Nichol v. Dunn

Walker, O. J. The appellees contend that there has been no final decree rendered in this case, from which an appeal can be taken; not, however, upon the ground that the decree is not final, so far as relates to the cross-bill of Nichol, but that his cross-action was, upon motion, consolidated with the original action and other cross-bills, and ordered by the court to be progressed with and heard as one suit; and because the decree, upon demurrer to the cross-bill of Nichol, dismissing his bill, left the issues upon the original bill, and other cross-bills undisposed of, that there was no such final decree rendered in the case that an appeal will lie. In this wo think the counsel mistaken. One of the distinguishing features of chancery jurisdiction is, that it has power to bring all the-parties in interest before it, so that, in full view of all their rights, a decree may be rendered which will settle the equitable rights of all parties, and be binding upon all. For this purpose, when it is made to appear that persons not parties to the suit arc interested in the matter in litigation, the court frequently declines to progress with the cause until they are brought before it; and such being the ease, it would be singular indeed if one who has made himself a party to the suit, and, as he alleges, with equitable rights superior to those litigating with him, should be, by a decree, dismissed from the court, and be denied the privilege of being heard until the matters in litigation as between the other parties had been heard, and a final decree rendered as to them. ¥e have, in a former decision, held that a cross-bill, like all other bills, must contain within itself, if true, a distinct cause of equitable relief; that the cross-bill and original bill are distinct suits, which proceed side by side, the hearing of one being delayed until the hearing of the other. Trapnall v. Burton, et al., 24 Ark., 380. The decree against Nicho! is a final decree; it disposes of his whole case, and puts him out of court, and is, in our opinion, such a final decree that an appeal will lie. The grounds of equity set up by Niehol, in his cross-bill, are, that he paid to Ashley’s exeeuti’ix nine thousand dollars of the debt due by David L. Dunn for certain lands, and that, by force of such payment, he should, upon equitable principles, pro tanto, be subrogated to the same rights which Ashley’s executrix would have had but for such payment; and that the sole question, under this state of case, is, is Nicliol entitled to a prior lien upon the land ? And we had as well announce, at the outset, that, in view of the state of case presented, Niehol is entitled to no such prior lien. He was not a party, either in interest or otherwise, in the purchase of the land made by David L. Dunn of Ashley’s executrix, but came as a stranger, a volunteer, to pay the debt of David L. Dunn, without authority or interest in the purchase. Under such circumstances, he could not charge the estate of David L. Dunn with the amount so paid, for no one has a right, by volunteering to pay money for another, to make him his debtor; and, such being the case, we do not perceive the grounds upon which he rests his claim to be subrogated to the rights of lien which Ashley’s executrix, as vendor, held upon the land contracted to Dunn. Coote on Mortgages, 230; 1 Ch. Pl., 350. An examination of the several eases cited by counsel do but confirm us in the view of the case thus taken. Cases frequently arise, upon contests between prior and subsequent purchasers’ liens, in which the junior lien creditor, in order to protect himself, is compelled to pay the debt of the creditor holding the prior lien, and is entitled by subrogation to the rights which the senior lieu creditor would have had but for such payment, but this equitable right of subrogation grows out of some preexisting right. The lien creates no property in the estate, nor right of action to recover it, but a certain charge upon it, a right to satisfaction out of it. The case of Foster v. Fox, 4 Serg. & Rawle, 92, is of the class of cases to which we refer. In that case the creditor of the vendee paid the money due upon a judgment and took a transfer of the debt, and it was held that he was entitled to the judgment, and might revive it to his own use, and thus enforce the payment of the money against the purchaser of the vendee’s interest at sheriff’s sale. It will be observed, in that case, that there was the purchase of a debt, not the payment of a debt, as was done by Nicliol in this case. Foster v. Fox was decided upon the same general principle upon which the case of Moore and Cail v. Anders, 14 Ark., 628, was decided, in which it was held that the assignment of á note for the purchase money of land secured to be paid by a vendor’s lien, carries with it, as an incident to the debt assigned, the vendor’s lien reserved by the contract of sale; but if there had been an absolute conveyance of the land by deed, without such reservation, the mere assignment of the note executed for the purchase money Avould 'not carry Avith it the vendor's lien, and the assignee of such note would not be subrogated to the vendor’s lien rights upon the land conveyed, for the payment of the purchase money. Shall v. Biscoe, 18 Ark., 142. And in Williams v. Christian, 23 Ark., 255, it aatis held by this court that, Aidiere a note for the purchase money for land Avas assigned Avithout recourse upon the assignor, the vendor’s lien does not pass by such assignment to the assignee. It Avillbe seen, in all of these cases, that the claim of lien by the assignee groAi's out of his purchase and transfer of the debt, or where a payment is made to relieve the property from a prior incumbrance, but for AA-hicli his right to satisfaction Avould exist; but in 110 case is the voluntary payment of a debt by one not responsible for its payment, and which is not a charge upon property, sufficient to entitle him to be subrogated to the right of lien AA'hich the creditor had upon the estate of his debtor. Wilks v. Harper, 1 Comp., 586. Therefore, liOAvever pure may have been the motives of Nichol to disincumber the estate AA'hich might descend to his grandchild, as sole heir of DaA'id L. Dunn, he can not be permitted to occupy the more favored position of purchaser and assignee. Ashley’s executrix, as vendor, field, a prior lien on the property contracted to David L. Dunn, over all other creditors, and they are clearly entitled to priority of payment; but as it-is eA'ident that Nichol, under the circumstances of the case, can not be considered a creditor of David L. Dunn, it Avould be contrary to OA'ery principle of equity to confer upou him the prior lien AA’hich Ashley’s executrix held, to the extent, of the purchase money paid by him, -AA'hich, if enforced, might sweep off the Avholc of Dunn’s real estate, and leave the claims of srfbsequont purchasers and creditors Avholly unsatisfied. The demurrer to the cross-bill of Nichol ivas, therefore, properly sustained. Decree affirmed.