Vallette v. Tedens

Mr. Justice Magruder delivered the opinion of the Court: In the fall of 1884 and winter of 1884 and 1885 the appellees were merchants, engaged in business under the firm name of Tedens & Co. in the town of Lemont in Cook county. One Walker had become largely indebted to them and had given them a mortgage upon certain lands owned by him in DuPage county. This mortgage they had foreclosed and had acquired title to the lands embraced in it through the foreclosure sale. In addition to this, they also had judgments against Walker, which they were desirous of making out of whatever lands or interests in lands he might own that were not included in the mortgage. At this time appellant was the county surveyor of DuPage county. He was also engaged in the business of examining titles and making abstracts of titles, and had an office, where he carried on such business, in Wheaton, Du Page county. On November 18, 1884, appellees wrote to appellant the following letter: “Lemont, Ill., November 18, 1881. “County Surveyor, Wheaton, Ill.: “Dear Sir—When can you come and make survey of the land known as the ‘Walker tract,’ in DuPage county? We now own it, and wish to fence and rent; therefore a survey is very necessary. Hoping you will favor us with an early reply, and that you will come soon, now while the weather is so fine and good for such work, we are Yours, etc., J. H. Tedens & Co. Pursuant to the notice contained in this letter appellant went to Lemont on December 1, 1884, and was there engaged for four days in making surveys for appellees and in consulting with them about titles to property, in which Walker was supposed to have an interest. The land or a part of the land, to which appellees had acquired title by the foreclosure proceeding, consisted of about one hundred acres in that part of the north-east quarter of section 16 lying north of the north channel of the Des Plaines river, there being an island at this point, around which the river flows in two channels, one to the north and the other to the south of the island. The land in controversy in this suit is a tract of forty-five acres, situated on the island in question in the south-east corner of the northeast quarter of section 15, south of the north channel of the river, and opposite the one hundred acres above mentioned. Appellees had supposed until after the foreclosure, that the forty-five acres were included in their trust deed; this, however, did not prove to be the case. They had also supposed that the forty-five acres belonged to Walker. Walker had been in possession of it at 'one period for some twelve years or longer, and was reputed to have acquired his title from a widow named Warden, who had also owned the balance of section 15. While appellant was in Lemont during the first four days of December, 1884, he also shared the belief that Walker had title to the forty-five acres, although both he and appellees were aware at this time that the land was not taxed. While engaged in this survey for appellees, appellant learned from them the location and surroundings of the forty-five acres. Both the appellees swear, that, on December 2 or 3, they employed appellant, as an examiner of titles, to search the records and look up the title to the forty-five acres and to assist them in acquiring such title. They are confirmed in their statements by the testimony of one Graves. At the same time they gave appellant a list of other lands in sections 14, 15 and 16, in which Walker was supposed to be interested, and employed him to ascertain the condition of the title to these lands with a view of subjecting them to the payment of their judgments. On the evening of December 4, when appellant left Lemont, appellees placed in his hands their own abstract of title to the lands they had obtained from Walker, and requested him to examine the title, so that, if there were any defects, they might be remedied." At their request he made a map of the lands lying in sections 14, IS and 16 and left it with them. Appellant procured the title to the forty-five acres in question for himself, denying the existence of any agreement to obtain it for appellees, and pleading the Statute of Frauds. The object of this bill is to compel him to convey the land to appellees, on the ground that he holds it as their agent and trustee. After leaving Lemont appellant made examinations in the records and tax books of DuPage county and in the books of certain abstract makers in Chicago, and on December 8,1884, wrote the following letter: “Wheaton, Ill., December 8, 1884. “J. H. Tedens & Co., Lemont, Ill.: “Gents—I have looked up the 5.07 aeres N. Frac. N. W. J Sec. 14, 37.11, and find that it was entered June, 1835, by Philip C. Latham, and conveyed by him to Thomas Haughan June 5, 1842. I don’t think it has been conveyed since by the owner. As to the 45 or any Island Frac. N. j- Sec. 15, 37.11, the title is in either the canal trustees or to whom they sold it. There is no deed or record of the tract to any persons. Island Frac, of Sec. 16, is still in the State of Illinois, for use of, etc., of T. 37.11. If you wish me to go and see the records in canal commissioners’ office, I can do so as soon as you send to me. I don’t find that Boebuck has any title on Sec. 14, S. of river, or on the island. Please give inclosed to Tagerstrum. I have not yet been through examination of the abstract as to your title, but I think I will have time this week. Yours, J. G. Vallette.” This letter amounts to a written statement by the defendant, that he was acting as the agent of the appellees in looking up the titles to various pieces of land including the forty-five acres, and also that he was acting as their attorney in examining for them the title which they already had. He states the result of his investigations as to the forty-five acres, and proposes to make further investigations at the office of the canal commissioners, if appellees shall send to him to do so. The appellee, Tedens, swears that he answered the letter of December 8, telling appellant to go ahead and visit the canal office and “look up the title there,” and that he would be paid for his services. His testimony as to the contents of the answer was given after appellant’s failure to