Wood v. Moorhouse

1 Lans. 405

• Court: New York Supreme Court
• Decided: December 15, 1869
• Status: Published

Opinion

Present —Bacon, Foster, Mullin and Morgan, JJ.

By the Court

Mullin, J.

The heirs of Theodore Wood were indispensable parties to the action to foreclose the mortgage given by Corning to Kellogg; and not having been made sach, the foreclosure as to them was of no force or effect whatever. (Story’s Eq. Pl., 196.)

The plaintiff’s right to redeem, therefore, is perfect if their title was not cut off by the sale under the Pratt judgment, the redemption by Davis, and conveyance by the sheriff.

. The grounds relied on to invalidate the sale, and subsequent proceedings of the sheriff, and the proceedings to redeem, are:

1st. That the sale on the execution was after the death of Theodore Wood, and such sale, though on process issued before his death, does not divest the title of his heirs. They must have notice of any proceeding that is to produce such a result.

2d. The sale to Pratt was void, because the notices were not posted for six weeks prior to the sale.

3d. The proceedings by Davis to redeem were inoperative, and hence no redemption was effected.

4th. The -deed to: Davis- is void,- because -the -execution of the assignment of the certificate to him was net-proved, or acknowledged, -nor Was a-copy filed in the clerk’s.office.

If the plaintiff’s counsel is right in these propositions, the -judgment-is wrong,-and should be reversed. - * -

I will-examine-these propositions; of the counsel in the order in which-.they are stated above. •

1st. Did the. sale on the execution, after the death of Theodore Wood, if regularly conducted on the process issued in his lifetime,--divest the title of his heirs in the lands-sold ?'

- At common- law, -the -death of a -defendant, after judgment and execution, did not operate to stay proceedings on- the writ as against either personal or real property. (Graham s Practice, 2d ed., 350Tidd’s Pr. 915.) • -

There is nothing in the provisions of. the Revised Statutes, in force when this execution on which the sale was made was issued, changing the common law ride as to the effect of death after judgment-and execution issued. See the views of Savage, age,C. J.,- in Nichols v. Champman, (9 Wend., 452). -

. If the-execution could not -.be -executed, it must -have been because" oftthe death,'and & .scire-facias was'necessary-to either revive the judgment,, or" 'to - obtain execution upon one already-entered.

'If - a 'sci/re facias was necessary, the heirs or terre tenants of judgment: debtors,when -land was desired- to be sold; were necessary--parties.^ But neither by'the common law," nor by the Revised Statutes, - was a scire facias given in such a case as this. (Tidd’s Pr., 1007, 1056, 1059; Graham’s Pr., 806 to 815.) The ■ plaintiff - could' enforce-'his-judgment' in all respects as if' the defendant was living.

2d. Was-thesale to í^att void, because notices of-the salé wére not-posted -in three-places-in the town for "six-weeks before the day of sale ?

■■fit was'provided by the 2 R. S., §'49, 618, 4th ed.', in force when the sale in question was made, that the- omission of any sheriff to give the.notice of sale required bylaw, or.the taking down, or .defacing of any such notice, when put- up, shall not affect the validity of any sale made to a purchaser in good faith, without notice of any such omission or offence.

Section 46 (2 R. S., 4th ed., 617), imposes a penalty of $1,000 upon any officer selling without notice, or in any manner other than as directed by law.

Section 48, p. 618, 4th ed., gives a penalty of fifty dollars against any person convicted of taking down, or defacing notices of sale.

These provisions dispose of the objection of the plaintiff’s counsel, provided Pratt was a purchaser in good faith without notice.

The judge finds that he purchased without notice of the irregularity of the posting of the notice, and it only remains to inquire whether he was a purchaser in good faith.

Pratt was plaintiff in the judgment, and as such chargeable with notice of all errors and irregularities in the judgment or in the execution. This was held as long ago as 1804, in Simmonds v. Catlin (Col. & Cai. Cases, 346). As to all such defects he cannot claim to be a purchaser without notice, and hence in one sense not a purchaser in good faith.

But as to irregularities in the proceedings by the sheriff to sell, he is no more chargeable with notice of them than a stranger to the action.

It is true the court may, on motion, set aside the sale on account of such irregularities and order another. And this in all cases’ may be done after purchase by a person not a party to the judgment. But when the party injured lies by until the sale has been consummated, or until the time for making a motion has gone by, the purchaser, although plaintiff in the judgment, must be treated as a bona fide purchaser. (Mohawk Bank v. Atwater, 2 Paige, 54; Jackson v. Newton, 18 J. R., 355; Cunningham v. Cassidy, 17 N. Y., 276.)

