McManus v. Keith

Mr. Justice Lawrence delivered the opinion of the Court: This was a bill in chancery, brought by McManus against Keith and others, to enjoin the collection of certain promissory notes given by McManus, unon the purchase of real estate sold by a _ commissioner under a proceeding in partition. After answers filed, a motion to dissolve the injunction was sustained, and the bill dismissed. It appears upon the face of the bill, that Robert Keith, one of the defendants, as heir of Robert Keith, deceased, filed a bill for partition of the real estate, making his co-heirs defendants, and the property not being susceptible of partition, a decree of sale was made and executed. The bill alleges that the petition for partition represented said Robert Keith, deceased, as having had a title in fee simple to the premises of which partition was sought, and avers that the court so found, but that in fact said Robert Keith, although he had an apparent title, had obtained it fraudulently from one Daniel Keith, and that said Daniel Keith was in possession, claiming the property as his own. The bill further alleges that the complainant, as purchaser at the commissioner’s sale, had commenced an action of ejectment agairist said Daniel, which was still pending, and claims that it would be inequitable to permit the notes given by. him to the commissioner to be collected or negotiated until the determination of this suit in complainant’s favor. It is apparent, that the case made by this bill does not demand the interference of this court. The maxim, caveat emptor, is one of almost universal application to judicial sales, and there is nothing in this case to make it an exception to the rule. It is urged by counsel that the representations contained in the bill for partition, to the effect that the complainant and his co-heirs were the owners pf the property, were fraudulent. But this view is erroneous. Fraud consists in the willful allegation of a falsehood, for the purpose of deception, but the appellant does not claim in his bill, or in his argument, that the Robert Keith who filed the bill for partition, or his co-heirs, had any knowledge of the fraud alleged to have been practiced by their ancestor upon Daniel Keith. The defendants in that proceeding could, in no event, be held responsible for the allegations contained in the complainant’s bill, but there is nothing disclosed in this record to subject even.him to the charge of fraud. He found himself and his co-heirs, by the death of his father, clothed with the legal title to the premises, and he had a right to come into court and ask that they be partitioned among the several heirs, or be sold, if incapable of partition. There was no fraud in this. The possession of Daniel Keith, it is true, was notice of whatever equities he had, but it was precisely the same notice to the purchaser at the commissioner’s sale, as to the heirs. As we have already remarked, there is no pretense that they had actual notice of an outstanding equity, and it follows that they and the purchaser stood upon common ground. If their apparent legal title was really defective, they had no more knowledge of that fact than himself. In the sale of these premises there has been neither fraud nor warranty, and the hill was properly dismissed. Owings v. Thompson,. 3 Scam. 502. Decree affirmed.