Crawford v. Meis

66 L.R.A. 154, 123 Iowa 610

• Court: Supreme Court of Iowa
• Decided: April 14, 1904
• Status: Published

Opinion

Bishop, J.

At the outset the rights of the parties un-deniably were as follows: The said Theophlius Crawford, Jr., and Eliza, his wife, “and the survivor of them,” were entitled to the possession, use, and income of the property during life. Upon their death their children named would become entitled to the estate as tenants in common, for a gift by a testator with remainder over creates a tendancy in common in the remaindermen after the termination of the life estate. Now, upon the happening of the death of Alexander, one of the remaindermen, his parents, the life tenants, without doubt inherited his one-sixth interest. With this accepted as the situation, we may pass on to the time when the lands were sold for taxes and the tax deed issued to David Crawford. Note- may be taken at this point of the contention on the part of appellants to the effect that in the matter of taking title to the estate under such tax deed David Crawford acted solely as a trustee for and on behalf of the life tenants and the several remaindermen, and that the subsequent conveyances by him made were intended to be in execution of his trust, and not otherwise. Accordingly, it is insisted that tire effect of such conveyance was simply to restore all parties to their former status, the three remaindermen to whom conveyance was made taking title in trust for themselves and their co-remainderman. Without setting forth the evidence at length or entering upon an extended discussion thereof, we may dispose of this contention by saying that the evidence in the record which we regard as competent do'es not satisfy us that the relation of trustee and cestui que trust existed as contended for. We may proceed, therefore, upon the theory that David Crawford was a stranger to the life estate as well as to the estate in remainder, and that by his tax deed he acquired a perfect title to the property as against both the life tenants and the tenants in remainder. Taking this to be the situation, we may at once inquire what were the rights of the parties under the several deeds as executed and delivered by David Crawford.

i remainder-wEpurSSe' tax title. Eirst, as to the deed from David Crawford to George W., Eranklin, and Helen A. Crawford. We.think it clear that such deed had the effect- to vest a perfect title in the grantees named therein. It is true, as contended for by counsel for appellants, that where there exists, as between joint tenants or tenants in common, a reciprocal duty of protecting the joint estate, one may not absorb or get rid of the interests of his co-tenant by allowing the property to go to tax sale, and thereunder acquire title to the entire estate through the medium of a tax deed. And this is true whether the tax deed is procured to be executed directly to the tenant or to another through whom such tenant claims as grantee. Weare v. Van Meter, 42 Iowa 130; Austin v. Barrett, 44 Iowa, 490; Blumenthal v. Culver, 116 Iowa, 326; Phillips v. Wilmarth, 98 Iowa, 32. It is to be noted, however, that in each of 'the cases cited, and in others where the like rule is declared, the co-tenants were in possession or entitled to possession, and each was charged with the duty of protecting the joint estate. And it is under such circumstances that payment by one co-tenant is held to be presumably for the benefit'of all, and he who pays may' charge the several interests of his co-tenants with the proportionate parts which such co-tenants should have paid. Cooley on Taxation, 461. The reason for the rule seems to be that, there being a reciprocal duty on the part of the co-tenants to pay the taxes assessed, and as a part of the taxes for which the land is sold is a claim upon the purchaser’s share, the sale is based in part upon his own default, and it would be inequitable to permit him to profit by his own wrong. 11 Am. & Eng. Ency. 1082 (1st Ed.) Here, however tire co-tenants in remainder were not in possession, nor did they have any right of possession, and they were not chargeable with the duty and responsibility of making payment of taxes. As between themselves, it cannot be said that there were any reciprocal rights or duties. The duty of paying taxes rested upon the life tenants, and, should one of the remaindermen have seen fit to pay taxes allowed to become delinquent for the protection of the estate, he could not recover any portion of the amount so paid from his co-remaindermen. There being no duty to pay, there could be ho such thing as an enforced contribution. It must be manifest that, as applied to such a case the rule contended for by counsel for appellants can have no force or application. Quite to the contrary, the principle which should be made to govern is that which finds expression in the opinion in the case of Alexander v. Sully, 50 Iowa, 192. It was there held that one who, prior to the issuance of a tax deed, had occupied the relation of a co-tenant in remainder, and whose estate had been terminated by such deed without his fault or wrong, may purchase the entire estate of the holder of the tax title and this he may do for his own exclusive benefit. We are content to follow the doctrine of the case cited, and, giving thei same application to the case before us it must be said that there was no restriction upon the right of the grantees of David Crawford to acquire and hold title for their own benefit. This being true, it remains to be said that the title of the present owners, derived through such grantees, is not subject to attack at the hands of plaintiffs and intervener. Passing other matters of defense alleged and insisted upon, we conclude that with respect to the lands under present consideration the decree of the trial court was right, and should be affirmed.