But if he is not, and if he has assigned the certificate or a redeeming creditor has acquired his interest for value paid, then the defendant, the judgment debtor, cannot assail the title of such purchaser or creditor, by reason of defects or irregularities in the proceedings to sell. (Jackson v. Rosevelt, 13 J. R., 97; 8 J. R., 361; 13 J. R., 536.)

In Olcott v. Robinson (20 Barb., 148), the question of the 'Validity of the sale of real estate, without compliance by the sheriff with the requirements of the statute ,as to notices of sale, was presented, and the sale held void because of defect in the notice.

It does not appear in that case whether the plaintiff was the plaintiff in the execution on which the sale was made; but it does appear that the, defendant was the purchaser at a sale on a previous judgment of the same premises.

This judgment was reversed in the Court of Appeals (21 N. Y., 150), expressly on the ground, that the sheriff had given the notice required by law.

In neither the Supreme Court nor the Court of Appeals, was § 49 above cited, referred to, or commented on. ,

If I am right in supposing that covers just such a defect as was insisted on in that ease, it was decisive of it. But the Supreme Court seem to have considered the statute as imperative and not directory, and h,ence a failure to comply .with it •fatal to the title. Such a construction would he fatal to half the sales of property made. Instead of requiring a defendant to take advantage of irregularities in sales promptly, it enables him to lie by until ejectment is brought against him, even till near the running of the statute of limitations, when the witnesses being dead and the evidence of the proceedings lost, he may insist on the defects in the proceedings to sell and defeat the purchaser’s title.

The language of § 49 protects bona fide purchasers without notice.

A bona fide purchaser is one who purchases for an honest, legitimate purpose, as contradistinguished from one who purchases for some fraudulent or improper purposes; and hence every person buying at a sheriff’s or constable’s sale for the purpose of satisfying an honest debt is a bona fide purchaser.

One who buys and pays nothing is not in any legal sense a purchaser. But satisfying an execution to the extent of the bid, is such a payment as constitutes the creditor a bona fide purchaser; especially must this be true, after twenty years have elapsed, the lien of the judgment gone and the debt itself satisfied by mere lapse of time.

Ho court would assume at this late day to revive the lien of the judgment and enforce it against the land.

The statute (2 R. S., 5 ed., 658, § 98), expressly forbids such interference as against subsequent bona fide purchasers or incumbrancers.

I am of opinion that the statute prescribing the manner of selling personal or real estate is, as to most of its provisions-, merely directory. And non-compliance with'them does not affect the title of, a purchaser.

When a sale is made before sunrise, or after sunset, when real and personal property are sold together, or personal, consisting of a variety of articles, is sold as one parcel, the purchaser, though he purchases in good faith, is presumed to linow the law, and that such sales are in violation of law.

But whether the sheriff has posted and published the notice of sale for the time required by law, he cannot ordinarily know, and he has no means afforded him by which he can inform himself on the subject; he must act, therefore, upon the presumption of the proper performance of official duty.

The counsel for the plaintiff insists that Pratt did not pay the sheriff his fees upon the sale to him of the land.

The referee finds that Pratt did pay to the sheriff his fees, poundage and expenses in making the sale. This finding of facts, is in the findings signed by the judge, but is not included in those set out in the case. The former controls us, there being no exceptions to it by the plaintiff.

The finding is doubtless by mistake, as the evidence is without contradiction that the fees, &c., were not paid. I do not deem it very material whether they were or were not paid, and shall not take time to discuss it further.

I am, therefore, of opinion: 1st. That Pratt must be held to have been- á purchaser; in good faith, without notice ■ of any defect "in the notices of salé;'

2d. That the- statute relating to the time-and manner-of. giving notice,- is directory-merely,^--and non-compliance with its provisions docs not vitiate the sale,- and'if it was- mandatory; the remedy was by motion; "-

3d. That if Pratt was not a bona fide■ purchaser, those who ■ purchased- from him, and paid value, are to he deemed bona fide purchasers,-and not having notice, áre protected'-by §‘49, above cited. ,

4th. That the sale, if it-was irregular when made, cannot now be set" aside,-as the judgment is- barred, and the debt discharged by the statute of limitations, and the plaintiffs are chargeable with gross loches.

