Tarpey v. Deseret Salt Co.

5 Utah 205

• Court: Utah Supreme Court
• Decided: June 15, 1887
• Status: Published

Opinion

Boreman, J.:

This is an action for the recovery of the possession of real estate. Upon the trial in the court below, when the plaintiff (appellant here) had introduced his evidence and’ rested his case, the defendant (respondent) moved the court for judgment of nonsuit against the plaintiff, which motion was granted. Prom this judgment of nonsuit the appellant has brought the case to this court.

1. The first alleged error was the action of the court im sustaining the objection of the respondent to the introduction in evidence of a certain deed purporting to be from the Central Pacific Bailroad Company to ’the plaintiff. It was offered to show title in appellant. A ground of objection to this deed was that it was not signed by one or more witnesses as required by the territorial statute. Comp. Laws, p. 254, sec. 1 (617). That section of the statute provides “that conveyances of lands, or any estate or interest therein, may be made by deed signed by the person from whom the estate or interest is intended to pass, being of lawful age, or by his lawful agent or attorney, and by one or more credible witnesses, and acknowledged or proved and recorded as provided in this act.” This section was evidently intended to cover the whole subject, and requires the use of the formalities specified to make a deed good: Crane v. Reeder, 21 Mich., 60. It sets forth all the required formalities of a deed of conveyance of real estate to make the deed good for every purpose. To make a deed good for all purposes, therefore, each of these requirements must be complied with. By the execution of a deed is meant the various formalities required by law for the completion of it, which include the signing, sealing, attestation, and acknowledgment. Tied. Beal Prop., sec. 804. A deed may be good as between the parties thereto, and yet not be good for all purposes — not good as against a stranger. The respondent is a stranger to the deed under consideration. Can any of the requirements referred to be dispensed with, and tire deed yet be held good as against respondent?

The second section of the statute referred to provides tbat every conveyance of land “proved, acknowledged, and certified in the manner prescribed by this act” shall be valid between the parties, and to all persons liaving actual notice thereof, without being recorded. The recording-may, therefore, as to the parties and persons having actual notice thereof, be dispensed with. By a later statute it seems that, as between the parties, all these formalities are dispensed with except the signing by the party. Laws 1884, p. 366, sec. 1206. We find nothing, however, in the statutes that would authorize the acknowledgment and proving to be dispensed with, and yet the deed be held good as to one not a party or privy, nor having notice thereof. Either the acknowledgment or the proving must accompany every deed to make it valid. Both are not necessary to make it prima facie good, either being sufficient if the deed be otherwise sufficient. The deed in the present case was acknowledged, but not otherwise proved. The proving of a deed, when necessary to be made, must be by the testimony of a subscribing witness. If the subscribing witnesses are all dead, or cannot be had, then proof of the handwriting of the grantor, or of the subscribing witnesses, may be taken. Comp. Laws Utah, p. 259, sec. 22 (638).

In the case before us, the deed having been acknowledged, and therefore no proving thereof being necessary, the question arises whether the deed is valid prima facie as against the respondent, without any witnesses having signed it. Is the signing by a witness an essential part of the deed as against a stranger when the deed has been duly acknowledged? The object of the witnesses’ signing is to attest that the deed was executed, and that they are ready to certify to its genuineness. The object of having witnesses at all is to establish the fact that the deed has been executed by the party by whom it purports to have been done. Tied. Real Prop. sec. 809, referring to Dean v. Fuller, 40 Pa. St., 474; 3 Washb. Real Prop., 247, side page 572.

But it is claimed tbat the acknowledgment was proof of the due execution of the deed, and that such was all the proof necessary; that the deed having been acknowledged, and the certificate thereof having been attached, the proof by witnesses was not essential, and that, therefore, the signing by the witnesses is not essential; that, the reason for requiring the witnesses to sign having been removed, the necessity for the signing did not exist in regard to this deed; that, the reason of the requirement failing, the requirement itself fails.

