Morris v. Sweeney

HARDY, J. Defendants in error, who will hereinafter be referred to as plaintiffs, began this suit in the district court of Carter county against plaintiffs in error, hereinafter designated defendants, for the possession of certain lands described in the petition, same being the al *164 lotment of Arrah Ann Sweeney, a full-blood Choctaw Indian, and praying that plaintiffs’ title to said premises be decreed valid and perfect, and that defendants be decreed to have no right, claim, or interest therein. Defendants answered, setting up their respective claims, to which reply was filed, and the case was tried to the court without a jury, resulting in judgment for plaintiffs, and defendants bring error. It appears that Arrah Ann Sweeney was a duly enrolled full-blood Mississippi Choctaw Indian, who died before receiving patent to her allotment; that during the year 1908 defendant Williams undertook to convey the lands to defendant Fanning, receiving as part payment therefor $500 in cash, and notes for the deferred payments; that afterwards, on the 18th day of January, 1909, the plaintiff, Robert Sweeney, husband of deceased, conveyed the lands by warranty deed to Luella Williams, which deed was approved by the county court of Stephens county on the 8th day of June, 1909. This deed would convey whatever interest said Robert Sweeney at that time had in and to said lands. His wife having died before receiving her patent, and children having been born alive of the marriage, he would be entitled to an .estate by curtesy in the allotment of his deceased wife. Johnson et al. v. Simpson, 40 Okla. 413, 139 Pac. 129; Armstrong v. Wood (C. C.) 195 Fed. 137; Pierce et al. v. Ellis et al., 51 Okla. 710, 152 Pac. 340. In Cook v. Childs, 49 Okla. 321, 152 Pac. 88, it was held: “The surviving widow of a deceased member of the Choctaw Tribe of Indians who died after his enrollment was finally approved, and before selecting his allotment, *165 where an allotment was afterwards selected in his name by an administrator, and patent issued therefor under the provisions of section 22 of the act of Congress of July 1, 1902, commonly known as the ‘Choctaw-Chickasaw Supplemental Agreement,’ is entitled to dower in the lands selected by such administrator.” In that case the husband died after his enrollment was finally approved, and before selecting his allotment, and the wife was awarded dower in the lands selected by the administrator. By parity of reasoning in the instant, case, the enrollment of the deceased, Arrah Ann Sweeney, having been finally approved, her lands would descend in the same manner as they would have descended had patent issued during her lifetime, and her surviving husband, Robert Sweeney, would be entitled to curtesy therein, and his deed, being properly executed and approved, would be effectual to convey his interest. This question was not presented nor considered by the court in Criner v. Farve et al., 44 Okla. 618, 146 Pac. 10. As to the interest of the minors, ho'wever, a different question is presented. It is shown that Williams, the purchaser at the guardian’s sale, paid no part of the sum bid, and on July 20, 1909, upon application by the guardian, and upon proper notice and a showing that the purchase price had not been paid, the court entered an order setting aside the confirmation previously made, and ordered a resale of the property, which was never consummated. The authority of the court to enter the order setting aside the confirmation and directing a resale of the property is challenged. Section 6388, Rev. Laws 1910, provides that upon return of the sale and proper showing being made the *166 court must make an order confirming the sale, and further provides: “If after the confirmation the purchaser neglects or refuses to comply with the terms of sale the court may on motion of the executor or administrator, and after notice to the purchaser, order a resale to be made of the property. If the amount realized on such resale does not cover the bid and the expenses of the previous sale, such purchaser is liable for the deficiency to the. estate.” This provision is made applicable to sales by guardians by virtue of section 6565, Rev. Laws 1910. The order recites that no part of the bid had been paid, that there was an error in the description of the land sold, and that application had been filed as 'the law directs praying for a resale of the property. The statute quoted is sufficient upon the facts found to authorize the decree setting aside the confirmation and directing a resale of the property, and as between the guardian and the purchaser Williams no question is or could be made as to the effect of these proceedings when the authority of the court so to do is established. In Ozark Oil Co. v. Berryhill, 43 Okla. 523, 143 Pac. 173, this court said: “It is unquestionably the law that the county courts of this state have full control and jurisdiction of all probate matters, and may at any time prior to the majority of any minor, whose estate is involved in any proceedings pending in said court, upon proper notice and for legal grounds, modify or vacate any order or judgment made by said court in the interest of said minor.” See, also, Brummagin, Adm’r, v. Ambrose, 48 Cal. 366. The defendant Fanning, to avoid the effect of this order, insists that she is an innocent purchaser, and there *167 fore her rights were not affected. The deed procured by Fanning from Williams in 1909 recited the same consideration as the former deed, but no consideration passed at the time; it being an attempt to ratify- the first deed. In 1908 Williams had no title to the interest of the minors which he could convey, and he having paid no part of his bid at the guardian’s sale, and Fanning having paid nothing for the subsequent conveyance, neither Williams nor Fanning acquired such title as would defeat the right of the county court to set aside the order of confirmation and order a resale, and the defendant Fanning therefore is not an innocent purchaser of the interest of said minors, and upon showing these facts the court below was right in finding in favor of plaintiffs and against said defendants as to the interest of said minors. The claims of all the other defendants as to the estate of the minors attached after the order of July 20, 1909, setting aside the confirmation and ordering a resale, and they were therefore charged with notice of the fact that said order had been made, and dealt with the interest of the minors under the circumstances at théir own risk. Counsel claim that said order had not been recorded in the county court where the lands were situated, but whether it was so recorded does not appear from the record herein. The only reference we find thereto is where counsel object to certain testimony upon that ground. However, we think this is immaterial. The lands involved were lands of minors, and the chain of title necessarily disclosed the • probate proceedings in which the attempted sale was had, and intending purchasers were charged with knowledge of the fact that title could only be obtained thereto by virtue of an order of sale duly had in proper proceedings, which had to be confirmed by the court in which such proceedings *168 were pending; and they were further charged with knowledge of the fact that the court had the power under the statute above quoted to set aside the order of confirmation upon proper showing, and to order a resale of the premises, and it was their duty to examine said proceedings to determine whether an order of this kind had been made. It appearing that the deed of Robert Sweeney was effectual to convey the interest possessed by him, the court was in error in granting the full prayer of plaintiffs’ petition; and the cause is accordingly reversed and remanded for further proceedings in accordance herewith. All the Justices concur, except SHARP, J., not participating.