<5d. Were the proceedings of Davis to redeem the premises from the sale on the Pratt judgment inoperative 1 -'

The defects in-the proceedings to-redeem;"relied- on by the defendant’s "counsel, are : -

1st. The money was-paid to-Jbhnson'the assignee of the certificate, whereas i-t 'should have been paid to the purchaser, creditor, or offióer malting the sale; • " ■ 1

- -2d. Davis did not produce a certified copyof the judgment on which he redeemed; together with’ a verified" copy of assignment, or affidavit of amount due.-

.-It-wás incumbent-on-the defendant tb prove 'compliance with the statute, if he relies on the redemption,'and the proceedings to- redeem-are not proved byrecitals in the-sheriff’s deed. ' • • ■ ' ■

To- entitle a person to redéem-premises sold-on execution; by the statute (2 R. S., 2d ed., 295, §§ 59 and 60); he was required!» pay the money'to the ptirdhaser;-creditor, or-officer. ' And there was no provision-permitting'payment'to-any one else.

It was,''of course; ne cessary that some- one or-more persons should be designated,'to whom-payments'not only might, but must be made. Persons desiring to redeem from such redeeming creditor;- should know tó whóm théy "can pay, and not be left to incur the risk of finding who may be the assignee of the certificate of sale. I think, therefore, that payment to Johnson was not a compliance with the statute.

There is no proof that Davis ever presented to Johnson a copy of the docket of the White judgment, under which he proposed to redeem; or copy of the assignments of such judgment, verified by affidavit; or an affidavit of the amount due thereon, as- required by § 60 above cited.

It is proved that Davis had assignments, signed by Pratt, and those acquiring title to the certificate .under him ; that he held the assignments of a judgment against Theodore Wood-in favor of White; that he presented to the sheriff such evidence of his right to redeem as satisfied the sheriff that he was entitled to redeem; but what evidence was presented to him is left unproved, and must be proved, if at all, by presumption in favor of the due performance of official duty. ■

But that is not enough ; the sheriff cannot dispense with any of the requirements of the statute. (Hall v. Thomas, 27 Barb., 55.)

It has been held, that the production of the certificate to the sheriff, duly assigned, is a sufficient payment of the amount paid, to the purchaser at the sale. As owner of the certificate, he, and not the purchaser, is entitled to the money paid to redeem. (4 Hill, 608; 1 Denio, 239; 2 Hill, 51.)

The evidence thus given, slight as it is, should perhaps be sufficient.

After an adverse possession of twenty years, in conformity with -the deed from the sheriff, the law presumes in favor of the occupant, that the steps necessary to be taken to entitle the holder of the sheriff’s certificate, or redeeming creditor to a deed, had been '-%ken. This presumption is essential to the security of titles

It is not the presumption of due performance of official duty merely, but it is that, together with the presumption of loss of evidence by death, destruction of papers, and other casualties. The authorities are collected in 1 Oow. and Hill’s Notes, 355 to 367, and fully authorize the presumption after so great a length of time.

Davis and Johnson are dead, and the papers are lost or destroyed. A better illustration cannot be furnished, than this case affords, of the injustice of permitting the title of those in possession to he overhauled after a long acquiescence in the validity of the title; every presumption must be in their favor. This brings me to the fourth, and only remaining question; whether Davis did acquire a valid title to the land as assignee of Johnson, who owned the certificate of sale through several mesne assignments from Pratt.

To entitle Davis to a deed as assignee of the certificate, the statute (2 R. S., 2d ed., 297, § 69) required that he should cause the execution of all assignments of the certificate to he acknowledged, or proved, as deeds are required to be acknowledged, or proved, and to cause such assignments and certificates of proof to he filed in the county clerk’s office.

The Court of Errors, in Waller v. Harris (20 Wend., 555), and the Court of Appeals, in The People v. Ransom (2 Coms., 490), held this provision mandatory, and of course non-compliance is fatal to the title.

There is no proof, that the assignments were ever acknowledged, or proved, or filed in the clerk’s office.

I am of opinion that Davis is not shown, by the evidence, independent of the presumption entitled to a deed.

But the presumption, which I attempted to show under the preceding point, is permitted to be raised, authorizes us to hold that the acts required to be done, to entitle Davis to a deed, were properly performed.

The sale on the judgment being regular, and the time allowed to the debtor to redeem having expired, the plaintiffs have no interests in the premises, unless it may be the naked fee. There is now no right of redemption from the sale on the judgment; and under such circumstances, they have no claim to relief against the defendants, who entered under the purchase at the sale on the foreclosure, and who have been holding under that title for more than twenty years.

The judgment should therefore be affirmed. All the judges concurring, the judgment was affirmed.