A deed may be acknowledged and admitted to record. One object of the acknowledgment is to entitle the deed to be recorded. But the record is only the prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated. Laws Utah, 1884, p. 863, sections 1177, 1178. The certificate of acknowledgment is itself only prima facie evidence of the facts therein stated. It is not conclusive, and may be rebutted. Comp. Laws Utah, p. 255, sec. 9, (625). Further proof may become necessary in support of the certificate, or to show its falsity. The statute points to the subscribing witnesses as the first persons to look to in such cases for proof, and the proper ones to furnish proof in the first instance of the due execution of the deed, in all cases when it is attacked, or when its validity is in any manner called into question. Besides, the statute requiring one or more witnesses to a deed increases the difficulty of making a fraudulent or forged deed, and adds to the solemnity of its execution. The signing of deeds by witnesses was not required at common law, nor was the signing by the party required. But here we have a statute that specifies as parts of the due execution of the deed, the signing by the party and the signing by the witnesses. It may be true that, where the reason of a rule or requirement fails, the rule or requirement itself fails. But such an axiom applies only where the plain import of the words is dubious. The spirit and reason of the law cannot be appealed to when the words of the statute are clear and unambiguous: Opinion of Justices, 22 Pick., 571; In re Kilby Bank, 23 Pick., 93.

The words of the statute under examination are not dubious, but are clear and unambiguous. As there is no doubt as to what it does say, nor about the import, we have no right to reject the plain import because we may deem it unreasonable or contrary to the general spirit of the law. Although the words used, taken alone in the section in which they appear, may have no doubtful meaning, yet it is said that the context, another part of the same act, shows that the signing of the witnesses was not essential; and we are referred to section 7 of the same act as showing that fact. The section reads as follows: “623. Sec. 7. That every conveyance or other instrument conveying or affecting real estate which shall be acknowledged, or proved and certified, as prescribed by law, may, together with the certificate of acknowledgment or proof, be read in evidence without further proof.” Comp. Laws, 255.

This section evidently presupposes that the deed is ready to be proved; that it has already been signed by the party and the witnesses. Nothing appears in the section to show that the witnesses could be dispensed with; but that, after having been signed by the paTrty and by the witnesses, then the deed could be either acknowledged by the party, or proven by the oath of the witnesses.

Whatever might be the effect of the deed as between the parties or privies, we are of the opinion that, as to the respondent, a total stranger to it, it is essential to its validity that it should have been signed by one or more witnesses. This seems to be the general rule where statutes exist providing for the attestation or signing of deeds by witnesses: Clark v. Graham, 6 Wheat., 577; Townsend v. Little, 109 U. S., 512; U. S. v. Crosby, 7 Cranch, 115; Lessees of Patterson v. Pease, 5 Ohio, 191; Richardson v. Bates, 8 Ohio St., 261; Stone v. Ashley, 13 N. H., 38; Kingsley v. Holbrook, 45 N. H., 320; Winsted Sav. Bank v. Spencer, 26 Conn.; 195; Crane v. Reeder, 21 Mich., 60.

2. It is contended that, if the instrumeiit be not sufficient to pass the title, it would doubtless be held to be a contract of jun-chase. That might be true as against the grantor to compel the conveyance of the title to the ap-. pellant; but, as against the respondent, it gives no sort of right, legal or equitable. To enable the appellant to maintain this action there would hare to be some kind of con-yeyance or transfer of the right of property, or of a right to the possession. Every such transfer or conveyance would, under the first section above quoted, have to be accompanied by the same formalities as á deed of the fee, in order to affect strangers to it. A transfer of a right to the possession would be the conveyance of an “estate or interest” in the property; and every such transfer requires the signature of one or more witnesses. By calling the instrument a contract of purchase, we cannot escape the requirement in regard to witnesses. The transfer of every “estate of interest” requires witnesses. The appellant claims that the instrument, being a contract of purchase, gives him the equitable right to its possession. The appellant does not allege an equitable title. He bases his claim to the property or its possession wholly upon the legal title. Having alleged a legal title, he cannot recover upon an equitable one: Seaton v. Son, 32 Cal., 481; O’Connell v. Dougherty, Id., 458; Talbert v. Hopper, 42 Cal., 402; Pom. Rem. sec. 102, and note; Felger v. Coward, 35 Cal., 650; Lawrence v. Webster, 44 Cal., 386; San Felipe M. Co. v. Belshaw, 49 Cal., 655. If an equitable title had been alleged, it might be questionable, -under our statute, whether it could have been ground for maintaining this action. The Code of Civil Procedure provides that, in actions for the recovery of real property, the issue is to be tried by a jury. Laws Utah, 1884, p. 234, sec. 469. Besides, this is a constitutional right. Equity cases are not tried by jury. Notwithstanding our Code of Civil Procedure has obliterated all distinctions as to form between law and equity, yet it has not and cannot obliterate the difference between law and equity as regards the mode of trial. Law cases are tried by jury, and equity cases are tried by the court.

