Middleton v. Selby

19 W. Va. 167, 1881 W. Va. LEXIS 17

• Court: West Virginia Supreme Court
• Decided: December 17, 1881
• Status: Published

Opinion

Patton, Judge,

announced the opinion of the Court:

The appeal in this cause not having been allowed until the 8th day of July, 1880, no notice can be taken of any error, if any existed, in the decrees of the 25th day of April, 1874 and the 27th day of October, 1874, as more than five years had elapsed from the time those decrees were pronounced, when the appeal was allowed, except so far as such error may be considered upon the bill of review filed in the cause. (Acts of 1872-3, ch. 17, §3). A bill of review can be filed for only two reasons, error in law appearing on the face of the decree or some new matter, which has arisen in time after the decree, and not any new proof, which by the exercise of reasonable diligence might have been used when the decree was made. (Amiss et al. v. McGinnis, 12 W. Va. 371). In determining what is error of law apparent on the face of the decree the court cannot look into the evidence in order to see, if the decree sought to be reviewed is erroneous, as that is the proper office of the court upon appeal. (Thompson v. Edwards, 3 W. Va. 659.

The bill in this case does not aver any new matter arising, since the decrees were pronounced; and the only question is : Does it show any error in law upon the face of the decrees, for which they should be reviewed and reversed ? In determining this question ,it is necessary to look at the whole record including the testimony to ascertain, whether upon the whole case error of law has been committed in pronouncing the decrees. The bill clearly shows a case for the specific execution of a verbal contract for the sale of land notwithstanding the statute of frauds. The part-performance of a verbal contract entitles either party to a specific execution of the contract. Payment of the purchase-money or a part of it and possession of the property constitute such part-performance, as takes a case out of the statute. (Lowry v. Buffington, 6 W. Va. 249; Vickers v. Sisson’s adm’r, 10 W. Va. 12 ; Butcher v. Stapely, 1 Vern. 363; Pike v. Williams, 2 Vern. 455; Earl of Aylesford’s Case, 2 Stra. 783; Stewart v. Denton, 1 Fonbl. Eq. 187; Savage v. Carroll, 1 Ball & B. 265; Kine v. Balf, 2 Ball & B. 343; Gregory v. Mighell, 18 Ves. 328; Pain v. Coombs, 1 De. G. & Y. 34, 46; Pugh v. Goods, 3 Watts. & Ls. 56.)

The answer denies the sale, denies the possession, denies the payment of part of the purchase-money and sets up as de-fence to the complainant’s right to a specific execution of the alleged contract, that the title to the property is defective, and that the defendant is an alien and was not entitled to purchase and hold real estate. The complainant, who was a competent witness, gave his own deposition, in which he clearly proves the contract and its terms, the payment of part of the purchase-money and the. possession of the defendant. The tenant’s deposition also shows the possession and the statement of the defendant, that he had purchased the land and wanted him to occupy it. Although the defendant appeared and moved for a continuance of the cause, which motion was granted on the 26th day of April, 1873, and although these depositions were not taken until the 23d day of December, 1873, the defendant did not testify himself or offer any testimony whatever in the cause. He filed no answer even until a year after his appearance, and until a year after the decree for sale had been pronounced, and after the commissioner had under, that decree sold the land. It is plain under these circumstances, that the allegations in the bill of the sale, payment of part of the purchase-money and possession in the defendant were fully established, and so far as the decree as a matter of law determined those matters, it was not error.

In regard to the defence, that the defendant was an alien and was not therefore entitled to purchase and hold real estate in this State, it is sufficient to say without determining the question, whether that would be a good defence or not, if it had been made out, that there was no proof whatever of that fact in the record. If it could have availed him, he should have proved it, but he did not attempt to do so. It is like any other matter set up in an answer not responsive to the allegations of the bill, the burden of proof was upon the respondent. Had there been evidence upon this subject in the court below, it would have raised the question as a matter of law upon the bill of review, whether being an alien the contract could be specifically executed against him. But in this cause neither upon the bill of review nor upon an appeal upon the record could that question arise.

The only other ground of error assigned is, that as the answer alleged, that the title was defective, the court should have referred the cause to a commissioner to ascertain and report upon the title. The complainant, as before stated, gave his deposition ; and in that deposition he states, that he was the legal and equitable owner of the land. This deposition was taken upon notice served upon defendant’s counsel, and yet there was no cross-examination nor request for the statement of the title, and no exception at any time was taken to the deposition or its sufficiency on that point. The defendant contented himself with denying in his answer filed more than two years after the institution of the suit and more than a year after his appearance, that the title was good. There is no question, that generally and where any defect in the title was not known to the purchaser at the- time of the contract of sale, a court of equity will not decree a specific execution of a contract for the sale of land, unless the vendor can make a good title. (Watts v. Kenny, 3 Leigh 272; Goddin v. Vaughan & Co., 14 Gratt. 117; McCaver v. Jones, 1 Rob. 256; Clark v. Reives, 12 Gratt. 98). It is also true, that where a doubt arises as.to the title, or where the defendant asks for a reference of the question of title to a commissioner to be reported on, it is proper to so. refer the cause, and upon such application, should the court refuse to refer the question to a commissioner, it would be error.

