Newton's Heirs v. State Bank

Hon. Harris Flan agin, Special Judge, delivered the opinion of the Court. The appellee and the State of Arkansas filed their bill in chancery against the heirs and administrator of Thomas W. Newton, deceased, Albert Pike and James Lawson, to set aside a sale of the west half of lots one, two and three, in block eighty-one, in the city of Little Rock, made by James Lawson, as sheriff of the county of Pulaski, on the ground of fraud on the part of the said Thomas W. Newton, the purchaser, and the sheriff making the sale. It is charged in the bill, that Lawson, as such sheriff, had in his hands a writ of execution against the State Bank for the sum of thirty dollars and costs, which he levied on the property in dispute and advertised it to be sold, and, on the 21st day of April, 1845, that being the first day of Pulaski Circuit Court, the property was by him sold to Euclid L. Johnson (who bought as the agent of the State of Arkansas) for two hundred and five dollars. That the State and State Bank were ready and willing to pay, and had the money, but the sheriff did not call on them for their bid, but on a subsequent day sold the property to Newton, at a secret sale, for the sum of two hundred dollars. That Newton’s bid was never paid, but the sheriff returned it a sale, and executed a deed for the land to Newton. That Newton brought his action of ejectment, and recovered the property with some $4,000 rents. That the property was worth some ten thousand dollars. The bill prayed an injunction against the judgment at law, and that the sale to the State might be affirmed, and the sale to Newton set aside, and the deed from Lawson to Newton canceled. In the bill there were several charges of fraud which will be hereafter noticed. Afterwards, the State of Arkansas, by the order of the court, ceased to be a party complainant, for the reason that by the bill she appeared to have no interest in the event of the suit: and the suit abated as to James Lawson, who departed this life, and the suit progressed in the name of the State Bank as complainant and Newton’s representatives and Albert Pike (who held under Newton) as defendants. Those defendants who were not minors, made answer, and •admitted the execution, levy and advertisement, and the sale to Johnson, but deny that Johnson bought as agent of the State of Arkansas, and insist that he bought as agent of the State Bank: deny that either the State or State Bank had the means to pay the bid of Johnson: deny that they did pay it: say that Lawson, as sheriff, did proceed to sell the property, on the second day of the term, between the hours of nine in the forenoon and three in the afternoon of the day, at the court house door of Pulaski county, at public auction, to Thomas W. Newton. for two hundred dollars, which they believe was paid. They admit the return of the sheriff, the deed to Newton, the action of ejectment and recovery as charged. The court below decreed, canceling the deed of the sheriff to Newton and enjoining the judgment at law. At the hearing it apppeared that the sale on the first day was to Euclid L. Johnson, as agent or attorney for the Slate Bank, and that said bid was not paid, and that on the second day of the term, at public sale between the hours of nine in the morning and three in the evening, at the court house door in Pulaski county, the property was sold to Thomas W. Newton for'two hundred dollars. The first question is, was this sale void for want of power in the officer to sell on that day; or was the sale merely irregular? Thomas W. Newton, before the commencement of this suit, brought ejectment against the State Bank for the land in controversy, and on the trial the court permitted the Bank to show that the sale took place on the second day of the term; for which reason this case was reversed. See Newton vs. The State Bank, 14 Ark. 11, in which case the court say: “The sale then was not void for want of power in the sheriff to sell, and as to the irregularity of selling on a day different from that directing sheriff’s sales without notice, these are irregularities which arise in the exercise of the power conferred. A departure by the officer from the statutory direction as to the manner of exercis-ng his power does not affect the title of a bona fide purchaser at sheriff’s sale. This has been so repeatedly decided, that it may now be regarded as settled law.” This court said in The State vs. Borden, 15 Ark. 616: “ The next question is, when then should he have sold the property so levied upon? In Newton vs. The Bank, we held a sale made under the same writ, on the second day of the term of the court, to which the writ was made returnable, even though erroneous, and perhaps reversible upon error for that reason, not to be void, and that a sale on that day, the writ still being in force, would communicate title in the property to the purchaser.” The court seems to have recognized, as principles of law, in the two foregoing cases: 1st. That a sheriff may, under the foregoing circumstances, sell real estate upon the second day of the term, and a bona fide purchaser will take a good title: 2nd. That in