Bedford v. Moore

54 Mo. 448
Supreme Court of Missouri·Decided October 15, 1873·Published

Opinion

Adams, Judge,

delivered the opinion of the court.

[449]*449The petition' sets out that the plaintiff is the widow of one Alfred M. Bedford, deceased; that in his life-time the said Bedford owned certain real estate, being the east half of the south-east quarter of section 6, township 26, north range 16 east; that he mortgaged this property, and that defendants became the holders of that mortgage by assignment; that by decree of the Mississippi Circuit Court the equity of redemption of said Alfred in said real estate was foreclosed, but at the time of said purchase it was understood by said Alfred and defendants that the said foreclosure should not debar the said Alfred, his heirs or assigns, from redeeming said real estate, by the payment of the mortgage money and interest and costs, and that with that understanding the said real estate was sold under said decree, and that defendants became the purchasers for $500, being about the one-sixth part of the real value of said real estate; and that the said realty would not have sold for such an inadequate price, but for the fact that defendants on the day of sale publicly proclaimed, that if they became the purchasers of said realty, the said Alfred should have the right to redeem the same on payment of the amount due on mortgage.

The petition further states, that said Alfred died in January, 1870; and that he did not redeem in his life-time; that since his death, plaintiff being entitled to dower and homestead in said realty, paid the amount due on said mortgage, with interest and costs, and in addition to that, another large debt of said Alfred, to redeem said land and discharge it from all liens and incumbrances whatsoever due to defendants; and that the defendants, although paid in full, have refused to re-eon vey said real estate; wherefore the plaintiff prays, that they may be compelled so to do.

The defendants deny every allegation of the petition, and set up that on or about the 29th day of November, 1865, during the life-time of said Bedford, by virtue of several executions, all the interest of said Bedford in said land was sold to one George Whitcomb. The defendants in their answer further state, that on the 22nd day of May, 1868, the equity of [450]*450said realty was sold to George Whitcomb by virtue of a decree of foreclosure obtained in the Mississippi County Court, and that Alfred M. Bedford owned no equity of redemption, and had no right to redeem the said realty. And further defendants say, that the plaintiff has long since relinquished her right of dower and all o ther right or title she ever had or held in or unto said land, except seventy acres which defendants conveyed to her. And James L. Moore for himself says, that he never at any time had a conversation with Alfred M. Bedford, in regard to the said land. And in conclusion, the defendants say, that they admit that the amount of money in the petition specified was paid, but deny that it was paid for redemption, but that it was paid upon another consideration, that it was paid as the purchase price.

In her replication, the plaintiff denies all the allegations of the answer.

At the May Term, 1878, this cause was tried. At the trial Louisiana Bedford introduced hérself as a witness and testified, that it was always her understanding that by paying the money she should have the land — that she saw Mr. Joseph C. Moore in regard to the redemption of the land, and that he asked her if she could not by some means hold on to the land, and that she told him that she had no means except some swamp land —that at no time did Mr. Moore intimate that he intended to hold on or keep a part of the land — that she always understood that if she paid the money she should have all the land back. On cross-examination she says that she does not remember that Jos. C. Moore told her, that she, her husband and Mr. George Whitcomb had conveyed to Mr. Thomas Allen one-fourth of the south 40 acres, excepting the house, but says that she remembers that to be a fact, that she does not remember that Jos. C. Moore, in any conversation with her expressed a desire to hold back a part of the laud; that at the time she talked to Jos. C. Moore at his office, James L. Moore was there, and taking part in the conversation; that she did not have possession of the money that was paid to the Moores, that Mr. Patterson acted as her agent and attorney; that she [451]*451has an interest in this suit; that the suit is prosecuted for hex-benefit ; that she expected to get all the land when the money was paid; bxxtthat it came different; that she never promised Mr. Neal to convey the one-fourth in dispute to Mr. Neal or any one; that she never had a conversation with Mr. Neal aboxxt the matter.

H. J. Neal then testified that he was at the sale, when the land in controversy was sold, that he made one bid, and that Jos. C. Moore told him that the matter was understood between him and Mr. Bedford, and that he thinks Mr. Moore told him not to bid, that he was going to let Mr. Bedford have the land back, and that after that statement he bid no more ; that the land sold fox- $500, and was worth some $1,000 or $5,000, and that would be a fair valuation. On cross-examination he said, that Thomas Allen paid 3,300 dollars for the px-operty; that when the sale was going on he put in a bid to clog the thing, in order to get time to investigate; that he cannot state exactly what Jos. C. Moore said, but that he did say that he was buying the property in for Mr. Bedford, with a privilege in him to redeem, and fox- him not to bid; that he has an interest in the result of the suit; that Thomas Allen furnished the money to redeem; that Thomas Allen and he furnished the money to get a part of the land; that Mrs. Bedford has an interest in this suit; that if she does not make a deed to us as she agreed, we will hold her for damages; that she gave a bond for the entire land.

"Wm. H. Sherman testifies that he was present when the land was sold, that he made two bids, but made no other bid from some information that he got from Jos. C. Moore; that he asked whether the property by the sale would pass into other hands, and that he understood that it would not; that he cannot give the exact words; that the land sold for $565, that it is worth $3,000; that what Mr. Moox-e told hixn detex-x-ed witness from bidding any further on the day of sale, and that Moore told him that if there had been a general bidding he would have withdrawn a part of the land; that the land. was sold in a lump. On cross-examination he said, that he [452]*452made bids after tbe conversation, and that he was deterred from bidding from what Moore said more particularly.

W. P. Swank testified, that be was at tbe sale; that at tbe sale Moore said that whenever Alfred M. Bedford paid the money be would get bis land back; that be thinks this was at tbe time of sale; that tbe land is worth $50 per acre exclusive of tbe Bedford dwelling bouse, and that tbe bouse is worth $1,500. On cross-examination be said that tbe conversation was on tbe day of sale, and that bis understanding was, that whenever Bedford paid tbe amount of tbe mortgage be was to have bis land back.

James L. Patterson testified that be knew tbe Moores and Bedford; that be knew tbe land; that it is tbe homestead tract; that for tbe purpose of redeeming this homestead tract be paid $3,200 or $3,300 to Jos. C. Moore for Mrs. Bedford; that Mr. Moore banded him a deed for all tbe land except about 10 acres; that be paid tbe money to redeem tbe entirety of tbe land; Mrs.

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Bedford v. Moore, 54 Mo. 448 (Mo. 1873).

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