Fry on Specific Performance, section 825, says : “ Hence it follows, that though the purchaser may admit, that he has only one particular objection or no objection at all to the title, he is equally entitled to a general reference as to it.” (Vide also Griffin, ex’r, v. Cunningham, 19 Gratt. 571; Beverly v. Lawson’s heirs, 3 Munf. 317; Lesturgeon v. Martin, 3 Myl. & K. 255; Fleetwood v. Green, 15 Ves. 594.) In 19 Gratt. 589 the court say: “ There is very good reason, why it should be incumbent upon the vendor to remove doubts and furnish the evidence of his title. He must be supposed to know his own title and the sources of it, while a vendee could not be supposed to know anything of it. This must have been peculiarly so in England, when they had no registry acts, and the true muniments of title were to be found only in the possession of the vendor. Nor do I see, why in this State, where we have these registry acts, the rule should be changed. It is true, the records facilitate the enquiry very much, but tüey are not absolute evidence of title. A conveyance may be perfectly good though not recorded, except as to creditors and bona ;fide purchasers. Besides the title often rests upon matters in pais, which the records do not disclose. But as to these matters the vendor must be presumed to be better informed than the vendee, and therefore I see no sufficient reason for adopting a different rule in this country from that which appears in the English reports.”

The enquiry as to title may be directed by the court (1) at the hearing or (2) on motion before the hearing but after answer or (3) before the answer. The practice of allowing this enquiry on motion was introduced by Lord Thurlo w. (Fry on Spe. Perfm. § 860). From the authorities it is clear, that this enquiry will be directed upon the application of the vendee, or where the proof in the cause raises a doubt as to the title; but it does not appear from the authorities, where no application is made by the purchaser, nor doubt raised by the proof, that the court will in all cases direct an enquiry as to the title.

In this case I see no ground whatever for directing the en-quiry. No application was made to the court for a reference to a commissioner; and no proof whatever was taken to cast a doubt upon the evidence of the complainant, that he had both the legal and equitable title to the property. The case of Griffen v. Cunningham, supra, is not a case in point in this regard, because in Virginia the answer of the complainant is to be taken as true unless overcome bv two witnesses or one witness with strong corroborating circumstances ; and in that case the defendant answered and showed in his answer, that he had had counsel to examine the title, and the counsel had reported it was bad, which report was filed as a part of the answer. The court thereupon directed a reference. It does not appear distinctly, whether the reference was made upon the application of the purchaser or by the court ex mero motu. But in our State, when the answer denies any material allegation of the bill, the effect of such denial is only to put the plaintiff on satisfactory proof of the truth of such allegation, and any evidence, which satisfies the court or jury of the truth thereof, shall be sufficient to establish the same. (Code of W. Va. ch. 125, § 59 ; Lowry v. Buffington, 6 W. Va. 249.)

But it is claimed by counsel for the appellant, that if the allegations of the answer as to defective title are not to be regarded as responsive to the bill, then they are to be regarded as new matter calling for affirmative relief by way of rescission, and in the absence of a special reply should have been taken as true without proof under section 36 chapter 126 of the Code. The allegations were unquestionably responsive to the bill; but the trouble is, that there was evidence sufficient to satisfy the court, that the title was not defective. Whether that proof would have been held sufficient in the Appellate Court to sustain the decree, had there been an appeal to ttiis Court, it is not necessary to enquire, as upon this bill of review no question of fact passed upon by the court below can be enquired into here. The only question here is : Assuming the fact to be true, was there error of law in the decree based upon the conclusion of fact ? But assuming that these allegations, if properly pleaded in the answer, would have entitled the appellant to affirmative relief and under section 36 of chapter 125 of the Code would have been taken as true, in the absence of a special replication was the matter of defective title properly pleaded? Section 3'5 of said chapter provides:

“ The defendant in a suit in equity may in his answer allege any new, matter constituting a claim for affirmative relief in such suit in the same manner and with like effect, as if the same had been alleged in a cross-bill filed by him therein, and in such case, if the plaintiff desire to controvert the relief prayed for in the answer, he shall file a reply in writing denying such allegations of the said answer, as he does not admit to be true, and stating any facts constituting a defence thereto.”

