Jennings v. Administrators of Jenkins

ORMOND, J. The object of the bill is, to rescind a sale made by order of the Orphans’ Court. The principal argument urged, is, that the power conferred on the commissioners to sell the land, was a special authority, which must be exercised in strict conformity with the terms upon which the power is granted, and that by the first sale made to Ghent, their power was exhausted, and therefore the subsequent sale to Jennings, the plaintiff, is wholly void. [289] In general, there can be no doubt, that a power must be exercised in strict conformity with the authority by which it is authorized to be executed, and that even unessential forms must be strictly pursued, if required to be observed in its execution. This doctrine is fully illustrated by Lord Ellenborough, in the great case of Hawkins v. Kemp, 3 East, 410. This rule does not apply to business of a public, or judicial nature. In such cases, a power entrusted to several, may be executed by the majority. [Commissioners of Alleghany County v. Licking, 6 S. & R. 166; Baltimore Turnpike, 5 Binn. 481; Downing v. Rugar, 21; Wendell, 178.] The sale of land by commissioners, acting under the order of the Orphans’ Court, is not like the execution of a naked power, conferred by an individual. It is the act of the court, through the commissioners as its ministerial agents, over whose acts it retains a controlling power. It is not concluded by their action, but may, in its discretion, set aside the sale when made, and direct another. [Perkins v. Winter, 7 Ala. Rep. 871.] It follows, that the test of the correctness of such sales is not the action of the commissioners, but the ratification of the sale by the court. With the propriety of the action of the commissioners, so far as it respects the regularity of their proceedings, the purchaser has no concern. It is with their principal, the court, he is dealing, and if the court is satisfied, he has no cause of complaint, as he gets the land he purchased, upon the terms he offered. This is the strictly legal view of the subject. In a court of equity, other considerations enter into the decision. That court will not only consider the consequences to the other party, but will also estimate the conduct of the party seeking relief, in producing the result complained of. This sale, if it be conceded to be irregular, was made at the instance of the complainant, who procured the previous sale to be vacated, and the notes which had been taken to be destroyed. The object of the hill is to invalidate this sale. We know of no rule of equity which would authorize this to be done. He cannot take advantage of his own wrong. By his procurement, the previous sale was set aside, and he returned as the purchaser, for the confirmation of the court, and the sale [290] being confirmed, he must abide the consequences of his own act. It would be difficult to estimate the consequences to heirs, if such a defence could be allowed in such sales as the e. In this aspect, the case of Lamkin v. Reese, 7 Ala. Rep. 170, is infinitely stronger than this. There it was held, that though the court had no jurisdiction to order a sale of the land, yet if the purchaser went into possession, he could not, after the lapse of two years, rescind the contract, if the heirs were then able and willing to make him a title. The cases relied on by the counsel for the plaintiff in error, do not impair the view here taken. The case of Lockwood v. Sturdevant, 6 Conn, 373, merely decides, that where administrators, by order of the probate court, sold and conveyed real estate, their authority to sell must appear on the deed of conveyance, otherwise the deed was void. In Watson v. Watson, 10 Conn. 77, this is denied to be law, but it is admitted, that the legal necessity for the sale, must appear in the order of the court directing it. It is obvious that in these cases, the question was entirely different from that here presented, as in this case no deed has been made. Further, in these cases, the controversy was between the heir, and the purchaser, under the administrator’s sale — and in that aspect, the question bears but little, if any resemblance to this. We apprehend no case can be found, where the purchaser in possession, can disaffirm the sale, on account of an irregularity, when the heir is willing to affirm it. The question as to the want of legal title, in the deceased to the land sold, carpe up in the case of Perkins v. Winter, 7 Ala. R. 866. It was then held, that the Orphans’ Court had power to direct the sale of the land of a deceased person, though the title was not complete. That was, it is true, the case of a mortgagor in possession, but the principle there settled, applies fully to the sale of a mere equitable title. It is to be observed, that the statute does not require, that there should be a legal title to authorize such sale, nor can such a requisition flow from the purpose, and evident design of the statute. It is “real estate” which may be thus sold, the value of which is as capable of precise ascertainment, when it is an equitable, as when it is a legal estate. The design of the statute being, to convert the land into money, to pay debts, in preference to selling slaves for that purpose ; or for more [291] equal distribution among the heirs, where the land is not susceptible of just division into parts; and it would be in a great measure frustrated, if no sale could be made, but when a legal title existed to the land. In this case, it appears the purchaser knew, when he purchased the land, that it was what is called “ school land,” and that the title was outstanding, waiting the payment by the original purchaser,.of the purchase money ; he could not therefore, in any case, defend himself on this ground against the payment of the purchase money, or rescind the contract. [Beck v. Simmons & Kornegay, 7 Ala. R. 71.] We need not consider the evidence in regard to the tender, because it is not denied that the commissioners were willing to convey such title as the deceased had in the premises, which, as we have seen, was all the plaintiff in error was entitled to. His claim of right to rescind, is put upon the refusal to make him a title in fee. In reality, there appears to be no doubt, that the title is good, and in all probability is now complete. The fact that the commissioners executed their own bond, covenanting to make title to the land, on payment of the purchase money, can have no influence whatever on this question. The sale was in fact made by them, as commissioners, under an order of the Orphans’ Court; as individuals, they had no right to sell the land, nor is it pretended in the bill, they sold the land in any other way than as commissioners, and by virtue of the power conferred on them as such. Their individual bond for title was not necessary, nor could it have been demanded of them. Considered as a security, it is collateral to the sale, being the mere voluntary act of the commissioners. What effect it is entitled to, it will be time enough to consider, when an attempt is made to make them responsible upon it. Although what has been said is decisive of this case, it is proper to remark, that the heirs of the deceased are necessary parties to such a bill as this. The sale of the land was made for the purpose of more equal distribution; the heirs are therefore the.only real parties in interest, and no decree whatever could be made until they were before the court, as parties to the suit. Decree affirmed,