produce it upon being notified to do so. Appellant denies that he received any reply to the letter of December 8. Appellant sent to the canal office for information and obtained therefrom a paper, dated December 14, 1884, showing that the north fraction of the north-east quarter had been sold by the canal trustees to John B. Witt and that the certificate of purchase had been assigned to Peter Warden, and also showing that the forty-five acres had been sold by the trustees on September 11, 1848, to John B. Witt. Witt had died, and, in order to get title, it became necessary to obtain conveyances from his -heirs. On January 3, 1885, appellant again went to Lemont and continued the survey for appellees, which he had not finished in December. Appellee, Tedens, swears that, during this visit in January, appellant spoke of some of the heirs as being in Iowa and of some as living in Kansas, and expressed his intention of going to Kansas, as soon as he finished the survey, he was then engaged in making. Appellant swears, that at this time in January he had no conversation whatever with either of the appellees about the forty-five acres, except that, when he and Thormalilen were at the land, he asked Thormahlen what it was worth and was told that its value was $50 or $75 per acre. If the statement of appellee, Tedens, as to what took place when appellant was in Lemont on January 3, 1885, is true, then appellant led the appellees to believe that he was trying to obtain the title of the Witt heirs for them and not for himself. If his own statement is true, then he acted unfairly towards the appellees in concealing from them what he had learned from the canal commissioners on December 14, namely, that the title to the forty-five acres was not in Walker, but in John B. Witt or his heirs. That information was procured by him while acting as their agent and in pursuance of their employment, and should have been communicated to them. Instead of making them acquainted with the real condition of affairs, he went to work to procure the title for himself, while engaged in their service. On January 5, according to his own evidence, he opened negotiations with the heirs "for the purchase of their interest, and, by the second day of February, had procured conveyances from them to himself. On January 9, 1885, he sent the following letter to appellees: “Wheaton, Ill., January 9, 1885. ‘‘J. H. Tedens & Co.: “Gents—Do you want me to make abstract of lot 13, School Trustees Sub. of Sec. 16, 37.11? " I think you had better only show title acquired by Edwin Walker, and it may be better to have full abstract made new, and show the full proceedings followed by your deeds, so as "to show your full title in the whole business. I think it will pay you. Also, what will you give for the forty-five acres on the island, if I can get a title for you ? p Yours very truly, J. G. Vallette.” It is here apparent that appellant was acting as agent and adviser of the appellees, and was still holding out to them the idea that the title to the forty-five acres was to be obtained for them. They replied to his letter "as follows: “Lemont, Ill., January 17, 1885. “t7. G. Vallette, Esq., County Surveyor, Wheaton, Ill.: “Dead, Sib—Our Mr. Tedens will call on you next Tuesday or "Wednesday in regards examination abstracts and tracts and adjoinings you have surveyed for us. If not convenient for you to meet him on them days, please so inform us. Tours, etc., J. H. Tedens & Co.” Appellee, Tedens, swears, that, on January 21, 1885, he met the appellant at the office of Haddock, Vallette & Rickords in Chicago, and it was there agreed between them that appellant should acquire the title to the forty-five acres for the appellees, and that appellees should pay him for his services and disbursements in that behalf the sum of $1000; that he, 'Tedens, then and there paid appellant $50 upon the agreement .so made. Appellant admits that he met Tedens at the office named on January 21 and had a conversation with him about the forty-five acres; that Tedens asked him how much he wanted for getting the title for them to the forty-five acres, .and he replied: “I didn’t know how much it was going to cost, but proposed to make $1000 clear.” Appellant also admits that he received the $50, but claims that it was paid on account of the abstract he was going to make of the other lands, and not upon any agreement in reference to the forty-five acres; he says: “I told him (Tedens) I wanted $50 to apply on it (the abstract), as I was going to spend considerable money— ■as I was going out to see the Witts I wanted some money.” The conveyances from the Witt heirs to the appellant bear date February 2, 1885. After this in the month of February appellant had one conversation with Tedens in which he said: “I am still fighting for you,” and another in which he said, in regard to the forty-five acres, that “he hadn’t it ready yet,” that “he hadn’t it finished up yet,” “it may take a suit yet to get it.” Tedens states in regard to the latter interview: “I could not get much out of him at that time.” On February 24,1885, appellant had another interview with appellees at Lemont, and they there paid him $30 and took the following receipt: “Lemont, Ill., Feb. 24, 1885. “Rec’d from J. H. Tedens & Co., Lemont, 111., thirty dollars-for balance abstract making. $30.00. J. G. Vallette.” This payment of $30 was made in the store of appellees at Lemont and the above receipt with the exception of the word,, “balance,” and the signature, was written by a clerk of appellees; who was directed to draw it up by appellee Tedens. As-at first drawn, it read: “Rec’d'from J. H. Tedens & Co., etc., thirty dollars for abstract making.” After the receipt was-written, appellant inserted the word “balance” in such a way that its insertion was not noticed by Tedens. The purpose of putting in the word “balance” was evidently to confirm the theory, that the $50, paid on January 21, had been paid for abstract making and not upon an agreement to obtain the forty-five acres. Upon his direct examination appellant’s testimony in regard. t.o this receipt is as follows: “This is the receipt for the $30, that was given me at their office for the last cash balance on. abstract. Is that receipt just exactly as it was as you made it, as you signed it ? Tes sir. And was it made there in Mr.. Tedens’ presence? It was. Who wrote it? Their clerk. That is all his uniting is it? All except my signature.” Upon his cross-examination appellant testifies as follows: “Do you say that Mr. Tedens was present when you received $30 from his clerk ? Tes sir, because he went to the clerk himself and told him to pay it to me. Was he present when that receipt, was signed for the $30 ? I don’t know whether he was or not. Did you direct that word ? I put that word in after it was written, that ‘balance.’ After the receipt was written you wrote that word ‘balance’ there yourself? Tes sir, before I signed it. Tou do not know whether Mr. Tedens saw it or not ? * * * I don’t know whether he saw it or not. * * * You put the word ‘balance’ in- there after it was written out and signed? I did,” etc. On February 28, 1885, the following letter was written to-the appellant by the appellees: “J. G. Vallette, Esq. “Lemont, Inn., Feb. 28, 1886. “Yours at hand, and in reply can say that Peter Warden’s address is Osburn City, Osburn Co., Kansas. He lives within three miles of Osburn City, on a farm. “I will be in Chicago next Tuesday; would like to have the abstract there then, at Mr. Comstock’s office. Yours respectfully, J. H. Tedens.” The evidence tends to show what has already been stated that Walker had obtained his title to the one hundred acres, north of the channel, in the north-east quarter of section 15, from one of the Wardens, and it was supposed that he had also obtained from the same source the title to the forty-five acres in the north-east quarter of section 15 that lay south of the channel. The widow, Warden, was selling the timber upon the forty-five acres as far back as 1866, and, at that time, Tedens himself had drawn a contract between her and some other party in reference to the sale of such timber. . The letter of February 28 shows, that on that day appellant was still acting for the appellees in reference to the matter of title. It also shows, that, having already obtained the interests of the Witt heirs in the forty-five acres, he was preparing to get whatever interest the Wardens might have. At this time appellees were ignorant that he had obtained for himself the title of the Witt heirs and supposed that he was working to secure that title for them. He was not only concealing from them the fact that he had procured the Witt interest, but he was making use of them, so as to obtain from them such information as would enable him to get hold of the Warden interest. They did not learn until they were so informed in April, 1885, by the county clerk of DuPage county, that the appellant had caused the conveyances of the forty-five acres to be made to himself, that he “had that property in his own name on record.” We forbear to refer further to the evidence. It is quite evident, that appellant acted unfairly towards the appellees while sustaining to them a confidential relation. The facts in this case bring it within the rule laid down in Davis v. Hamlin, 108 Ill. 39. Appellant was the county surveyor of DuPage county, elected to that office by the people. Appellees extended to him a confidence, which they would not have felt but for his official position. By virtue of that position he came in contact with them and, while engaged in surveying their land, learned its situation and value, and became acquainted with their relations to the surrounding lands. As a man, experienced in the examination of titles and engaged in the business of making abstracts of title, he was intrusted with their valuable papers and employed to ascertain whether there were any defects in their title. He undertook to help them collect then* judgments by finding out what lands then* judgment debtor owned and what sort of title he had to the same. Persons engaged in the business of making abstracts of title occupy a relation of confidence towards those employing them, which is second only, in the sacredness of its nature, to the relation which a lawyer sustains to his client. Such persons consult the evidences of ownership and become familiar with the chains and histories of title. They handle private title papers and become aware of whatever weaknesses or defects may exist in the legal proceedings, through which the ownership of real property is secured. They should be held to a strict responsibility in the exercise of the trust and confidence, which are necessarily reposed in them. Any abuse of such trust and confidence should be met with emphatic rebuke. Although it was shown upon investigation, that Walker had no record title to the forty-five acres, yet he had been in possession of it for many years and had exercised acts of ownership over it; appellees supposed him to be owner and employed appellant to ascertain the nature of Walker’s interest, not with a view to speculation but for the purpose of subjecting that interest to the payment of honest debts. It was learned, that in' 1848 the canal trustees had sold the property to one Witt, who had died, and whose heirs had gone off and abandoned the land. Appellees desired and expected by the purchase of the Witt interest to realize something towards the payment of their judgments. Appellant undertook and agreed to act for them as their agent in obtaining that interest. But his employment in this regard grew out of and followed from his previous employment to examine the titles to this and other tracts and to act for appellees in surveying land, in making abstracts of title and in pointing out, with a view of correcting, defects in title. He was not simply an agent to purchase, as in Perry v. McHenry, 13 Ill. 227, but his agency to purchase was .part of a broader agency, that concerned other matters and involved greater confidence and a more delicate trust. Appellant’s relations to appellees were of such a confidential character and his conduct towards them was marked by such unfairness, that we feel justified in regarding him, as a trustee holding the forty-five acres in question for their benefit. The circuit judge took this view and we think the decree he rendered was correct. The decree of the circuit court is accordingly affirmed. Decree affirmed.