Section 36 provides: “Any material allegation of the bill not controverted by an answer and every material allegation of new matter in the answer constituting a claim for affirmative relief not controverted by a reply, shall for the purposes of the suit be taken as true, and no proof thereof shall be required.”

I understand these two sections of the Code taken together to mean, that where a defendant in a chancery suit is entitled to affirmative relief, instead of filing an answer denying the relief prayed for in the bill, which was the only office or effect of an answer at common law, and proceeding by regular formal .cross-bill separate and distinct from the answer, which at common law was the only mode of obtaining affirmative relief unless by original bill, he may now in addition to the denial of the relief prayed for in the bill allege in his answer such new matter, as would, if set up in a formal cross-bill or orginal bill, entitle him to affirmative relief, or in the language of the statute, “the defendant in a suit in equity-may in his answer allege any new matter constituting a claim for affirmative relief in such suit in the same manner and with like effect, as if the same had been alleged in a cross-bill filed by him therein” without the formal cross-bill or original bill, as was formerly necessary. In other words the provisions of the statute only authorize the defendant, to combine the cross-bill and the answer together. But in doing so it was evidently not the purpose of the statute to dispense with the prayer for the affirmative relief, which by the allegations of the answer it appeared he was entitled to, if it had been prayed for in a cross-bill or original bill. The language of the statute is: “And in such case, if the plaintiff desire to controvert the relief prayed for in the answer, he shall file a reply in writing,” &c. The mere averment of new matter constituting a claim for affirmative relief is not sufficient. It must not only be such matter but it must be alleged in the same manner and with like effect, as if the same had been alleged in a cross-bill filed by him therein. There must be a prayer for the relief appropriate to the character of the new matter.

Having then answered the claim of relief asserted by the complainant and proceeding in the same answer to set up the substantial allegations of a cross-bill with the prayer for relief, the complainant is put in the position of answering — or as the statute says, replying to this new matter and prayer for affirmative relief in the same manner and with like effect, as if it was in a cross-bill or original bill under the same penalty of its allegations being taken as true without proof, as if they had been made in a formal bill. The 36th section I understand to mean, that the material allegations of any bill not controverted by an answer are to be taken as true, and no proof thereof shall be required, and for the same reason that the material allegations of a bill shall be taken pro con-fesso, the allegation of new matter in the answer constituting a claim for affirmative relief, if pleaded in the same manner and with like effect, as if set up in a cross-bill, shall likewise be taken as true, and no proof thereof shall be required. But simply to aver new matter in an answer without a prayer for affirmative relief should be treated as mere surplusage. It gives to the complainant no notice of a wish for affirmative relief nor the character of the relief desired, and leaves him without guide in replying to some uncertain and unknown relief, that on the hearing may be asserted.

Whether process must issue in such case, as it would do upon a regular formal cross-bill, I do not think it necessary now to determine, as that question in mv view of it does not arise in this case.

The answer in this case does not pray for any affirmative relief, and does not indicate in any way the relief, that the respondent considers himself entitled to from the new matter averred. He does notin che auswer seek affirmative relief; and it would be a strange anomaly in pleading, if the court should decree to him that, which neither under a special or general prayer he has sought at its hands. If the defendant had been entitled to a rescission of the contract of sale, if the grounds, upon which he was entitled to it, had been set up in a cross-bill or in the manner contemplated by the statute, he is certainly not entitled to it upon the allegations of the answer filed; nor was the complainant in the bill required to do more than file a general replication, which he did. A special replication would have been bad pleading and would properly have been rejected by the court.

The final decree in the cause recites the filing of the answer with general replication and proceeds: “ And the plaintiff now moving for a final decree herein and the defendant not moving for a continuance of this cause and not showing any grounds for continuance, as required by section 62 of chapter 125 of the Code of West Virginia, and the court seeing no good cause to order a continuance, and this cause coming on now to be finally heard, &c.” It will be seen therefore, that no application was made for a reference to a commissioner as to title; no claim was asserted or pretended for affirmative relief; no time was asked to take proof; nothing on the record raised a doubt as to the title; abundant opportunity had been afforded him to show that no such contract had been made, or that, if made, it should not be enforced; and under all these circumstances he chose to rely on the unsupported averments of his answer.

The court did not err in sustaining the demurrer to the bill of review; and I am of opinion to affirm the decree of the circuit court sustaining that demurrer and dismissing the bill with costs to the appellee, and to dismiss the appeal allowed to the decrees of the 25th day of April, 1874, and the 27th day of October, 1874, as improvidenlly awarded.

The Other Judges CoNcueeed.

Decree op April 29th, 1876, Affirmed. Appeal as to Other Decrees Dismissed.