Flint v. Webb

25 Minn. 93, 1878 Minn. LEXIS 14
CourtSupreme Court of Minnesota
DecidedJune 6, 1878
StatusPublished

This text of 25 Minn. 93 (Flint v. Webb) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Flint v. Webb, 25 Minn. 93, 1878 Minn. LEXIS 14 (Mich. 1878).

Opinion

Cornell, J.

To prove a failure of title in respect to the premises conveyed by plaintiff to defendant, reliance is [94]*94placed upon a tax-deed from the city of St. Paul to one Phillips, purporting to grant the same premises, which are described as “Lot number twelve (12) in block number seven (7) Rice and Irvine’s addition to the city of St. Paul, Ramsey -county, state of Minnesota.” The efficacy of this deed, as a conveyance of this lot, is the main question for determination in this case. Its effect, under the statute, as prima-facie -evidence of title, need not be considered, for instead of contenting himself with using it for that purpose, the defendant voluntarily and affirmatively proved the sole authority and all the facts upon which its validity is claimed to depend, and, if these are insufficient to give it vitality as an operative conveyance to transfer the title to the premises in question, it must fail. The statutory presumption affixed to instruments -of this character has no application to a case where proof is actually made of all the facts and circumstances upon which the tax-deed rests for its support. The deed itself, in this -case, recites that, in pursuance of a judgment rendered in the district court of Ramsey county, and of an order of sale issued thereon, said premises were sold to the city of St. Paul by its treasurer; that the certificate of sale which was issued thereon to said city was transferred to one Gustav Willius, and by him to Phillips; and that, the period for redemption having expired, and no redemption having beé’n made, the said premises were by said deed granted to said Phillips, his heirs and assigns, forever, in pursuance of, and, as therein stated, “upon said city treasurer’s certificate of sale No. 177 A, issued for sidewalks built under M. B. Farrell’s contract of August 22, 1872.” In support of the deed, and as authority therefor, defendant proved said certificate of sale, the order of sale, and judgment, together with the judgment-roll and all the record files therewith connected, containing, among other things, the report of the city treasurer of the delinquent assessments upon which the judgment was obtained, and the order for judgment. He also introduced in evidence a notice of application for judgment against sev[95]*95■e*al lots, on account of delinquent unpaid assessments for .grading certain streets, and laying certain sidewalks therein specified, together with proof of constructive service thereof by publication. Though this notice, with proof of service, was not in fact incorporated in the judgment-roll, nor made .-a part of the record files of the alleged proceeding against the lot in question, yet it was proved as a fact, by defendant, that it was the only notice that had ever been served, and the one upon which the court acted in taking cognizance of the matter, and in rendering its judgment in the premises. The record before us contains a full copy of all these papers ■■and proceedings.

The tax-deed purports to convey “Lot number twelve (12), in block number seven (7), Eice and Irvine’s addition to the ■city of St. Paul, Eamsey county, state of Minnesota.” The ■certificate of sale states that the premises which were offered for sale, and sold, in pursuance of the judgment and the order •of sale issued thereon, were “Lot twelve (12), in block seven •(7), Eice and Irvine’s addition, south side of Fourth street, all in the city of St. Paul, Eamsey county, state of Minnesota.” This latter description corresponds with that contained in the •order of sale, and the judgment itself upon which the order was founded. It appears from the findings and evidence, ■that Fourth and Fifth streets, in the city of St. Paul, traverse Eice and Irvine’s addition, nearly parallel with each other, in •a general course east and west, the line or location of the former being south of the latter, and distant therefrom one •entire tier of blocks. The property in question, and which is described in the deed from plaintiff to defendant, as “Lot number twelve (12), of block numbered seven (7), of Eice and Irvine’s addition to the city of St. Paul, Minn., according to •the plat thereof, ” is situated on the north side of Fifth street, and adjoining it. Whether the plat of this addition contains another lot and block similarly numbered on the south side ■of Fourth street, but distinguished from the other by its locality with reference to that street or otherwise, is not dis[96]*96closed by either the findings or evidence. In the absence oí any evidence upon the subject, the contrary cannot be presumed, as the existence of such a state of facts is not impossible, nor so improbable as to justify any inference of this kind. The two descriptions, then, cannot be regarded as-identical in meaning, or as intended to indicate the same parcel of land. If the land described in the tax-deed, and which was intended to be conveyed by it, was a different parcel from that which was sold under the judgment, and which was-evidenced by the certificate of sale, it is clear that the deed was a nullity, as it was made without any authority. The officers executing it were only authorized to make a conveyance in pursuance of the certificate, and for the specific tract or lot that was mentioned in the judgment, and sold under it.

If, however, as defendant claims, the reference to the certificate in the deed, and its recitals, are sufficient to identify the premises therein described, as being the same as those mentioned in the certificate and judgment, then the question recurs whether the judgment itself in any way relates to or affects the lot which was granted to the defendant by the plaintiff. In both the order for judgment, and in the judgment itself, the property adjudged to be sold is described, in terms, as “Lot 12, block 7, Eice and Irvine’s addition, south side of Fowrth street.” In order to give the court any jurisdiction in proceedings of this character, the city treasurer is required to give notice of his intended application for judgment, in the manner required by statute, and to file with the clerk of the court a report of the delinquent assessments standing against each parcel or tract of land in respect to which he asks a judgment of sale. Such notice, with proof of service by publication where service is so made, he is required to file with his report. The notice must state the term of court, general or special, and the time and place, at which the application will be made, and must “briefly specify the respective warrants upon which such application is to be made, and a description of the property against which judg[97]*97ment Is desired, and request all persons interested to attend at said term.” These papers the clerk is directed to “receive and preserve,” and also to “record thereon all judgments, orders, and other proceedings of the court in relation thereto.” Upon the filing of said reports, the court is to proceed to the hearing of the same, and in case no objection is made, it “shall pronounce judgment against the several lots and parcels of land described in said reports, * * * * for the amount of the assessment,' damages and costs due severally thereon.” Sp. Laws 1871, c. 32, §§ 36-39, as amended by Sp. Laws 1872, c. 2. It would seem from these provisions that in making up. the judgment-roll in every proceeding of this character, the notice of application for judgment, with proof of service, and the report of the city treasurer, should constitute a part thereof; and it would also seem to be unnecessary to incorporate therewith any other paper or record relating to matters occurring prior to the proceeding in court.

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Bluebook (online)
25 Minn. 93, 1878 Minn. LEXIS 14, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/flint-v-webb-minn-1878.