Wales v. Bogue

Mr. JüSTioE WalKek delivered the opinion of the Court. This was an action of ejectment, for the recovery of a part of the west half of the S. E. 17, 23 N., 8 E. Appellee, on the trial below, introduced in evidence a certificate of entry, by O. W. Kellogg. Also, a copy of a judgment in the Ogle Circuit Court, in favor of the People for the use of Henry Shines, and against Kellogg and other defendants, rendered on sthe 27th day of March, 1841. From this copy it appears that the court rendered judgment for ten thousand dollars debt, and three hundred and eight dollars and fifty-five cents damages, and awarded execution only for the damages and costs. He next introduced an execution issued upon this judgment, dated on the 22d day of November, 1841, for the damages and costs. It was returned “ no property found,” on the 5th day of February, 1842. Next, a pluries execution, dated the 26th day of November, 1847, for the debt, damages and costs, indorsed to be satisfied upon the payment of the damages and costs. The return on this latter execution shows a sale of the property in controversy, to Edward F. Dutcher, on the 25th day of February, 1848. Next, a deed from the sheriff td Dutcher, for the premises, dated the 3rd day of December, 1849. Also, a deed from Dutcher and wife, to Zenas Apling-ton, bearing date the 13th day of January, 1850 ; and lastly, a deed from Aplington to appellee. Appellant, Williams, then offered to prove that he was in possession of the premises in the year 1840, and so continued until the sale by the sheriff. That he fenced and broke the same, and that his improvements were made before the land was entered by Kellogg. That other persons occupied other portions of the eighty acre tract of land, and that Kellogg was, by the occupants, appointed to enter it for their benefit, and to convey to them their respective portions. That each of the occupants furnished his proper proportion of the money necessary to enter the land of the government, and that the said appellant furnished the money necessary to enter his part. Also, a deed from Kellogg to himself, which was not preserved in the record, nor is its date given. Also, a certificate of discharge of Kellogg as a bankrupt, in the District Court of the United States, which is not embodied in the bill of exceptions. But it is stated, that the certificate bears date in 1842. The court, however, rejected all of this evidence of the appellants, and the jury returned a verdict against them, on which a ’judgment was rendered. The judgment read in evidence was, no doubt, informal, and might have been reversed on error. But it was not so irregular as to be absolutely void. It found the amount of the debt and damages. It declared that the plaintiffs should recover the damages and costs, and awarded execution. This was informal, but it declared the legal rights of the parties; as, under the law, plaintiffs had no right to receive any part of the debt. He was only permitted to receive the damages and costs, which would operate to satisfy the whole debt. Although erroneous, it was binding upon the parties until reversed. The first execution was issued within a year from the date of the rendition of the judgment, and perpetuated the lien for the statutory period of seven years, on all of the real estate of the defendant within the jurisdiction of the court. And subsequently acquired property became subject to the lien and liable to levy and sale, under an execution on this judgment. Although the property in controversy was acquired after the judgment was rendered, it was levied upon and sold under a legal and binding execution, which was in all respects sufficient to pass the title to the purchaser. Even if Kellogg did obtain the benefit of a discharge under the bankrupt act, it was after the lien of the judgment had attached; and the discharge did not affect the lien. The discharge may have passed the title to the premises to his assignee, subject to be defeated by a sale under execution on the judgment, but it could not operate to divest the lien. The eleventh section of the bankrupt law, fully recognizes the binding force of such liens, and empowers the assignee to redeem the property from them, under the direction of the court. The third section of the act provides, that the bankrupt’s property shall vest in the assignee, as fully as the same was vested in or might be exercised by the bankrupt at or before the time of his bankruptcy. From these provisions it is manifest, that the assignee took the property precisely as it was held by the bankrupt. Had the evidence been received, that Kellogg only purchased this property as a trustee for appellant, Williams, it would only have established an equitable title in the latter. And there is no rule of practice better settled than that an equitable title forms no bar to a recovery in ejectment. In that trial legal rights alone can be considered. And the deed executed by Kellogg to Williams, only conveyed the grantor’s title subject to liens, if it was made previous to the sale on execution, and if made after, then it passed no title of any description. Appellee having exhibited a perfect chain of title from the general government to himself, was entitled to recover, unless it was rebutted by a better legal title, in the appellants, or outstanding in another person. If appellant, Williams, has any remedy on the state of facts which he proposed to prove, it is in a court of equity, where matters of trust are cognizable and protected. The court below, therefore, committed no error in excluding appellant’s evidence from the jury, as it could, at most, have established only an equitable title. The judgment of the court below is therefore affirmed. Judgment affirmed.