doing so, the sheriff would act irregularly, and if a proper application was made to the court before a deed was executed, the court would hold it ei’roneous. State Bank vs. Noland et al., 13 Ark. 299. These decisions have been made now, for several years, and have become rules of property, wdiich ought not to be changed unless in cases of great necessity. The statute is defective in not providing for the disposition of property under the circumstances, and any rule which can be made here, will be adopted with hesitancy, doubt, and want of confidence. Under these circumstances, whatever might have been our opinion, if there was no decision bearing upon the case, we shall not disturb the former decision as construed by us in this opinion. The next point which is to be decided is, will mere irregularities affect a bona fide purchaser at a public sale. “ It is a general rule that a bona fide purchaser of property at a sheriff’s sale is not affected by any error or irregularity in the judgment or execution, or by any irregularity or omi.sion by the sheriff in advertising or conducting the sale. Given vs. Doe &c., Blackf. 262. It is generally conceded by the authorities, that a bona fide purchaser at sheriff’s sale, even if that purchaser be the execution plaintiff, is not affected by any irregularity or omission of the sheriff in advertising or conducting said sale. Correil vs. Ham, 4 Greene Rep. 456. “ The purchaser depends upon the judgment, the levy and the deed, and other questions are between the parties to the judgment and the marshal. Wheaton vs. Sexton, 4 Whea. 506. An act of South Carolina “ imposed it as a duty on the sheriff to advertise all his sales in the Public Gazette, but his failing to do so could not invalidate the sale.” Turner vs. McCrea, 1 Nott & McCord 11. It has been adjudicated in our own State, that irregularities do not afFect a bona fide purchaser, in Whiting & Slark vs. Beebe, 7 Eng. 421, and Adamson et al., vs. Cummins ad., 5 Eng. 541; and in Byers & McDonald vs. Fowler et al., 7 Eng. 219, it was decided that selling land on a different day from that prescribed by law and without advertisement would not affect a bona fide purchaser. The authorities are abundant, and show that no mere error or irregularity will affect a bona fide purchaser. The third question is, is inadequacy of price in public sales upon execution, a ground for annulling a sale in a chancery proceeding to set it aside? Judge Story says: “ Inadequacy of consideration is not then, of itself, a distinct principle of relief in equity. The common law knows no such .principle: the consideration supports the contract. Common sense knows no such principle; the value of a thing is what it will produce, and it admits of no precise standard.” 1 Story Eq 245. But he say, also, “still, however, there may be such an unconscionableness or inadequacy in a bargain as to demonstrate some gross imposition, or some undue influence, and in such cases courts of equity ought to interfere upon the satisfactory ground of fraud. 1 Story Eq. Jur. 246. He cites Hamett vs. Dundas, 4 Barr 178; Barnet vs. Spratt, 4 Iredell Eq. R. 171; Gortside vs. Underwood, 1 Bro. C. R. 558. Hamett vs. Dundas was a contest between a set of creditors of a failing debtor and a favorite creditor, who had bought the property under a confessed judgment. There were circumstances from which a court might "well infer fraud.. Barnet vs. Spratt holds that gross inadequacy of price “ with other circumstances” will authorize a court ol chancery to set aside a private sale. Gortside vs. Underwood decides in relation to a private sale, that an insufficient consideration may set aside a contract. Judge Story, by the words “gross imposition and undue influence,” intended that there should be something more than mere gross inadequacy of price. A sale by auction without other circumstances to justify it cannot be set aside for inadequacy of price. White vs. Duncan, 7 Vesey jr. 34. A sale made at auction and under process of law ought not to be invalidated for mere inadequacy of price without additional circumstances to justify it. Livingston vs. Bayne, 11 John. Rep. 566. A sale will be set aside where the purchaser led the parties to believe that the sale would not take place, and not on the ground of inadequacy of price alone. Williamson vs. Dale, 2 John. Ch. Rep. 272. This was on motion before the master’s report was made, and before the deed was executed. The Supreme Court of Indiana hold: “The rule that a sale will be set aside on account of gross inadequacy of price applies to private sales and not to public sales. 