Craig v. Hedges

McCulloch, C. J. On September 13, 1898, Sarah Nordlinger and others, plaintiffs, who were originally the owners, under mesne conveyance from the United States government, of the lands in controversy, instituted suit in chancery court of Ashley County against numerous defendants, including appellees, to quiet their title, alleging that said defendants claimed title to the lands under various instruments purporting to be tax deeds, which were void, but constituted clouds on the title of the true ■owners. A warning order was issued and published against certain of the defendants, who were non-residents, but who do not appear to have had any interest in nor made any claim to the lands in controversy, ánd they have passed out of the case. The clerk’s' docket shows an indorsement thereon to the effect that summons was issued for the resident defendants, but none of the writs appear in the record, and there is no proof that any summons was ever served on the resident defendants. On the contrary, there is evidence to the effect that writs of summon were never delivered to the sheriffs of the counties where appellees resided, and the appellees all testified that they were never served with process until the year 1905, when new writs were issued. It may be treated as settled by the proof that appellees were not summoned in the case until 1905. Appellant Craig succeeded to the interest of said plaintiffs by deed executed in 1903, and in 1907 he was substituted as plaintiff by proper order of the court. The court rendered a final decree at the May term, 1908, dismissing the complaint as to the defendants, Hedges, Blanks, G. W. Norman, trustee, and Parker, and appellant brought the case here by appeal. The prayer of the complaint was granted, and plaintiff’s title quieted as to the lands held by defendants, J. C. Norman and E. A. Barnes, and one tract held by W. E. Barnes, and they have cross-appealed. The chancellor held that the tax deeds under which appellees claimed title were void, but that neither appellant nor his grantors had paid the taxes on the lands since the year 1878; that the lands in the meantime had become greatly enhanced in value, and that appellant was barred by laches from asking relief in a court of equity. The chancellor held that the suit was properly commenced on September 13, 1898, and excluded all proof as to enhancement of values after that time. It is earnestly contended by appellant in his own behalf that the proof is insufficient to show any substantial enhancement of value prior to the year 1898. Numerous witnesses testified pro and con on this question, and the record is quite voluminous. It is somewhat difficult to determine precisely, in view of the great mass of testimony on the subject, where the preponderance lies; but after a careful consideration of the record we are unable to discover a preponderance against the findings of the chancellor, and therefore it becomes our duty not to disturb them. The fact is established that appellant and his grantors, who originally owned the lands, completely abándoned them and asserted no title thereto nor paid any taxes thereon for a period of more than ten years before the complaint was filed in 1898. In the meantime, the lands became greatly enhanced in value — some of the witnesses say as much as fourfold. This conduct on the part of appellant’s grantors constituted such laches as barred their right to assert title in a court of equity and to ask a court of equity for relief. Turner v. Burke, 81 Ark. 352; Osceola Land, Co. v. Henderson, 81 Ark. 432. It is unnecessary to pass -upon the question of whether the chancellor was correct in holding that the suit was properly instituted in 1898, and that the evidence of enhancement of value after that time should be excluded. It is unnecessary to do so, since we hold that the findings to the effect that there had been great enhancement of value up to 1898 should be sustained. ■Cross-appellants, Norman, E. A. Barnes and W. E. Barnes, insist that a decree should also have been entered in their favor, but we find that the record presents an altogether different question of fact concerning their claim of title to the land. J. C. Norman claims title under a tax deed executed in 1903 for the taxes of 1900. Appellant, Craig, has paid taxes on the land since 1902, and Norman was brought into the casi: in the year 1907. The tax deed was void for reasons shown, and it is clear that appellant’s claim for equitable relief is not barred by laches. F. A. Barnes claims under a void tax sale made June 11, 1898, for the taxes of 1897; and he paid the taxes up to the year 1902, and appellant paid them after that time. It is clear that appellant’s claim was not barred by laches, and the chancellor was correct in so holding. The tract as to which the decree was in favor of appellant against W. F. Barnes is claimed by the latter under a tax purchase in 1898, and he paid the taxes until 1904. Appellant paid from that time on to the present. As the period of inactivity on the part of appellant and his grantors did not run for full seven years from the time Barnes purchased at the tax sale and received his deed, and other supervening equities amounting to an estoppel being absent, there is no such laches as would bar appellant’s right to recover the land. Earle Improvement Co. v. Chatfield, 81 Ark. 296; Updegraff v. Marked Tree Lumber Co., 83 Ark. 154. We conclude that the decree of the chancellor was correct upon the whole case, and that the same should be affirmed, both on the appeal and the cross-appeal. It is so ordered.