Adverse possession requires hostile, open and continuous possession with intent to dispossess the true owner; long possession alone is insufficient.

Adverse possession is not established by mere long, uninterrupted occupation; the claimant must prove open, continuous, exclusive and hostile possession with animus possidendi and a clear intention to dispossess the true owner. The claimant must also plead and prove when possession became adverse, its nature, and the hostile character of that possession. On the stated facts, the possession was linked to sale transactions and did not show an open, unequivocal repudiation of the respondents' title or the requisite knowledge and hostile intent. The claim therefore failed, and title could not be defeated by prescription.

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Issues: Whether the appellants had established adverse possession so as to defeat the respondents' title; and whether mere long possession, without proof of hostile intent and knowledge to the true owner, was sufficient to perfect title by prescription.

Analysis: Adverse possession requires more than long, uninterrupted occupation. It must be open, continuous, exclusive and hostile, with animus possidendi directed to excluding the true owner. The person asserting adverse possession must plead and prove the date when possession became adverse, the nature of possession, and the hostile character of such possession. The law also distinguishes mere intention to possess from intention to dispossess. On the facts, the appellants' possession was traceable to sale transactions and the surrounding circumstances negatived a clear hostile assertion against the respondents' title. The evidence did not establish the requisite knowledge, animus, or open and unequivocal repudiation of the respondents' ownership.

Conclusion: The appellants failed to prove adverse possession and could not claim title against the respondents.

Final Conclusion: The legal effect of the decision is that a claim of adverse possession succeeds only when the claimant proves hostile possession with the requisite intention to dispossess the true owner, and not by long possession alone.

Ratio Decidendi: A plea of adverse possession is not established by mere long possession; the claimant must prove hostile, open and continuous possession accompanied by animus possidendi and a clear intention to dispossess the true owner.

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