Taylor v. Southerland

104 S.W. 874, 7 Indian Terr. 666, 1907 Indian Terr. LEXIS 78
CourtCourt Of Appeals Of Indian Territory
DecidedSeptember 26, 1907
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 104 S.W. 874 (Taylor v. Southerland) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court Of Appeals Of Indian Territory primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Taylor v. Southerland, 104 S.W. 874, 7 Indian Terr. 666, 1907 Indian Terr. LEXIS 78 (Conn. 1907).

Opinion

Lawrence, J.

Appellant brought his action in the commissioner’s court against appellee, Southerland, to recover $125 for rent of land. In that court R. Moffett & Sons and J. H. Randall, guardian of Elizabeth and Robert Randall, [668]*668were let in as codefendants. Judgment was rendered in that ■court against appellant. He appealed to the District Court, with the same result. He is now in this court, complaining of [numerous errors committed by the last-named court, prejudicial to his legal rights.

He assigns 11 errors, the first of which is the overruling ■of his demurrer to defendants’ first amended answer, which set up as cause of demurrer that this paragraph was only general ■denials and conclusions of law, and is contradicted by subsequent paragraphs thereof; that paragraphs 2, 3, 4, and 6 set up an alleged oral agreement tending to vary the terms of a written ■contract, and set up an' alleged parol reservation of rents, and that paragraph fails to allege any defense. Second: The overruling of his special demurrer to paragraphs 2, 3, and 4, because ■they do not state facts sufficient to constitute a defense to plaintiff’s cause of action. Third and fourth; Errors in permitting witnesses Moffett and Parker to testify, over plaintiff’s ■objection, to a supposed oral contract different from the written contract between the parties, and tending to prove a parol reservation of rents to accrue upon the land conveyed. Fifth ■error: Refusal of court to peremptorily instruct the-jury, upon plaintiff’s motion, made at the close of the evidence, to return a verdict for plaintiff. Sixth error: Refusal of court to give the following instruction asked by plaintiff: “You are instructed by the court that if you find from the evidence that J. H. Randall had rented the premises to R. Moffett & Sons for the year 1903, .and afterward, on or about the 8th day of April, 1903, the said J. H. Randall sold the premises in controversy to the plaintiff, and gave an absolute deed conveying the same to plaintiff, the rents passed with the premises to plaintiff, unless they were reserved in the deed.” Seventh error is the refusal of the court to give the following instruction asked by plaintiff: “You are instructed that a reservation of rents cannot be established by parol; the consideration in the deed transferring said premises [669]*669to plaintiff, being expressed in a contractual form.” The errors-numbered 8, 9, 10 and 11 relate to instructions given the jury by the court upon its motion, and are in effect embraced and expressed in this one clause of the charge: “Now, if you find, that the rents of the renters were not to go to the purchaser, Taylor, but were reserved and to be paid to Randall, then your verdict will be for the defendant. If you fail to find that the-rents were reserved to go to Randall, then your verdict will be-for the plaintiff for $100, the amount admitted as rent due.”'

Southerland answered, admitting that he owed the amount of rent claimed and wa"s ready to pay the same towhomsoever the court should direct. The answer of Moffett & Sons is to the same effect. The answer of Randall, guardian, upon which the issues arise, is in substance that in April, 1903, he sold and conveyed to the plaintiff all the interest of his wards, being the-improvements and right of occupation in and to the premises out of which the rent in controversy arises, but that plaintiff expressly released 1ns right and -claim to all the rents that should accrue thereon. The evidence offered develops that this supposed agreement of reservation of accruing rents was oral, and prior to the execution of the deed of conveyance. It further appears from the evidence that the wards of the defendant Randall were Choctaw Indians, entitled to allotments out of the public domain of the Choctaw Nation, and the land in question embraced more than they were entitled to hold, and under the-act of Congress or treaty with the Choctaws they had the right to sell this surplus land, with the improvements thereon, to-any other Choctaw or Choctaws who, under the treaty, would have the right to allot the same. Thereupon, on April 14, 1903, defendant Randall, guardian, etc., executed to appellant and his wife, A’ernie, who were Choctaw" Indians and entitled to an allotment, each, the following instrument in writing, which was introduced in evidence by appellant.

“Indian Territory, Choctaw Nation.
[670]*670“Know all- men by these presents, that I, J. H. Randall, ■guardian of the persons and estates of Elizabeth L. and Robert J. Randall, minors (who are citizens by blood of the Choctaw Nation), for and in consideration of the sum of one thousand (11,000.00) dollars, paid and to be paid to me by D. A. Taylor ■and'wife, Vernie Taylor, as follows: Three promissory notes ■of even date herewith, payable to the order of J. H. Randall, guardian, due and payable October 15, 1904, October 15, 1905, .and October 15, 1906, respective^ with interest at-10 per •cent, per annum from maturity and attorney's fees; the first two notes being for three hundred and fifty ($350.00) dollars •each, and the third for three hundred ($300.00) dollars, secured ■by lien on premises conveyed and all crops till paid — have bargained, sold, released, and delivered, and do by these presents bargain, sell, release, deliver, and forever quitclaim unto the said D. A. and Vernie Taylor, and unto their heirs, executors, administrators, and assigns, the following described property, claims, and improvements, situated in the said Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory, and described as follows, to wit: The old Lake West farm and claim on Red river, in Jackson county, being the entire claim, as much as the said Taylor and wife can legally hold for themselves or others (except the store house building and gin machinery), together with all the privileges thereunto belonging, as fully and entirely under the laws of the United States of America and under the laws and by the customs and usages of the said Choctaw Nation, 1 may convey lawfully and quitclaim unto the said D. A. Taylor and Vernie Taylor. To have and to hold the said above-described property unto the said D. A. Taylor and Vernie Taylor, their heirs, •executors, administrators, and assigns, forever, subject, always to the laws and customs of the said Choctaw Nation; and here-' by warrant title to said property against all persons claiming the same, or 'any part thereof, except the Choctaw Nation.
“In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand on this the 8th day of April, A. D. 1903.
J. H. Randall,
[671]*671■“Guardian of the Persons and Estates of Elizabeth L. and Robert J. Randall, Minors.
“Witness:
“United States of America, Central District, Indian Territory.
“April 14, 1903.
“Be it remembered that on this day personally appeared before me, a notary public within and for the Central district of the Indian Territory, at my office in Atoka, in said district and territory, J. H. Randall, personally well known to me to be the one who. signed and executed the above and foregoing conveyance 'as guardian of the persons and estates of Elizabeth L. and Robert J. Randall, minors, as grantor therein, and acknowledged to me that he had executed the same, for the purposes and considerations and in the capacity of guardian therein set forth and mentioned, as his free act and voluntary deed; and I do so certify.

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Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
104 S.W. 874, 7 Indian Terr. 666, 1907 Indian Terr. LEXIS 78, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/taylor-v-southerland-ctappindterr-1907.