Shields v. . Allen

RodmáN, J. It is conceded that the minor children off John Y. Allen were entitled to a homestead in the lands described in the pleadings.. 72 N. C. 504. After such homestead was laid off there was no excess; the whole land did not exceed $1,000 in value. The homestead estate could not be sold to pay debts, nor could the reversion after the expiration of the homestead. Hinsdale v. Williams, 75 N. C. 430. There.was nothing, therefore, which the Court could authorize to be sold, or which the administrator could selL The purchaser acquired nothing. All this seems to be admitted ; at all events, we take it .to be clear. The plaintiff, ho-wever, contends that the purchaser took the risk of getting a title and must pay his bid, although it happens that he gets no title, just as a purchaser at an execution sale must. There is no doubt but that such is the law of execution . sales. It is equally clear that when a Court orders a sale of a particular piece of land for partition or any other purpose, it offers to .sell a good title and will not compel a purchaser to complete his purchase by payment of the price if it appears that a good title cannot be made, except when the salé-is expressly or by implication stated to be merely of the- *377 estate of a person named, as on the foreclosure of a mortgager or of some other certain and definite estate or right. The counsel for the plaintiff contends that the distinction is between a sale in invitum as by a sheriff under an execution, and one which in fact or in form is by consent of parties as under a judgment for partition. But we conceive that no line of distinction on that ground can he maintained; because in proceedings in partition or by creditors or others to enforce a trust, and in other analogous cases in which a sale may be ordered and in which a good title is offered, the decree may be and often is, both in fact and in form, in invitum. The test whether a good title or merely the estate of a named person, whateverit may turn out to be;-is offered for sale must be found in the decree itself — and where that is not clear, in the nature of the proceedings in which it is made. In a proceeding for' partition the Court first determines that the title to the property is in the parties, and between the parties the adjudication is conclusive. ■ It then-decrees that the laud' or other property he sold. Consequently it offers for sale a good title and cannot insist upon payment by a purchaser unless such a title can be made. So it is in cases where a Court decrees a sale by an executor or other trustee, and other analogous cases. The nature of the proceeding implies that a good title is offered, and it will be so deemed unless there be something in the decree for sale. •which forbids such an implication. A Court may of course always describe in its decree what estate its commissioner is to sell and it ought always to do so ; and especially is it needful, to do so when it means that the jmrchaser is to take the risk of title. Generally it would unduly disparage the value of property to order a sale at the risk of the purchaser as to the title, and it would be unjust to the owners.. It suggests that the title is doubtful. Hence a Court will never order a sale on such terms except in exceptional cases.. *378 In the present ease the complaint alleges that John V. Allen had died seized of the land which descended to his "heirs, some of whom were infants, and that it was necessary to sell it to pay his debts. The Court orders that the administrator sell the land, and the order implies that it had adjudicated as to all the parties to the action that the land ■could properly be sold for the purpose. The land — that is, .a good title to the land — was, and under the decree ought to have been, offered for sale by the commissioner. That was what the purchaser contracted for and he is at liberty to rescind the contract when it appears that the commissioner cannot perform his part of it, i. e. cannot make a good title by reason of the right of the minor children to a homestead in it which takes the whole area sold. If the infants had been regularly made parties and had then neglected to claim their homestead, probably their rights would have been barred by the adjudication. All bidders had a right to suppose that the infants were barred, and the purchaser cannot now be compelled to complete a •contract different from that which he entered into. He did not get what the Court ordered to be sold and what was offered for sale, which was the land. The distinction between such cases and a sale by a Sheriff under'execution is obvious. In the case of execution sales, the order of the Court, that is, the fi. fa., commands the Sheriff to sell any property of the defendant. Nothing in particular is directed to be sold. The nature and form of the proceedings show that there has be.en no inquiry as to the property or estate of the defendant in the thing sold. Consequently the purchaser buys what is professed to be sold, viz: the estate of the defendant in the thing and nothing more. The Court should have vacated the sale and ordered the note to be cancelled and returned to the maker and the cash price returned to the purchaser. *379 The case is remanded to be proceeded in according to this opinion. The defendant in the motion will recover his costs in this Court. Per Curiam. Judgment accordingly.