A determination of the title to real estate is involved in such a manner as to give this court direct appellate jurisdiction. See: Braun v. Maloy, 369 Ill. 218; Copple v. Scott, 372 Ill. 307. The lengthy proceedings which provoke the appeal show that on April 4, 1954, plaintiff filed a verified complaint in ejectment to recover from defendant three separate portions of the Old Salem Chautauqua Park, described as "the athletic field" (count I), "the boat landing" (count II), and "the auditorium" (count III). On May 3, 1954, defendant filed a verified answer denying plaintiff owned the premises and asserting title in itself by virtue of a warranty deed from one Ellen Tucker under date of December 24, 1943. Because the answer did not allege sufficient facts relating to the title claimed by defendant, it was stricken on motion of plaintiff and defendant was permitted to file an amended answer.
(McFall v. Kirkpatrick, 236 Ill. 281.) In short, the plaintiff here must recover, if at all, on the strength of its own title and not on some supposed equity existing in it or on some frailty in the defendants' position. (Braun v. Maloy, 369 Ill. 218; Hooper v. Goldstein, 336 id. 125.) Plaintiff's claim of title to the 92 acres, referred to as the Gordon land, as well as to the 40 acres known as the Workman land, rests upon the sheriff's deed issued after the execution sale on January 11, 1937, upon a judgment which it had obtained against Mrs. Gordon's daughter, Vera Shull, and her son-in-law, but to which Mrs. Gordon herself was not a party.