2' ?aüxEtiutSby°f life tenant, We may consider now the effect of the deed ns made by David Crawford to Eliza Crawford. Having in mind the fact that she, with her husband, were simply life tenants under the will of Theophilus Crawford, Sr., wc think it clear that the deed as made to hoc jiave 110 other effect than to restore the lifo tenancy and the ownership of the inherited one-sixth interest in the estate in remainder. .As life tenant, it was the plain duty of Mrs. Crawford to protect not only her life estate, but the estate in remainder, by the payment of taxes when due. Olleman v. Kelgore, 52 Iowa, 38; Booth v. Booth, 114 Iowa, 79. And certainly a life tenant charged with the duty of paying taxes will be estopped, as against the remaindermen, from claiming to be the owner of the fee title under a tax deed, it appearing that such tenant has failed in his duty to pay the taxes, and has allowed the lands to be sold therefor; and this is time whether title is sought to be taken directly through the medium of the tax deed or by conveyance procured from one who has purchased at the tax sale. In either case the transaction amounts in law simply to a redemption; from the tax sale. To hold otherwise would be to open wide the door to gross frauds and abuses, for, while a remainder-man may protect his interest in expectancy by making pay-? ment of taxes he has the right to rely upon payment being made by the life tenant, and he may, therefore, as against such tenant, give himself no concern during the continuance of the life estate. Cooley on Taxation, 467 (2dJEd.)

Now, as the deed to Mrs. Crawford had 'the effect, in legal contemplation, only to redeem the lands from tax sale, and thus restore the prior existing rights, it follows that, speaking strictly, by the deed to the several defendants in these cases in which she and her husband subsequently joined, there was conveyed by them only such interest as they then had, to wit, the life estate covering all the lands thus conveyed, and the one-sixth interest in the estate in remainder derived through the death of their son Alexander. As three of the remaindermen joined in such conveyance, full title was vested in the grantees, subject only to such rights as became reinvested in Charles and Lewis Crawford, as remaindermen, by virtue of the deed from David Crawford to their mother, Eliza Crawford. This the trial court found and decreed, and, further, that the interests thus reinvested in said Charles and Lewis Crawford and the legal heirs of the latter continued in full force at the time of the commencement of these actions —this upon the theory that the statute of limitations, pleaded by defendants, did not begin to run until the death of Eliza Crawford in the year 1899.

