Taylor v. Calvert

37 N.E. 531, 138 Ind. 67, 1894 Ind. LEXIS 10
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedMay 17, 1894
DocketNo. 16,733
StatusPublished
Cited by24 cases

This text of 37 N.E. 531 (Taylor v. Calvert) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Taylor v. Calvert, 37 N.E. 531, 138 Ind. 67, 1894 Ind. LEXIS 10 (Ind. 1894).

Opinion

Dailey, J.

This is an action brought in the court below by the appellees against the appellant and James R. Hodges and Louisa M. Hodges, his wife, in two paragraphs, based upon the following state of facts: On March 23, 1874, the appellant Robert R. Taylor was appointed guardian of John I. and Mathew H. Calvert, as successor to James R. Hodges, whose bondsmen were insolvent. Hodges had converted the larger portion of his wards’ funds, but executed to Taylor a note and mortgage on his only remaining farm or property as security for $711 of the money, and included in the mortgage a $200 note due to Taylor. This farm was, at the time, worth $2,000. When the mortgage was given there was in the hands of the sheriff of Greene county an execution against James R. Hodges, which was soon after levied upon the land. Sale was duly made on this execution to one Isom Sanders, who, a short time before the year for redemption expired, sold the certificate of purchase to the appellant, Taylor. Up to that time Taylor had taken no steps to procure funds with which to redeem from said sale, or in any way to protect the mortgage of his said wards, but he afterwards reported to the court that he had bought the certificate of purchase, thinking he might save something for his wards out of the land. It does not appear that he ever afterwards took any steps to in any way use said certificate to save anything for his wards; but, on the contrary, after his wards became of age, asserted title in his own name to the land. When Taylor settled with his wards, he turned over to them the notes and mortgage and took credit for [70]*70the same. When settling with Mathew, the last one of the wards, Taylor told him he could do nothing with the mortgage until Hodges died leaving his wife surviving, when he could foreclose the mortgage against her third of the land. Taylor has ever since held possession of the tract, enjoying the rents and profits.

Before the beginning of this suit John I. Calvert died, leaving his widow, now Mrs. Johnson, and the other defendants herein, except Mathew, his only heirs. There was no administration on his estate and he left no debts unpaid.

It is alleged in the first paragraph, that Taylor took the certificate of purchase in trust for his said wards, and avowedly for their benefit; that John I. Calvert arrived at the age of twenty-one on January 1,1879, and Mathew H. Calvert became of age in December, 1881; that thereafter said Taylor repudiated the trust, and continues to hold said real estate and to receive the rents and profits thereof of the value of $3,500, and now holds possession of the real estate and denies appellees’ right thereto. Appellees demand that after deducting amounts paid by appellant for rents they have judgment for the residue of rents and profits, a decree vesting title in them, a foreclosure against said James R. and Louisa M. Hodges, and all other proper relief.

The second paragraph of the complaint directly alleges that Taylor took the certificate of purchase to protect his wards’ mortgage and equity of redemption in the land, but failed to redeem the same by paying himself out of his wards’ money, but when the year expired took a deed in his own name, for the purpose, however, of holding the same, and promising to hold said deed as an additional security to him for money by him advanced in the purchase of the certificate until such time as he might be paid out of their funds, but though he had sufficient [71]*71money of theirs thereafter did not redeem for them, but continued to hold said deed and certificate as security until his wards became of age, when he turned over to them the mortgage and notes, and settled with them without mentioning to the court the existence of said certificate; that said mortgage and notes are the property of the plaintiffs, and are yet unpaid; that defendant Taylor has had possession, appropriating the rents and profits to his own use, and has been fully reimbursed for all the money by him invested in said certificate of purchase; that said appellant made no mention of said certificate of purchase or deed or said real estate in either of the final reports as to said wards, but took their respective receipts for and made assignment to them respectively of their interests in said mortgage and note, and took credit therefor in his final reports; that said Taylor was finally discharged as guardian on January 10, 1883.

Prayer that the deed be set aside as to the appellant, and that the appellees be allowed to redeem and foreclose against said Hodges and Plodges, and for all other proper relief.

The defendants, James R. Hodges and Louisa M. Hodges, filed their answer to the complaint, disclaiming any interest in the real estate described in the complaint, or in the controversy involved in the issues tendered. Subsequently the appellant filed a demurrer to the complaint and each paragraph thereof, which was overruled and appellant excepted. Appellant then filed an answer in four paragraphs as follows:

1st. A general denial.

2d. A full statement of the facts in relation to all matters set out in the complaint, his final settlement as guardian and his discharge.

3d. The statute of limitations of six years.

4th. The statute of limitations of fifteen years.

[72]*72Ill the 2d, 3d and 4th paragraphs, appellant answers the complaint except as to the inchoate interest in the land of Louisa M. Hodges. Appellant also filed a cross-complaint in two paragraphs, the first of which was afterwards withdrawn. The second paragraph of cross-complaint was to quiet title to the real estate in controversy in appellant. Appellees demurred to the 2d, 3d and 4th paragraphs of answer, and each paragraph of cross-complaint. James R. Hodges and Louisa M. Hodges filed a disclaimer to the cross-complaint of the appellant. The court sustained the demurrer to the third paragraph of appellant’s answer, and appellant excepted, and the court overruled the demurrer to the 2d and 4th paragraphs of answer, and the second paragraph of cross-complaint to which the appellees excepted. The issues were closed, there was a trial by the court, and finding and judgment in favor of appellees against the appellant, decreeing that appellees were the owners of the real estate in controversy. There was a motion for a new trial by appellant, which was overruled and exception taken, and sixty days were given in which to file bills of exceptions. There was a motion for a new trial as of right under the statute, which was also overruled by the court, and exception taken by the appellant. Appeal to this court was prayed and granted, and the following errors assigned:

1st. The complaint does not state facts sufficient to constitute a cause of action.

2d. The court erred in overruling the demurrer to the first paragraph of the complaint.

3d. The court erred in overruling the demurrer to the second paragraph of the complaint.

4th. The court erred in sustaining the demurrer to the third paragraph of the answer.

[73]*735th. The court erred in overruling the motion to strike out the second paragraph of the reply.

6th. The court erred in overruling the motion for a new trial.

7th. The court erred in overruling the motion for a new trial as of right under the statute.

The first three specifications of error raise one question, the sufficiency of the complaint and each paragraph thereof.

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Bluebook (online)
37 N.E. 531, 138 Ind. 67, 1894 Ind. LEXIS 10, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/taylor-v-calvert-ind-1894.