4 Ind. Rep. 71. It is unnecessary to quote further authorities; and no doubt this court laid down a correct rule in Hardy vs. Heard, 15 Ark. 189: “ It may be stated then as a safe and salutary rule of property that mere inadequacy of price is not sufficient to avoid a sale fairly made.” The last question in the case is, whether there was any fraud or unfairness in this case, which would affect the purchaser ! The bill charges: “that the State was able and willing to pay the bid, and that the Bank had the means, and was able and willing to pay the same for the State, and that all Lawson had to do was to call on the State, or the Bank, for the same, and that it would have been paid; that the State has been, at all times, able and willing to pay the bid to the said James Lawson, jr., and thus prevent a most ruinous sacrifice of property in reality belonging to herself and necessary to her business.” That the sale was made to Newton on a day when he had no authority to sell’. If any sale was made to Newton, it was a secret sale, made at a time when there were no persons to bid in competition with Newton, to carry out the illegal design of sacrificing the property unnecessarily, and enabling Newton to purchase for two hundred dollars, property worth from $10,000 to $15,000. The sale was per se fraudulent, and Newton was cognizant and confederate. Does not believe Newton has paid his bid. Lawson has not paid the execution, nor paid the balance-to the Bank. That the sale and deed were the result of the combination between Newton and Lawson to sacrifice said real estate. The answer denies all the charges of fraud specifically, to the best of their knowledge and belief. There is a deed in evidence, which shows the execution, levy, advertisement, sale to Johnson, as attorney of the State Bank, that the bid was not paid when it was sold to Newton, and the bid paid, but does not state that it was made on the first or second day. Nelson B. Thomason testifies that he was Lawson’s "principal deputy on the 21st April, 1845. There was a large number of sales on that day. The property in controversy was sold and bought by Euclid L. Johnson for the State of Arkansas. It was not Lawson’s custom to re-sell on the same day, and when it was bought in by the attorneys it was not his custom to demand payment except in a public or general way. Lawson told him the property was re-sold on the 22d of April, to Newton. Witness was not present at the re-sale. Witness wrote the deed to the State of Arkansas, except a few blanks and Lawson signed it. Elbert H. English testifies that he was present at the first sale, and that Lawson told Johnson he wanted the money, and Johnson put his hands in his breeches pocket and shook it, and said he had plenty of money. Lawson told him seriously and with some feeling, if he did not pay, he would re-sell the Bank. “ On the next day, sometime before or after noon, I was standing on the pavement, when Lawson and, I think, Newton, passed up on the opposite side of the street towards the State House, and al the same time some one was passing down on my side, and Lawson called to him and told him he was going to sell the Bank again, and, I think, told him he had better come up and bid. I do not think Lawson re-sold on the first, but on the second day.” John C. Peay testifies that he was present at both sales; thinks the second took place on the second day of the term, when Thomas W. Newton bought. Heard the Sheriff’s proclamation. “I stepped to the door and remained there until it was sold. My recollection as to the sale (not as to the day) is very clear. Euclid L. Johnson was present at the last sale, but left before the property was cried off. Mr. Johnson, in reply to Major Lawson, said he would have nothing to do with the matter.” G. N. Peay gave the deed to the complainant-. It was in his possession with a good many unacknowledged deeds. It only remains to say, there is not any fraud or unfairness on the part of Newton in this transaction. The Bank is attempting to set aside a deed executed by a public officer for fraud, and of course the onus is upon her to establish the facts. Lawson had no interest except to collect the money; demanded the money of Johnson, and assured him he would sell it it was not paid. The bidder knew of the second sale and was present, and of course, if there had been injustice, he might have applied by motion to have the sale set aside. Pie does not object to the sale, nor intimate there had been injustice done to the Bank. We have but little testimony showing what was done further than the deed shows; but this is not the fault of the appellants. The only complaint which can be made against the Sheriff is, that he sold, on a day not prescribed by law, and it does not appear whether he did or did not give such notice as was possible, under the circumstances, of the second sale. So far as Newtofa is concerned, he bought property at public auction, after proclamation, at the court house door, near the middle oí the day, and during the session of the court; and in addition to this was seen a short time before going to the place of sale in company with the Sheriff. This is all the proof. We understand that in order to affect the purchaser with the Sheriff’s irregularities, or to set aside a sale for a gross inadequacy of price, it must appear that the purchaser colluded with the Sheriff, or did some improper act to induce the officer to proceed with the sale, or some act to prevent property from selling at its full value. It surely cannot be said that Newton did either of these. Let the decree be reversed, the injunction be dissolved, and the bill be dismissed with costs. Mr. Justice Fairchild did not sit in this case.