Colyar v. Sax

92 Tenn. 236
CourtTennessee Supreme Court
DecidedFebruary 8, 1893
StatusPublished

This text of 92 Tenn. 236 (Colyar v. Sax) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Tennessee Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Colyar v. Sax, 92 Tenn. 236 (Tenn. 1893).

Opinion

Wilkes, J.

The first-named bill was filed to cancel certain deeds made by .E. E. Colyar to Max Sax, trustee, etc., and set up in favor of E. E. Colyar a resulting trust in the lands conveyed. The second bill was filed to' sell the same lands [238]*238for partition, to fix the rights of parties therein, and divide the proceeds.

The Chancellor, Hon. T. M. McConnell, fixed the rights of the parties by decree, and ordered a sale of the lands. There was no dissatisfaction with or appeal from the decree for sale, but none of the several parties interested were satisfied with the decree fixing their rights inter sese, and all have appealed, and assigned errors, which raise simply the question as to the proper distribution of the proceeds of the lauds when they shall be sold.

The facts, so far as necessary to be stated, are found to be as follows: About 1882 E. E. Colyar, who resided at Tracy City, Grundy County, conceived the idea of buying up a large number of tracts of mineral lands, with a view of consolidating them into one body, and enlisting capitalists in their development. Soon after he began operations, he associated with him E. 0. Nathurst and W. L>. and N. B. Spears, the first named being very familiar with the mineral wealth of the region, and the two latter being attorneys, familiar with the titles of the lands in that section. A. S. (lolyar soon became interested, and furnished some money to be used in the purchase of the lands, $1,500 of which he obtained from Richardson, Eall, and Loughmiller, upon au agreement with said A. S. Colyar that, to the extent of the money furnished, they were to have an interest in the lands.

[239]*239Still the parties conlcl not command the necessary funds to carry out their designs; and on June 21, 1884, Benton and John McMillin accepted a written proposal from E. F-. Colyar (and E. 0. Rathurst to go into the enterprise, upon terms that they were to furnish not exceeding $20,000 to pay for the lands, and have a first mortgage on the lands until repaid. The profits were then to be equally divided. This written proposition was afterward lost sight of, and the mortgage was never executed, nor does it appear that the other parties interested knew of the writing; hut they co-operated upon a basis substantially as the wilting indicated.

Failing to obtain the necessary means to pay for the lands, a considerable quantity of which had been contracted for and options taken, other parties were let in, among them ¥m. Morrow, who contributed some money toward the enterprise. John and Benton McMillin, A. S. Colyar, E. F. Colyar, and E. O. Rathurst each had made contributions, but a large deficit remained. A. S-Colyar, Benton and John McMillin, and *¥m. Morrow were attempting to enlist capital in the enterprise, while E. F. Colyar, Rathurst, and , Spears were buying up and securing the lands. Matters dragged along until the latter part of 1885; and in the meantime several tracts of land were lost for want of funds to pay for them.

A. S. Colyar, at this juncture, interested Max Sax, and, through Mr. Sax, certain Rew York [240]*240parties were induced to furnish the money to complete the purchase of the lands, all parties consenting thereto or acquiescing therein. The money was paid over by the blew York parties to Saje, as, trustee, and it was agreed they should, in consideration therefor, have a half-interest in the lands. The lands were to be, and were, conveyed to Sax, trustee, in trust. About three months after this money was paid over to Sax and applied to the payment of the lands already bargained for, containing about 12,000 acres, the Yew York parties proposed that ■ more land be purchased ; and it was agreed between them and A. S. Colyar to increase the holdings to 25,000 acres, to be paid for one-half by the Yew York parties and one-half by A. S. Colyar and Such parties as he might enlist with him, called the Tennessee parties. All agreed to this, but E. E. Colyar and E. O. Yathurst and the McMillins declined to furnish any funds for the second purchase.

The titles to these lands were also to be taken to Sax, as trustee, and he was to convey the same to a corporation so soon as formed, which was to have a capital stock of $1,000,000, and to issue $1,000,000 of bonds, of which $200,000 of stock and the same amount of bonds should be given for these lands. Sax was to have ten per cent, for promoting the scheme, and the remainder should be divided between the parties as their interests might appear. About 11,000 acres of land were bought and conveyed to Sax, part of ..them [241]*241in trust and part to him as an individual, but it is conceded they are all held subject to' the trusts. The charter for the corporation was obtained, the stock was subscribed, and a site was selected for the erection of a furnace.

But several ’of the Dew York parties died, the price of iron declined, and the entire enterprise collapsed, and was abandoned. Subsequently Mc-Millin, Morrow, and Duncan bought out nearly all of the New York parties. Morrow bought out Duncan’s interest, and then assigned his1 interest to J. L. G-aines, trustee.

hi. B. Spears withdrew from the enterprise before the Yew York parties came in, and by suit in the United States Circuit Court, at Chattanooga, had his interest fixed by decree at one-eighth interest in the Spring tract of 5,000 acres, all of which was conveyed to Sax, trustee; and R. B. Spears’ interest is conceded to he settled in that way.

These bills were then filed to declare the rights of the parties, and to sell the lands for division.

The Chancellor held—

First. — That the deed dated February 27, 1886, made by E. E. Colyar to • Max Sax, trustee, conveying . the “first” body of 12,000 acres of land, be canceled.

Second. — That the title to all said 12,000 acres ' of land he divested out of Sax, and invested in E. E. Colyar, E. O. Rathurst, and W. D. Spears equally — excepting the one-eighth of the “ Spring ” tract, which was decreed to R. B. Spears.

[242]*242Third. — That A. S. Colyar, Benton McMillin, John McMillin, and Dr. Morrow have a lien on said land to secure the payment of the money they had contributed to pay for the lands.

Fourth. — That the “New York parties” have a similar lien for the money they contributed towards paying for the land.

Fifth. — That this lien mentioned in paragraph four inured to Benton McMillin and Dr. Morrow (or Gaines, trustee), to the extent of the interests of the New York parties which they had purchased.

Sixth. — That all the other lands — the 11,000 acres, called the “second” deed lands — were held by Sax in trust for the bénefit of the “New York parties ” and their assigns, and such other persons as furnished money to pay for them.

Seventh. — That the beneficiaries mentioned in paragraph six were entitled to the lands in proportion to the money furnished by them and used in paying for the said “ second ” lands.

Eighth. — That E. F. Colyar, E. O. Nathurst, W. D. Spears, and N. B. Spears furnished no money to pay for the second lands, and had no interest therein.

Ninth. — That they should have a lien thereon to secure the payment of reasonable compensation for their services in buying up the lands, and such expenses as they incurred in so doing.

Tenth.

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