Jeude v. Sims

GOODE, J. This case is statutory and was instituted to quiet tbe title to a certain tract of land on averments plaintiffs are tbe owners in fee, tbe land is [66] not in the possession of any person, it is wild and uncultivated, and defendants claim title to it and an estate in it adverse to plaintiffs; wherefore the court was prayed to ascertain and determine the estate, title and interest of plaintiffs and defendants respectively, and define and adjudge the same by decree. In answer a general denial wa.s filed. The case was set for hearing on July 23,1906, at the April term of the Ste. Genevieve Circuit Court, to which a change of venne had been granted. On said day defendants made application for a continuance to the next day, July 24th, setting up an agreement between George H. Williams, the main attorney for defendants and the plaintiffs, or two of them, for a continuance of the case to the next regular term of the court. The application for continuance showed this agreement had been made some time prior to the date of the trial, and in reliance on it Judge Williams had not attended the Ste. Genevieve court on the day the case was set for trial, and had notified the other counsel for defendants of the agreement and that pursuant to it the case would be continued. The application further showed the other attorneys of defendants who were present in the Ste. Genevieve Circuit Court on July 23d, had none of the papers or muniments of title showing the title to the land in controversy was in defendants, but all such papers were in the possession of Judge Williams, or one of the defendants, Thomas B. Sims, who, the application said, was ill and unable to attend the court. It was further shown Judge Williams, the main counsel for defendants, could be present with their muniments of title on the next day, July 24th. Formal averments of diligence and that the application was not made for vexation and delay were set forth. This application was overruled; whereupon the attorneys for defendants, who were present, withdrew from the case and refused to take part in the proceedings, and judgment was entered for plaintiff upon evidence submitted by them. This judgment [67] found plaintiffs were tbe owners in fee of tbe land described in tbe petition, with a dower interest in plaintiff Susan Jeude, tbe widow of Casper Jeude, and each of tbe other plaintiffs owTned an undivided one-fiftb interest in tbe fee, subject to said dower; that defendants bad no right, title or interest in tbe land, and it was considered and adjudged that tbe absolute legal and equitable title to it was in plaintiffs, and defendants and those claiming under them, should be precluded and barred from ever setting up any right, title or estate in or to tbe premises. On the day tbe judgment was rendered tbe court adjourned to court in course, wrhich was tbe October term, 1906. Nothing was done in the case during tbe latter term, but in vacation, and on February 19, 1907, tbe defendants filed a motion or petition in tbe clerk’s office to have tbe judgment entered on July 23d, 1906, set aside as irregular and as having been prematurely rendered. Tbe real1 grounds of tbe petition were tbe agreement aforesaid' between Judge Williams as counsel for defendants and two of tbe plaintiffs, that tbe cause should not be beard on July 23, 1906, or during said term of tbe court, but should be continued to tbe next term, tbe yiolation of this agreement by plaintiffs in refusing to continue tbe cause and their taking advantage of it in tbe absence of defendants and their main attorney, to obtain a judgment in their favor. It was alleged in tbe petition to vacate tbe judgment, that it was not only irregular, but bad been fraudulently obtained against defendants. After bearing evidence on this petition, tbe court sustained it during tbe April term, 1907, to-wit, on April 30th. Tbe order sustaining tbe petition to vacate tbe judgment concluded by saying it was ordered and adjudged by tbe court the judgment theretofore rendered in the cause be set aside and vacated, and tbe defendants have and recover of plaintiffs tbe costs in this behalf expended. Motions for new trial and in arrest were filed by plaintiffs and overruled and an appeal waa [68] taken to this court from the order vacating the original judgment rendered in favor of plaintiffs. We have given attention to the merits of the appeal and are prepared to decide it, but though the question has not been presented, we are satisfied the proceeding is one which lies beyond the scope of our jurisdiction. A case to quiet the title to land is held to fall within the clause of the Constitution which withholds jurisdiction from this court of causes involving the title to real estate. [Northcutt v. Eager, 132 Mo. 265,. 33 S. W. 1125.] We do not perceive how we can have jurisdiction of an appeal from an order setting aside a final judgment which has been entered in such a cause, whereby the title to the land in controversy was adjudicated, any more than we would have jurisdiction to hear an appeal taken from said judgment. If we should hold the court rightly vacated the judgment, the title would remain open for future determination; that is, the case would have to be retried; but if we should hold the court wrongly vacated the judgment, we would have to reverse the ruling, leaving intact a judgment which found plaintiffs owned the land and precluded defendants, or any person claiming under them, from ever asserting title thereto. We think the appellate j u-risdiction of the cause is in the Supreme Court, to which it. is ordered transferred. All^ concur.