Executors of Smith v. Houston

DARGAN, J. The' deed of the sheriff to Houston' was properly admitted as evidence to show the title in him, notwithstanding the suit is brought for the use of Benham, who, as sheriff, executed the deed. Because the suit is for the use of Benham, the deed, which is the evidence of Houston’s title, does not become illegal testimony, nor is its effect as proof destroyed or impaired. Nor is there any error in the rejection1 of the evidence offered by the defendants below for the purpose of impeaching the deed for fraud. The land, previous to the sale by the sheriff, belonged to Dillahunty. Éjmith, the defendant, had [114] no interest either in the land or in the judgments under which it was sold, but was an entire stranger, without any interest in the subject matter of the deed. The parties in interest seem to be content with the transaction, and it is certainly incompetent for a mere stranger, without interest in the subject matter of the deed, to impeach it for fraud, even if it were permissible for the defendant in the judgment to do so, when the deed is introduced collaterally as evidence of title. But we think the charge of the court as given, was too broad: It is in the following language, “ that the title was in Houston by virtue of the deed, and it was not necessary to prove an express or implied agreement on the part of Smith, to occupy the land under him, further than the law implied it from the fact of title in Houston, and to enable Smith to re--sist a recovery in this action, they must believe, that Smith held flic land adversely either in his own right, or under the title of another.” It is true, that to enable a plaintiff to recover it, it is not necessary to show that the technical relation of landiand and tenant existed between the plaintiff and defendaut during the occupancy. In the case of Davidson v. Ernest, 7 Ala. Rep. 817, the facts were, that Davidson entered into a verbal contract with Ernest, for the purchase of the land, and by virtue of this contract entered into possession, and occupied the land for two years and then abandoeed it, and refused to con7 summate the contract. Ernest brought assumpsit for use and occupation, and this court held that the action could be maintained, although there was no proof of any actual agreement to pay rent. I am aware that this decision is opposed to several decisions of the different States. But it is in accordance with the case of Hall v. Vaughan, 6 Price’ Exchequer Rep. in which it was held, under a precisely similar state of facts, that The adion could be maintained. Indeed, if assumpsit for use and occupation would not lie, we do not see that the plaintiff could have any legal reared37, for'.it is very clear that the possession of the defendant was not tortious. He entered with the consent of the plaintiff, and in pursuance of the terms of a verbal contract, and notwithstanding the case of Smith v. Stewart, 6 Johns. 46, and other decisions, we do not think he could be considered as a trespasser. The case therefore, in. 7 Ala. Rep. accords with the principles of justice and allows115 a remedy for a wrong, which would be without remedy, if we were to repudiate that decision. Although under the authority of this case, an action of assumpsit for use and occupation may be sustained, though the relation of landlord and tenant be not shown to have existed during the occupancy, yet in the absence of proof of that relation, the character of the possession becomes a material inquiry, and if the possession was tortious and the defendant a naked possessor, asserting no title, nor claiming to have entered under any, assump-sit for use and occupation cannot be sustained. Ryan v. Marsh, 2 N. & M. 156; 3 S. & R. 500; 2 Gill & Johns. 326; 6 N. Hamp. 298; 10 Gill & Johns. 149. But we should hold that assumpsit would lie against one, who, finding land vacant, took possession and admitted that he had no title, and was willing to pay rent to the owner. This would afford evidence, that the defendant considered his possession subordinate to the title of the rightful owner, and of his consent to pay rent, and if the defendant so considered his possession, and was willing to pay rent, we can perceive no reason why • the owner may not look upon the character of his possession in the same manner, even if he did not know of defendant’s possession, when it commenced, or even when it terminated. It is probable that from the evidence, the jury would have come to the conclusion that this was the true state of the facts of this case. But the charge of the court rendered it unnecessary for them to consider of the evidence tending to prove these facts, and assumed as a legal conclusion, that proof of title alone, if the defendant did not hold adversely under a claim of title, was sufficient to maintain this action. If this charge as a legal proposition is correct, it would follow'that assumpsit for use and occupation could be maintained against a mere trespasser, who claimed no title to the land, nor entry under one, nor admitted his liability in any manner to pay rent. This would be going further than is warranted by principle or authority. The only remaining question we propose to examine; is, the' refusal of the court to charge, that the plaintiff’ was not entitled to recover for rent anterior to the execution of the deed by the sheriff to him. It is certainly true, that the title of a purchaser at sheriff sale, for many purposes, has relation back, not only [116] to the day of sale, but even to the rendition of the judgment. But the question in this case is will it have relation back for the purpose of enabling the purchaser to recover the mesne profits or rents, accruing anterior to the execution and delivery of the deed. In the case of Davis v. Evans, 5 Iredell’s Rep. 525, the Supreme Court of North Carolina, held, that in an action for the recovery of land, the deed of the sheriff could not be used as evidence of title previous to its execution; and in the case of Young v. Withers, 8 Dana, 165, the court held, that a purchaser of land at sheriff’s sale acquired no right of entry until the execution and delivery of the deed — and it is certainly true, that it is the deed, and not the levy and sale alone, that vests the legal title in the purchaser. Previous to that time, he has neither the right of entry, the right of possession, nor the legal title to the land, and cannot have the right to the mesne profits accruing before the execution and delivery of the deed. To entitle one to recover for mesne profits or rents, he must be entitled to them at the time they accrue, and if not then entitled to them, he cannot recover them by virtue of a title subsequently acquired. The court should have given this charge, for if the plaintiff below is entitled to recover rents from the time of the execution and delivery of the deed, he is certainly not entitled to rent previous to that time. The judgment must be reversed, and the cause remanded.