3. The next alleged error was the refusal of the court to admit the lease offered in evidence by the appellant. The present is an action somewhat in the nature of an ejectment, and in every such action the rule is established that the plaintiff must recover upon the strength of his own title. It is the right of possession, as between the the parties, that is tried, and the right of possession is the title: Marshall v. Shafter, 32 Cal., 176, The abstract right to the soil is not tried, but the action is to recover the actual possession: Adams, Ej. 3234; President, etc., of Cincinnati v. White's Lessee, 6 Pet., 431. The plaintiff must show a right in himself, before the defendant, under a simple denial, is called upon to make proof or showing on its part. And even then the defendant may confine itself to merely rebutting the evidence of the plaintiff. It need not show that it has ány title whatever. To show that the plaintiff had no title or interest entitling him to the possession is sufficient: Coryell v. Cain, 16 Cal., 572; Moore v. Tice, 22 Cal., 516; Adams, Ej. 337-380, and notes. The title is the plaintiff’s legal or actual right to the possession of the property. A claimant, in fact may not own the land, or have absolute fee in it, but the circumstances may be such that, as between the parties, the title in him is established. The plaintiff does not need to show a title good against all the world. Tyler, Ej. 165, 166.

The lease is not an equitable title, but it is in its nature legal. It is not the title in fee, but it is of the same nature, yet a less estate —one of a lower grade. It is embraced within the fee, and is in subordination to it. The fee title includes the right to the possession. A party may convey a part of his right — his right to the possession. The' appellant alleges his right to the possession. He also alleges his title in fee. Under this state of the case the question arises whether the appellant, because he cannot prove his ownership in fee, shall be denied the right to prove his legal right to the possession. He lias not proved all that he alleged — the whole of his title — but he has offered to prove his right of possession, and a right to the possession is a sufficient ground upon which to base this action. Toland v Mandell, 38 Cal., 43. Under the averments of the complaint, we see no reason why appellant might not introduce evidence to show that he was entitled to a less estate than the fee — to show his right of entry and possession: Tyler, Ej. 168-170; Stark v. Barrett, 15 Cal., 361; Marshall v. Shafter, 32 Cal., 195; Gillespie y. Jones, 47 Cal., 263; Day v. Alverson, 9 Wend., 223. Tbe lease was offered to show title in appellant. It purports to have been made by tbe Central Pacific Railroad Company, and recites tbat said company bad caused tbe lease to be signed by tbe land agent and secretary o£ tbe grantor, and tbat it bad caused tbe corporate seal of tbe grantor to be affixed. Tbat wbicb purported to be tbe corporate seal of tbe said company was affixed to tbe lease.

The lease was sufficiently proven to have been executed by authority, and to be prima facie tbe adt of tbe railroad company. This entitled it to have been admitted in evidence to show tbe appellant’s right to tbe possession. It was error to exclude it. It is claimed tbat tbe recital in tbe lease tbat actions for possession should be in tbe name of tbe railroad company precluded tbe institution of tbe action by tbe plaintiff, appellant. Tbe lease was intended to convey to tbe appellant a full title of possession as against tbe railroad company and all tbe world. He is therefore tbe real party in interest, and tbe Code of Civil Procedure provides tbat tbe actions shall be prosecuted in tbe name of tbe real party in interest, except where otherwise provided. It is nowhere otherwise provided tbat an action of this character could be instituted in tbe name of any one not having tbe title to tbe possession. Tbat title was not in the railroad company. • It was alone in tbe appellant.

Tbe recital in tbe lease did not pertain to tbe issue as to tbe possession, but was a collateral matter, affecting only tbe appellant and the railroad company. It did not affect tbe respondent.

Por tbe error of excluding tbe lease, tbe judgment of the lower court is reversed, and tbe cause is remanded, to be proceeded with in accordance with this opinion.

Zahe, C. J., concurred. HehdebsON, J., dissented.