Dowling v. Doyle

102 S.E. 27, 149 Ga. 727, 1920 Ga. LEXIS 390
Supreme Court of Georgia·Decided January 17, 1920·No. No. 1467·Published·Cited by 31 cases

Opinion

George, J.

(After stating the foregoing facts.) As a general rule, injunction will not issue to restrain a landlord who has sued out a dispossessory warrant against a tenant alleged to be holding over beyond his term, upon the ground that the tenant has a good defense to the warrant, of which he is unable to avail himself by filing a counter-affidavit, because, by reason of his poverty, he can not give the bond which the statute requires in connection with such affidavit. Hall v. Holmes, 42 Ga. 179; Huff v. Markham, 70 Ga. 284; Brown v. Watson, 115 Ga. 592 (41 S. E. 998). The general rule does not apply in this case. Mrs. Dowling was in the actual possession of the land. She claimed title thereto. Her suit for specific performance was pending at the time the defendant in that suit instituted eviction proceedings against Mr. Dowling. [731] The warrant to evict, if executed, will have the effect to dispossess Mrs. Dowling, the plaintiff in the specific-performance suit. In such circumstances injunction should issue if it appears that the suit for specific performance is in good faith and is apparently based on good grounds. Pace v. Neely, 113 Ga. 901 (39 S. E. 420).

Before considering the merits of the suit for the specific performance of the contract, two preliminary matters require notice. The agent and attorney representing Mrs. Dowling was permitted to testify to transactions with the deceased Nace. Counsel for the defendant in error contends that this evidence was illegally received and considered, and cites the case of Kramer v. Spradlin, 148 Ga. 805 (98 S. E. 487). In that case it was held that a legatee was an “assignee” of the testator, within the meaning of the Civil Code, § 5858. Mr. Nace made no will. There was administration upon his estate. There being no. debts, the administrator consented to a division of the realty by the heirs. The administrator was not a party to the suit. It appears that the evidence was admitted without objection. No question, therefore, is presented for decision here. See, however, Oliver v. Powell, 114 Ga. 592 (40 S. E. 826). It is urged that the evidence, being illegal, should not be considered, although not objected to in the court below. This court has heretofore suggested that evidence illegally admitted without objection may be considered by the court if the evidence has probative value. If the evidence has no probative value, as for instance if it is purely hearsay, the court should not consider it, although admitted without objection, for the obvious reason that it proves nothing. The second matter to which attention is directed is the order of the court. Had the judge put his refusal of the interlocutory injunction on the facts which were controverted, or had he denied the injunction generally, the case would fall within the general rule that the discretion of the judge in granting or refusing interlocutory relief upon disputed issues of fact will not be controlled, unless manifestly abused. However, the judgment itself clearly discloses that the judge did not exercise a discretion. The judge found that the contract, “not being in writing, is too indefinite to be enforcible.” Unless this conclusion — in final analysis a legal conclusion — is justified, the judgment refusing an interlocutory injunction should be reversed. Head v. Bridges, 72 Ga. 30 (2); Spires v. Wright, 147 Ga. 633 [732] (2) (95 S. E. 232). The contract was in parol. The making of the contract and the terms thereof, except in the particulars noted in the statement of facts, were admitted by the defendant. The evidence clearly discloses that Mrs. Dowling was the owner' of an equity of considerable value in the house and lot levied upon, and that she had arranged to have the property bid in by a third party for her benefit at the sheriff’s sale. At this juncture Mr. Nace entered with Mrs. Dowling into the parol contract which she seeks to have specifically enforced. At the sale third parties submitted bids. They were advised of the agreement by Mr. Nace, and, being so advised, withdrew their bids. The validity of the contract, though in parol, is scarcely open to question. In Collins v. Williamson, 94 Ga. 635 (21 S. E. 140), it was held: “One who, at the instance of a vendee of land who was in possession under a bond for titles with none of the purchase-money paid, bid off the land at a sheriff’s sale, under a parol agreement with the vendee, the defendant in execution, that he would buy in the land, advance the money, and take the sheriff’s conveyance to himself for the benefit of such vendee, and who, while the bidding was in progress, discouraged bidding by another by stating that he was bidding in behalf of the vendee, holds as trustee for the latter such title as he derived from the sheriff, and on being paid or tendered in due time the amount of his bid and all other money advanced by him in consequence of his purchase, with interest thereon, may be compelled by decree to convey the premises to said vendee by release or quitclaim deed.” See also Chastain v. Smith, 30 Ga. 96; Rives v. Lawrence, 41 Ga. 283; Gordon v. Spellman, 145 Ga. 682 (89 S. E. 749, Ann. Cas. 1918A, 852).

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Dowling v. Doyle, 102 S.E. 27, 149 Ga. 727, 1920 Ga. LEXIS 390 (Ga. 1920).

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