The CROSS v. DE VALLE case is a Supreme Court case from 1863 that dealt with the issue of whether aliens could take land by deed or devise and hold it against anyone but the sovereign until office found. The court ruled that the well-settled principle that aliens may take land by deed or devise and hold against anyone but the sovereign until office found exists in Rhode Island as elsewhere and is not affected by the statute which allows them to hold land provided they previously obtain. The case also established that a court of equity will not interfere to declare future rights which may arise under a will.

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