Graves v. Griffin

228 S.W. 913, 1921 Tex. App. LEXIS 781
CourtTexas Commission of Appeals
DecidedMarch 16, 1921
DocketNo. 192-3244
StatusPublished
Cited by10 cases

This text of 228 S.W. 913 (Graves v. Griffin) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Texas Commission of Appeals primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Graves v. Griffin, 228 S.W. 913, 1921 Tex. App. LEXIS 781 (Tex. Super. Ct. 1921).

Opinion

KITTRELL, J.

Plaintiff, Jim Griffin, by a petition in the ordinary form of trespass to try title and in the briefest possible compass, sued to recover title to certain property described as follows: Lots Nos. 7 and 8 in block 47, Chamberlain’s Arlington Heights addition to the city of Fort Worth; lots 23 and 24 in block 1 of the Shaw Heights addition to the city of Fort Worth; lots 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 in block 6 of Shaw Heights addition to the city of Fort Worth. This property he owned on November 7,1916.

Defendant disclaimed as to the Chamberlain’s Arlington Heights addition property. While there is no allegation even indicating the fact, it is revealed by the findings of fact of the trial judge that the property had been levied on and sold as the property of plaintiff on November 7, 1916, and that it was bought by defendant, who was in no way connected with the action in which the judgment was rendered. The plaintiff in the original judgment against Griffin was not made a party to the action.

Defendant answered by general denial and plea of not guilty, and alleged the action brought by plaintiff was a cloud upon his title, which he prayed be removed. There was no supplemental pleading filed by either party, the case having been tried on the pleadings above outlined; which included no attack in any form on the validity of the judgment or the regularity of the execution.

There is no statement of facts in the record, but it appears from the findings of fact that considerable evidence was introduced over Graves’ objection relating to value and matters of description and the defendant Graves’ motion for a new trial shows that exceptions were taken to much of the testimony, but there are no bills of exception in the record, though there is reference in the motion to several bills of exception by number.

There was no pleading by plaintiff of a tender of the money which defendant paid, for the property, nor did the defendant ask by primary or alternative pleading for judgment for it; yet the court found that'the money was paid into court, and gave defendant judgment for it. The findings of fact and conclusions of law reveal that the court based his action, on the main, on two grounds:

(1) That the description of the property in the levy advertisement and in the deed was incomplete, ambiguous, and insufficient, in that it did not show whether the Shaw Heights addition property' was in the Shaw Heights “First Filing” or Shaw Heights “Second Filing,” which fact was calculated to prevent its bringing a fair price. The court found there were two filings, “First” and “Second,” though there was no such allegation in plaintiff’s pleading.

(2) The gross inadequacy of price paid by defendant, to wit, about one twenty-third of the value of the property.

As has been said, there were no pleadings setting up any of such grounds as the court finds, nor' is there any statement of facts; the ground of action being deduced from the court’s findings and conclusions, which, in order to a thorough understanding of the case, it will be helpful to set forth in full. They are as follows:

“I find that on and prior to November 7, 1916, the plaintiff, Jim Griffin, owned and possessed lots 23 and 24 in block 1 and lots 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 in block 6 in Shaw IIrights addi[914]*914tion (First Filing) to the city of Fort Worth, in Tarrant county, Tex.; and also lots 7 and S in block 47 Chamberlain’s Arlington Heights addition to the said city of Fort Worth, in Tar-rant county, Tex., and is the common source of title.
“(2) That there are two Shaw Heights additions to said city of Fort Worth, known as First Filing and Second Filing. That lots in said First Filing are more valuable and desirable than lots in said Second Filing.
“(3) That on the 15th day of September, 1916, one F. H. Nuckells recovered a judgment against the plaintiff herein in the justice court precinct No. 1, Tarrant county, Tex., for the sum of $90, together with interest thereon from date at the rate of 6 per cent, per annum, and all costs of suit, amounting to the further sum of $14.79, which said judgment was a valid and subsisting judgment against plaintiff herein, Jim Griffin.
“(4) That on the 27th day of September, 1916, an execution was issued by the justice of the peace, who rendered said judgment and placed in the hands of the constable in and for said precinct No. 1, Tarrant county, Tex., and a levy was made by said constable thereunder on the following real estate to wit: Lots 23 and 24 in block 1 and lots 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 in block 6 in Shaw Heights addition to the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant county, Tex.; also lots 7 and 8 in block 47 of Chamberlain's Arlington Heights addition to the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant county, Tex.
“(5) That thereafter said real estate was advertised to be sold under the following description: ‘Lots 23 and 24 in block 1 and lots 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 in block No. 6, Shaw Heights addition to the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant county, Tex.; also lots 7 and 8 in block 47 of Chamberlain’s Arlington Heights addition to the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant county, Tex.’ That said description failed to state in which filing of said Shaw Heights addition (First or Second) said lots were located.
“(6) That on November 7, 1916, which was the first Tuesday in November, 1916, said constable executed said writ of execution announced, cried off and auctioned off lots 23 and 24 in block 1 and lots 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 in block 6, Shaw Heights addition to the city of Fort Worth, Tarrant county, Tex., and also lots 7 and 8 in block 47 Chamberlain’s Arlington Heights addition to said city of Fort Worth, each lot separately, selling the same for the total or aggregate amount of $81 to defendant herein, D. R. Graves; he being the only bidder at said sale.
“(7) That thereafter, on the same day, the constable made a deed to defendant herein, D. R. Graves, to lots 23 and 24 in block 1 and lots 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19 in block 6, Sháw Heights addition to the said city of Fort Worth, and also to lots 7 and 8 in block 47, Chamberlain’s Arlington Heights addition to said city of Fort Worth.
“(8) That the filing (First and Second) of said Shaw Heights addition is not mentioned in the advertisement, was not mentioned in the crying or auctioning off at the constable’s sale, and is not mentioned in said constable’s deed to defendant.
“(9) That the said constable’s deed is a cloud upon plaintiff’s title.
“(10) That at the time of said sale, to wit, on November 7, 1916, the reasonable market value of plaintiff’s said lots described in paragraph 1 hereof was the sum of $1,800, of which the Arlington Heights lots were at said time $400 in value.
“(11) That the description contained in the notices of sale and the advertisements made by said constable is incomplete and ambiguous, and insufficient to identify plaintiff’s said lots, inasmuch as there are two filings of said Shaw Heights addition, and prospective buyers could not have known from said description in which of said filings said lots were located.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
228 S.W. 913, 1921 Tex. App. LEXIS 781, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/graves-v-griffin-texcommnapp-1921.