Reed v. Howard

Walker, Associate Justice. February 27, 1885, Howard brought suit against Reed, alleging for cause of action in substance that on February 29, 1884, they agreed together to acquire title to three hundred and twenty acres of land then held by one Haltom under a contract to purchase it from the State; that in pursuance with their contract they bought Haltom’s interest, and he surrendered his contract for purchase with the State; that on the next day, March 1, 1884, the parties, Howard and Roed, each being head of a family, filed an application for pre-emption of one hundred and sixty acres—Howard for the west half and Reed for the east half of the Haltom tract; that in the agreement they were to dig a well for their common use, and within ten months make an equitable partition of the lands; that the parties had dug a well which furnished ample supply of water for use of both parties; that the well was on the east half; that it would be difficult if not impossible, at any reasonable cost, to get a well upon the west half; that each [205] had made improvements on the land; that each, by the preemption law, had acquired a right to the land pre-empted by him. Plaintiff requested judgment for partition so as to allow him access to the well and an equitable half of the land in value, etc. The defendant excepted to the petition: (1) Because the alleged contract was not in writing; (2) because the contract was against public policy; and (3) because it sought to control the homestead rights of defendant, under a contract not executed by the wife of defendant. A general denial was also pleaded. Upon trial the jury found a general verdict for the plaintiff and responded to several special issues submitted in the charge. The fourth, fifth and sixth special findings are as follows: 4. We find they are entitled to one hundred and sixty acres each. 5. We find the, division line as to leave well equally upon land of each, also their improvements respectively. 6. We find the well and land to be equally divided, as marked out on plats Upon this verdict a decree was rendered, giving the plaintiff the west and defendant the east part of the land, with field notes. The exceptions urged to the petition invoke the application to a new state of facts of principles well recognized by our courts. That a contract for the purpose of jointly acquiring title to vacant lands and for sharing them when acquired is neither within the statute of frauds nor against public policy has been held in the many cases enforcing parol contracts made by owners of land certificates with land locators, where a locative interest is stipulated to be taken by the locators. (10 Texas, 340, Wilkins v. Gilkerson; 18 Texas, 16, Miller v. Roberts; 28 [206] Texas, 132, Smock v. Tandy; 45 Texas, 423, Gibbons v. Bell. We know of no case holding otherwise. As to the homestead rights, they attach to the land as ac: quired subject to any burden, legal or equitable, upon the land at the time of its occupancy as a homestead. The contract did not need the assent of the wife, and the homestead rights were subordinate to Howard’s rights to an equitable partition. (51 Texas, 150, Clements v. Lacy.) We do not think such contract would be an obstacle to the acquisition by these parties of homesteads covering the three hundred and twenty acres under the pre-emption laws which require the applicant to make affidavit to his claim as being in good faith. Neither the pleadings nor evidence, however, authorize the judgment as entered. The decree should have followed the verdict, adjudging to the plaintiff his one hundred and sixty acres to be so surveyed as to give common access to the well to both parties and dividing the three hundred and twenty .acres to the best advantage to the parties, giving to each, if possible, his improvements. Commissioners should have been appointed to make the partition in accordance with the decree. Upon their report the division lines could be ascertained and confirmed. The judgment is reversed and remanded, the judgment to be entered in accordance with the verdict and proceedings to be taken as here indicated. Reversed and remanded. Opinion delivered June 15, 1888.