,. 3. Oustkr by remaindermen: verse^possessi°n. The appeal of defendant Meis is addressed to that portion of the decree which denies to him the benefit of the statute of limitations, and this presents the only remaining question in the case. It is the contention of appelx xt ]ee that, conceding the effect of the deed to Eliza Crawford when made to have been as stated., still his plea of the statute should have been sustained. On the other hand, it is the position of appellants that, taking the situation to be as stated, and having it in mind that, as related to the one-sixtli interest in remainder, the .possession of their co-tenants was their possession, and 'hat, as related to the life estate, they had no right of entTv until the termination of such estate by the death of their mother, it follows that the bar of the statute cannot be successfully asserted as against them. Directing our attention to the question thus made, it is certain that Eliza Crawford and her husband, as owners of a one-sixth remainder interest, .and therefore co-tenants in expectancy with the other re- ■ maindermen, conveyed that interest by their deed to defendants. Aside from such one-sixth interest, and strictly speaking, it is to be said that they conveyed no more by such deed • than the life estate interest possessed by them. 'Now, clearly enough, it is the general rule that the possession of one tenant in common is the possession of all the co-tenants and inures to the benefit of all. 17 Am. & Eng. Ency. 669 (2d. Ed.), and cases cited. But that one co-tenant, or a grantee thereof, may Avorlc an ouster and disseisin of his co-tenants, and, having held adverse possession under claim of right or ■color of title for the limitation period, may assert full title, and may invoke the bar of the statute in protection thereof as against his co-tenants, is also well-settled doctrine. Burns v. Byrne, 45 Iowa, 285; Kinney v. Slattery, 51 Iowa, 353; Bader v. Dyer, 106 Iowa, 715. Whilb in such cases an actual ouster must be made to appear, still this does not of necessity mean an actual physical eviction. As was said in the Burns Gase, it means “a possession attended with such circumstances as to evince a claim of exclusive right and title, and a denial of the right of the other tenants to participate in the profits.” In Kinney v. Slattery it appeared that Jane Dobbins, a widow, died seised of tbe lands in question in tbe year 1860. She left as her only heirs at law a son, W. C. Dobbins, and a daughter, Aim E. Dobbins, since married to J. W. Kinney. In 1862 the former conveyed the land as his own to one Dutton, and the defendant Slattery claims under a conveyance from Dutton.. More than ten years later Ann E. Kinney commenced her action to recover an undivided half of said land. The defendant pleaded actual, open, and adverse possession for the statutory period. In the course of tbe opinion it was said that: “The conveyance of the land by W. O. Dobbins as his own, and the .possession taken by his grantee under such conveyance, evinced a claim of exclusive right and title, and .a denial of the right of the plaintiff. This amounted to an actual ouster and disseisin of tbe plaintiff.” So, too, it may be conceded that as a general rule the limitation statute does not begin to run as against a remainderman until the termination of tbe preceding estate. Dugan v. Follett, 100 Ill., 581; Van Ormer v. Harley, 102 Iowa, 150. But tbe rule supposes an uninterrupted continuation of the relation of life tenant and remainderman. As-in the case of co-tenants, it does not apply where there has been an ouster and disseisin by the life tenant, or one claiming by or through him, and this under claim of right or color of title, followed by adverse possession for the statutory period. In the recent case of Murray v. Quigley, 119 Iowa, 6, we-distinctly held that, especially in view of our statutes giving to remaindermen and reversioners a right of action to-settle disputed questions of title notwithstanding the continued existence of the dominant estate, tbe bar of tbe statute may be invoked as against a remainderman, who, knowing' that his rights are being disputed or assailed, has failed during the limitation period to assert such rights as against one holding possession adversely, and claiming - under right or color of title to be tbe sole owner. It is thought by counsel for appellant that the doctrine thus announced is unsound, and should not be adhered to, but we think otherwise. The-rule involves no hardship and the beneficent effect thereof must be to bring up for settlement disputed questions of title before becoming stale, and while yet the facts are within reach of the parties interested. Accordingly, we are content to give the doctrine this further recognition, and to add thereto the sanction of our present holding.

We may now turn to the record to ascertain whether, as contended for by appellees, the facts in the instant cases warrant an application of the matters of doctrine announced in the cases to which we have made reference. It may be noted, in the first place, that the conveyances by Theophilus, Jr., and Eliza Crawford were by deeds of general warranty. The grantees paid the full value of the property, and at once entered into pdssession. This continued openly and notoriously down to the time of the commencement of these actions — a period of nearly thirty years; and incident thereto they have paid all taxes and made many and valuable improvements. All this was well known to plaintiff Charles Crawford and to Lewis Crawford in his lifetime, and, following his death, to his heirs. In this connection it may be said that Lewis Crawford became of age about the time the deeds to defendants were executed, and Charles Crawford became of age about the year 1816, so that no question of the rights of minors is involved. Now, it may be conceded that a critical examination of the records of Dubuque county, aided by other evidence suggested thereby, woidd have revealed the facts in reference to the title to the lands in controversy, and that the grantees of Theophilus, Jr., and Eliza Crawford did not, in point of fact, obtain full and perfect title to such lands. But it is essential only to the running of the statute that there be a good-faith claim of right based upon color of title. It appears that Msis had no actual knowledge that his title was* defective; on the contrary, he acted upon the belief that be had perfect title in all respects, and this continued down to a short time before these actions were brought. We conclude, therefore, that, taking into consideration the character of the conveyances under which appellee holds, the character of his subsequent possession and the period thereof, the knowledge of plaintiffs and the intervener in respect of all thereof, a case of adverse possession under ouster and disseisin has been made out. See the cases already cited; also, Leach v. Hall, 95 Iowa, 620. This being true, the lapse of time was such as that when these actions were brought the bar of the statute of limitations had long been complete. •

It follows that in the Meis Case the decree must be and it is affirmed on plaintiffs’ appeal, and reversed on defendant’s appeal. In the Luthmers Case the decree is affirmed. In the Bartman Case, as the plaintiffs were granted all the relief to which they could, in any event, be entitled, and as the defendants in that case have not appealed, the decree is AEEIRMED.

Aeeirmed on plaintiff’s appeal. Heversbd on defendant Meis’ appeal.