be quieted and the defendant restrained from taking any ore therefrom. Jurisdiction was founded on diverse citizenship. In an amended complaint, filed June 2, 1902, it was alleged that the plaintiff is the owner and in possession of four mining claims known as the Jordan Extension, the Northern Light, the Grizzly, and the Fairview lode mining claims, the boundaries of each being given; that these mining claims are adjacent to each other and to certain other mining claims, all owned and worked by the plaintiff as one property for mining purposes; that beneath the surface of the claims above mentioned is a vein or lode of great value; that the defendants wrongfully claim to own said vein or lode and the ores and minerals therein contained; that they have, by means of secret underground works, obtained access thereto and have mined, extracted, and removed large quantities of valuable ores therefrom; that they threaten to continue such wrongful and unlawful invasion of the premises, and to continue to mine, extract, and remove ores and minerals; that the defendants are in possession of a mining claim adjacent to the four mining claims of plaintiff, known as the Kempton mining claim, united States lot 255, which was located in the year 1871, and, on information and belief, that the defendants pretend that the mineral deposits and ores under and beneath the surface of the four mining claims above mentioned are in and part of a mineral vein and lode belonging to and haveing its apex in said Kempton mining claim and on the dip of said alleged vein, which pretense the plaintiff charges to be contrary to the truth. The plaintiff further alleges that it is the owner and in possession of two certain mining claims, one named the Jordan Silver Mining Company's mine, but usually known as the 'Old Jordan,' located December 17, 1863; the other the Mountain Gem Lode and Mining claim located August 20, 1864, the boundaries of each of which are given; that in these two claims there is a lode, bearing silver and other metals, whose apex is within the surface boundaries; that the dip of said lodes is toward the Kempton claim occupied by the defendants, and that if there be any mineral vein or lode in the Kempton claim it is not one that has its apex within the limits of that claim, but is a part of the lodes apexing within the 'Old Jordan' and Mountain Gem claims. The relief prayed for was a decree quieting plaintiff's title and restraining the defendants from mining and removing any ores or minerals. To this amended complaint the defendants filed a demurrer, stating, as one of the grounds thereof, that the plaintiff had an adequate remedy at law. This demurrer was overruled, and thereupon the defendants filed an answer and subsequently an amended answer, setting forth their title to the Kempton mining claim, and also to a claim known as the Ashland mining claim, and alleging that there are lodes whose apices are within these claims; that on their dip they enter beneath the surface of the plaintiff's claims, and that it is upon them that defendants have been mining; that the Kempton claim was patented to their grantors and predecessors in interest on February 23, 1875. They further deny that the 'Old Jordan' claim was located on December 17, 1863, or patented July 14, 1877; deny that the Mountain Gem claim was located on August 20, 1864, or that a patent had been issued on said alleged location. They further aver that if there be any lode or vein in either the 'Old Jordan' or the Mountain Gem claims, that such lode or vein is entirely distinct from those which have their apices in the Kempton and Ashland claims. On the hearing the court denied the application of the defendants to set the case for trial as a law case before a jury. At the same time it entered a decree dismissing the plaintiff's bill. From this decree the plaintiff appealed to the circuit court of appeals (67 C. C. A. 587, 134 Fed. 769), which reversed the decree of dismissal, and remanded the case with instructions to enter a decree for the plaintiff in conformity with the prayer of the bill. Thereupon, on application of the defendants, the case was brought to this court on certiorari.

[ Messrs. Charles J. Hughes, Jr., Ogden Hiles, and Charles C. Dey for petitioners.

[Argument of Counsel from pages 4-6 intentionally omitted]

Messrs. William H. Dickson, George Sutherland, A. C. Ellis, A. C. Ellis, Jr., E. M. Allison, and Waldemar Van Cott for respondent.

[Argument of Counsel from pages 6-8 intentionally omitted]

Mr. Justice Brewer delivered the opinion of the court: