James v. Smith

58 S.W. 714, 3 Indian Terr. 447, 1900 Indian Terr. LEXIS 10

• Court: Court Of Appeals Of Indian Territory
• Decided: October 6, 1900
• Status: Published

Opinion

Townsend, J.

The appellees call attention to the fact that appellants have not complied with rules 9 and 10 of this court, and, had appellees filed a motion to dismiss the appeal as provided in paragraph 5 of rule 10, this court would dismiss the appeal in this case. The only papers filed are a transcript and the brief of appellees. There is found with the papers an abstract and brief for appellants combined, but not filed, and this contains the only argument made by appellants, and seems to be the only paper to which appellees made answer in their brief. It contained no specification of errors. There is also found another paper, marked a brief of appellants, not filed, however, nor containing any argument whatever, but does set out what purports to be 11 specifications of error; but the same could not have been furnished to counsel for appellees, as they state in their brief that appellants had filed no assignment of errors, as the rule of this court requires. The specifications of error set out, however, are not in the order in which appellants argue the questions in their abstract and brief, and which appellees sought to answer. The result is confusion, and is a practice that. cannot be too strongly condemned. The argument of appellants is addressed to eight separate propositions, but at its close the appellants’ counsel especially calls the attention of the court to five propositions embraced in his argument as being the chief questions upon which he relies, and yet in his entire argument not a specific assignment of error is set out, but each proposition is a mixture of alleged error and argument.

Pleading. Oompiaint. The first proposition is that the complaint does not r L state sufficient facts. The transcript shows that the original complaint was filed on the 1st day of May, 1896, to which appellants, on the 8th day of October, 1896, filed a demurrer “for the reason the same does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.” This demurrer was argued and overruled by the court on the 12th day of October, 1896, and defendants were given 10 days in which to file answer. On October 22, 1896, defendants filed their answer, and on March 2, 1897, defendants filed a motion for continuance. What disposition was made of said motion does not appear. On March 9, 1897, defendants filed a motion to require plaintiffs to “make their complaint more specific, definite, and certain, by stating by what title or'right they assert ownership of improvements on the lands in controversy.” On March 11, 1897, plaintiffs filed an amendment to their complaint as set out in statement of facts, supra. On March 16, 1897, .both parties announced ready for trial, and the case was tried, resulting in a verdict for plaintiffs for the possession of the property in controversy. The defendants did not demur to the complaint as amended. Appellants cite section 2632, Mansf. Dig. (section 1916, Ind. T. Ann. St. 1899), to show complaint was insufficient. Said section is as follows:

“Sec. 2632. In all actions for the recovery of lands, except in actions of forcible entry and unlawful detainer, the plaintiff shall set forth in his complaint all deeds and other written evidences of title on which he relies for the maintenance of his suit, and shall file copies of the same as far as they can be obtained, as exhibits therewith, and shall state such facts as shall show a prima facie title in himself to the land in controversy, and the defendant in his answer shall plead in the same manner as above required from the plaintiff. ’ ’

This section simply requires the parties to set forth their deeds and other evidences of title. But, in determining the sufficiency of a complaint, it is held, in Howell vs Rye, 35 Ark. 470, “that the court, in considering * * * the demurrer to the complaint, could only look at its allegations, and see if they made a good cause of action and could not look at the deeds, exhibited with the complaint.” In Ball vs Fulton Co., 31 Ark. 379, it is held: “If the complaint omits to state a fact which is essential to the cause of action objection should be taken by demurrer; if it state the necessary facts in a defective, uncertain manner, objection should betaken, b3r motion, to make more definite. ” This seems to be the course appellants took in this case. If appellants were satisfied that the complaint omitted facts essential to the cause of action, they should have stood upon their demurrer; but by filing their answer, and moving to have the complaint made more specific, definite, and certain, and, after amendment, failing to demur or take other steps, and announcing ready for trial and trying the case, it is too late, after verdict, to question the sufficiency of the complaint on their motion for new trial or in this court.

But was the complaint insufficient? The original complaint set out how O. A. Smith and Catherine Smith succeeded to the rights of John J. Smith, and that John J. Smith and plaintiffs were all citizens of the Cherokee Nation. It goes further, aud alleges that the lands in question were part of the public domain of the Cherokee Nation, but that John J. Smith and William Howell, by virtue of the laws of the Cherokee Nation regulating the settlement of the public domain, were entitled to the possession of the lands, and that defendants, by sufferance of these parties, lived on the lands. It alleged a demand on February 28, 1896, for possession, and refusal and denial of plaintiff’s title. The amendment, by interlineation, showed that Smith and Howell owned improvements within a quarter of a mile. In Fagg vs Martin (Ark.) 14 S. W. 647, an Arkansas case, it is held “that a complaint in ejectment which avers plaintiff’s ownership and defendant’s possession is sufficient”; and in Stafford vs Watson, 41 Ark. 21, it is held that, “both parties claiming under the same right, the plaintiff was not bound to trace back his title beyond the common origin, unless the defendant showed some title in himself aliunde,” — citing many authorities to sustain the proposition. In the case at bar 0. A. Smith is the administrator of J. J. Smith, deceased, under whom the defendants entered. Hence there were no deeds or transfers to be set out, under section 2632, Mansf. Dig. (section 1916, Ind. T. Ann. St. 1899). Besides, titles in the Cherokee Nation are not required to be in writing, as between citizens. Yet if the complaint was defective, it was cured by the proof and the verdict. ‘ ‘When an imperfect pleading is not demurred to, and the proof supplies its defects, the pleading is to be considered as amended to conform to the proof and support the verdict.” Healy vs Conner, 40 Ark. 352. See, also, Railway Co. vs Triplett (Ark.) 16, S. W. 266; Hanks vs Harris, 29 Ark. 323.

The second proposition stated by appellants is that the court erred in not granting a continuance. There does not appear in the record any action by the court on the motion for continuance, nor any exception saved to any action on that motion, and hence it cannot be considered in this court.

Verbal contract -with deceased. Inadmissible. The third proposition stated by appellants is that the appellants should have been permitted to prove a verbal contract made bétween Eli James, one of the appellants, and J. J. Smith, deceased, in his lifetime; this being an action by O. A. Smith, administrator of J. J. Smith, deceased, and others against James and his wife. This testimony was objected to by the appellees, and was properly excluded, under section 2857, Mansf. Dig. (section 1972, Ind. T. Ann. St. 1899), which is as follows:

“Sec. 2857. In civil actions, no witness shall be excluded because he is a party to the suit or interested in the issue to be tried; provided, that in actions by or against executors, administrators or guardians, in which judgment may be rendered for or against them, neither party shall be allowed to testify against the other as to any transactions with or statements of the testator, intestate, or ward, unless called to testify thereto by the opposite party; provided, further, that this section may be amended or repealed by the general assembly. ”

Statute of frauds. Invoked only by parties to contract. Appellees also objected to appellants proving said contract unless the same was in writing, it being for an interest in lands, and the proof showing that James went on the lands in 1891. Appellants insist that, if the statute of frauds can be invoked against them, it should also obtain as to the sale between J, J. Smith, deceased, and appellee Howell, and that the testimony of Howell and Payne should not have been admitted, because it tended to show a transfer from Smith to Howell of an interest in lands without writing. Smith and Howell were Cherokee citizens, and the Cherokee law did not require such transfer to be in writing, and, besides, O. A. Smith, administrator, and Catherine Smith, who joined with Howell in this action, are not contesting Howell’s rights in the matter. The appellants were not parties to the contract between J. J. Smith in his lifetime and Howell, and the defense of the statute can only be made by parties to the contract or by. their privies. 9 Enc. PI. & Prac. p. 703. But, when appellants seek to prove a contract with appellees for an interest in lands, the latter have the right to invoke the statute, and have same excluded, unless it is in writing.

The fourth proposition stated by appellants is that Catherine Smith, widow of the deceased and one of the appellees, cannot object to a conversation had by her with one of the appellants. Mrs. Catherine Smith was not called as a witness by either appellants or appellees, and the objection was made by the appellees to' a question propounded to Eli James, one of the appellants, as follows: “Q. I want to ask you if you had any agreement or contract with Mrs. Smith in reference to the settlement of this land in question, —yqur occupancy there.” Appellees objected - First, unless the contract was in writing; and, second, upon the ground that title of Mrs. Smith had not accrued. The first objection was good, unless the writing was produced, as the occupancy had continued from 1891, and the appellants made no attempt to prove any written contract. The second objection went to the title or interest Mrs. Smith had under the Cherokee statute, which statute appellees had introduced in evidence from the compiled Laws of the Cherokee Nation, and is as follows:

“Sec.' 493. Every administrator and executor shall assume all the relations of the deceased person upon whose estate he may have obtained letters, and none other. In all suits at law, instiuted by or ag'ainst such deceased persons, such suit shall be prosecuted or defended, in every particulár, ás if no demise had occurred: provided, that, if at the next term of the court, after the death of such person there is no administrator or executor of his estate appointed, the judge of the court in which such suit is there pending, shall continue the same to the terms following. ”

“Sec. 504. All improvements shall be exempted from the payment of debts against any estate, and in the administrations of estates where there is 'a surviving wife or husband, or minor child or children, all the property exempted by law from execution shall likewise be exempted from the payment of debts against an estate, and shall be at once turned over to the surviving parent or guardian for-the use of the family. ”

Cherokee laws. Widow’s title to estate. Parties. It appears from this statute that the administrator or executor shall assume all the relations of the deceased person, and that all property exempted from execution shall be at once turned over to the surviving parent, etc. The administrator in this case found it necessary to recover possession before he could turn the property over to the widow, as was his duty under the statute to do, and until the possession had been delivered to her she could not contract concerning the land. Besides any admissions she might make would not bind the administrator or Howell, the other appellee, and, as evidence against them, any statements made by her were certainly inadmissible. Still she had an interest in the subject of the action and the relief demanded, and hence was a proper party, under the statute, Howell was also a proper party, having an interest. The statute of Arkansas (Mansf. Dig. § 4939; section 3144, Ind. T. Ann. St. 1899) upon this subject is as follows:

“Sec. 4939 All persons having an interest in the subject of an action, and in obtaining the relief demanded, may be joined as plaintiffs, except where it is otherwise provided. ”

This disposes of the fifth proposition stated by appellants, which objects to the latter part of the second instruction given by the court, which says he might have an interest. The said second instruction is as follows: “If you find from the evidence that at the time the administrator, one of the plaintiffs in this case, qualified as administrator of the estate of John J. Smith, deceased, he found the defendants in possession of a portion of the public domain of the Cherokee Nation, which was within the quarter-mile limit of an improvement that had been held and occupied or owned by the said John J. Smith, deceased, in his lifetime, or any person claiming under him, and that the defendants were noncitizens of the Cherokee Nation, the said administrator had a right to demand that they surrender possession of the property nowin controversy toNhim as administrator of the estate of the said John J. Smith, deceased, unless there is evidence satisfying your minds that the said John J. Smith had in his lifetime legally disposed of the same and, if the -defendants refused to so surrender possession, he had a right to bring and maintain this action for the recovery thereof; and if you further find that the plaintiff William Howell, being a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, had obtained an interest in the said portion of the public domain in dispute in this case, your verdict should be for the plaintiffs.”

ing indepen™" forfeits right of possession. The sixth proposition stated by appellants is that as they claim no title in the lands in controversy, the third instruction of the court was misleading, and, as there was no evidence tending to show they “set up an independent title in themselves,” the fourth instruction of the court was wrong. The answer of appellants denies the title of appellees, and the proof was to the same effect. The court instructed the jury in the third instruction that, if the jury found from the evidence that appellants entered upon such possession under the said John J. Smith, deceased, or cannot set up a claim or right in themselves to the said improvements against the said John J. Smith, deceased, or his heirs or privies in interest; and in the fourth instruction the court told the jury that while in possession under a lease agreement made between John J. Smith, deceased, and appellants, and upon demand being made by O. A. Smith, as administrator of John J. Smith, deceased, upon appellants, for surrender of possession of the premises, the appellants denied the title of said administrator, and set up an independent title in themselves, the law holds the appellants (defendants) by such denial, and setting up an independent title in themselves forfeited all rights to the possesion of the said lands, and the appellees (plaintiffs herein) or the representatives of the said John J. Smith became thereby entitled to the possession of the lands. ' We think both instructions were correct, and were applicable to the evidence in the case.

Oheroko.elaw. Owner of improvements entitlod to quarter mile limit. The seventh proposition stated by appellants is that appellees based their right to recover the tract of land in controversy by reason of the fact that the said tract of land sued for in this action was within the quarter of a mile limit of a certain 200-acre farm, which farm John J. Smith sold before his death. But such is no! the allegation of the complaint. The complaint alleges “that the said tract of land formed part of the Cherokee public domain, but that by virtue of the laws of the Cherokee Nation, regulating the settlement of the public domain, the said parties, the said John J. Smith and William Howell had and owned improvements thereon sufficient to establish a claim upon the public domain of the Cherokee Nation, and upon the one-quarter of a mile limit surrounding the same, and were entitled to the possession of the said lands, and by sufferance of John J. Smith and William Howell defendants [appellants] lived on said lands.’’ There was evidence that Smith had owned improvements on a 200-acre farm, but that he also owned other improvements on a smaller tract. Appellants insist that the fifth instruction was wrong and misleading. The said fifth instruction is as follows: “Although the jury may find that John J. Smith, deceased, in his lifetime, disposed of or sold the improvement, of which the premises in controversy were within the quarter-mile limit, yet if they further find that prior to such sale he had caused to be made an improvement upon the west border of the said quarter-mile limit, and in such sale of his improvements reserved such improvement upon the west border of the quarter- mile limit and the premises in controversy and some lots upon the quarter-mile limit immediately west of the west line of his improvement, then such reservation and such acts of improvement constituted an occupancy upon the quarter of a mile limit, and an additional improvement thereon, and. the defendants cannot maintain their contention that the said Smith, deceased, had abandoned his quarter of a mile limit by the sale of his original improvements.” We think, under the pleadings and proof in the record, the instruction was proper. The appellants were in possession of said tract of land by the sufferance of the appellees, — simply tenants, — and seek to retain possession by denying the title of appellees, when the appellees still owned the tract of land. We do not think there is any merit in this proposition.

The eighth proposition stated by appellants is that they attempted to prove a verbal contract under which they held (not claiming title); that the court sustained objections to this evidence; and therefore the sixth instruction should not have been given, as it was calculated to mislead the jury and prejudice their case. The sixth instruction'is as follows: “If the jury believe from the evidence that defendants made contract with John J. Smith, by the terms of which defendants were to retain possession of the lands in controversy, and said lands were to belong to John J. Smith, such contract would be void as far as allowing defendants to retain possesion of said lands is concerned; and, if you believe demand for the delivery of possession of the land in controversy was made by thé legal representatives of John J. Smith before bringing this suit, defendants cannot rely upon the said contract as a defense to this suit.”

Statute of frauds. Excludes verbal contract. The contract sought to be proven was properly excluded, under the statute of frauds. The fourth and fifth paragraphs of said statute (section 3371, Mansf. Dig. section 2405 Ind. T. Ann. St. 1899,) are as follows:

“Sec. 3371. No action shall be brought: * * . *

“Fourth. To charge any person upon any contract for the sale of lands, tenements or hereditaments, or any interest in or concerning them,

“Fifth. To charge any person upon any lease of lands, tenements or hereditaments for a longer term than one year, * * * unless the same is in writing,” etc.

Pleading. Defects in-cured by evidence and verdict. It is insisted by appellants that it was necessary to plead and prove the Cherokee statutes, and, by reason of the failure so to do, the case should be reversed in this court. The sto/tute of pleadings and practice (section 5083, Mansf. Dig., section 3288, Ind. T. Ann. St. 1899), provides as follows:

“Sec. 5083. The court must, in every stage of an action, disregard any error or defect in the proceedings, which does not affect the substantial rights . of the adverse party; and no judgment shall be reversed or affected by reason of such error or defect.”

If the complaint was defective, this was cured by the evidence and verdict. See Healy vs Conner, 40 Ark. 352, and other cases cited supra. We think the judgment of the court below was correct, and it is therefore affirmed.

Clayton, C. J., and Thomas and Gill, JJ., concur.