Walter v. Hartwig

Elliott, J. The appellee Hartwig alleges in the first paragraph of his complaint, that he is the owner of the real estate therein described; that the appellant has caused to be recorded an agreement executed to him by Mary Beuret arid John B. Beuret, wherein they agreed, in consideration of the promise of the appellant to do certain acts, to convey to him the real estate; that the agreement was not acknowledged and was not entitled to be recorded, and that it clouds the appellee’s title. The second paragraph of the complaint alleges the same facts as the first, and, in addition, avers that the appellant did not perform the acts which he undertook to perform. Prayer that the record of the instrument be cancelled, and that the appellant be enjoined from setting up any claim to the real estate. We think that the complaint is good. The appellant disobeyed the positive command of the law in causing the instrument to be placed on record, and the appellee certainly has a'right to have the illegal act annulled. A void act may .create such a cloud upon an owner’s title as to entitle him to relief, so that, -although the recording was void, the appellee .has a right to have the record cleared of all embarrassing entries. Bishop v. Moorman, 98 Ind. 1 (49 Am. R. 731), and [125] authorities cited; Petry v. Ambrosher, 100 Ind. 510; Thomas v. Simmons, 103 Ind. 538, p. 545; Hobbs v. Board, etc., 103 Ind. 575. The answer sets forth the instrument set out in the complaint, and alleges that at the time it was executed Mary Beuret was the owner of the real estate; that at all times the defendant “ has been ready to fulfil his part of said contract; that he prepared the petition as stipulated in said contract and would long ago have presented the same to the common council had not the said Beurets requested him to defer the same until the latter part of the present September in the present season, when they expected to have the means necessary to pay the costs thereof; that the plaintiff, conspiring with the Beurets and others to cheat and defraud this defendant, and with full knowledge and actual notice of said contract and the defendant’s rights thereunder, which notice he had prior to the purchase of said property, prevailed upon the said Beurets to violate their contract with this defendant .and convey the property to him.” The contract referred to in the pleadings reads thus: “ It is hereby agreed by and between Mary Harriet Beuret and John B. Beuret, her husband, of Fort Wayne, Allen county, and State of Indiana, party of the first part, and Charles W. Walter, also of said county and State, party of the second part, “ Witnesseth: That for and in consideration of the conveyance by said party of the second part, to said party of the first part, lot 46 in Levi M. J ones’ subdivision of the south ten (10) acres east of Spy Run avenue, lot one (1) Wells’ pre-. emption, in township 30 north, of range 12 east, 2d P. M., and assuming to pay five hundred dollars ($500) of a certain mortgage held by Caroline Stafford, on lot 25, Hanna’s addition to said city, now owned by said parties of the first part; and the further consideration of the services of said party of the second part in procuring and petitioning the council of said city to close the alley between said lot 25, [126] Hanna’s addition, and lot 24 in the same addition, the said parties of the first part agree to convey, by good and sufficient deed, thirty-five feet (35) off of the west side of said lot 25, Hanna’s addition to said city. They, the said first parties, further agree to furnish said second party an abstract of title to said lot 25.” The answer is bad. It assumes to be an affirmative plea, confessing and avoiding the plaintiff’s cause of action, but it confesses without avoiding. It admits that the instrument was not entitled to be recorded, and thus concedes a prima facie cause of action; this prima facie cause of action it does not avoid, because it fails to aver that the defendant did perform the acts which he undertook to perform. It is true that the answer avers that he was ready to fulfil his part of the contract, but it does not aver that he did perform it. For anything that appears, the contract may yet be unperformed on his part. In such a case as this, where the rights of a third party have intervened, it is necessary for the defendant to show such an equity as will defeat that? party’s right to have his title cleared of clouds. The counter-claim sets forth the same contract as that referred to in the complaint and answer, and avers “ That immediately after the execution of said contract, he prepared a petition to the common council of said city, praying for the vacation and closing of said alley; that he requested other parties interested to sign the same; that they refused so to do till the month of September, 1884, which fact he reported to said Beurets, and the presenting of said petition to said common council was, at their request and because of the refusal of said parties to sign, postponed till October, 1884. And he further avers that with full knowledge and actual notice of this cross complainant’s rights and of said contract, the said Hartwig, confederating and conspiring with others, and with said Beurets, entered in some agreement in fraud of cross complainant’s rights, by which said Beurets conveyed said lot 25 to said Hartwig on the 26th day of August, 1884. And he [127] further says that he thereupon had executed a good and sufficient warranty deed of said lot 46, in said Levi M. Jones’ subdivision, to said Beurets, sufficient to convey the same to them as in said contract provided, and offered by a written agreement in writing to assume and pay said sum of $500 of said Stafford mortgage, with interest thereon at the same rate provided in said mortgage, or to pay said sum in cash, with interest thereon at the same rate from said 13th of March, 1884. That he offered to deliver such a deed and assume or pay said sum as above to said Hartwig on the 13th day of September, 1884, and said Hartwig refused to accept the same, and denied this plaintiff’s rights in said property under said contract, and refused to execute to this plaintiff any conveyance of said west thirty-five feet of said lot 25 if he should comply with his part of said contract, or to convey the same as said Beurets were in duty bound to do. And he further says that when, on the 18th of September, 1884, he tendered said deed and promised to assume said mortgage or pay said sum of money to said Beurets, they declined and refused to carry out said contract as agreed by them. And he further avers that said Beurets have at no time offered to rescind said contract, or made any demand of this plaintiff to comply with the same, nor have they at any time prepared and shown, or offered to show, this plaintiff an abstract of the title to said lot 25, nor have they in any manner offered to comply with said contract. And this plaintiff now brings into court said deed of said lot 46 and his said written promise to assume said mortgage to said Caroline Stafford.” We do not agree with appellee’s counsel that the instrument executed by Mary and John B. Beuret is void, for we do not understand that an instrument is without effect unless it is recorded. On the contrary, we think it well settled that an instrument may be valid between the parties and those having actual notice, although it is not entitled to be admitted to record. We agree with appellee’s counsel that an instrument, not [128] •entitled to go upon record, is not constructive notice although recorded. Reeves v. Hayes, 95 Ind. 521, p. 531; Watkins v. Brunt, 53 Ind. 208; Taylor v. City of Fort Wayne, 47 Ind. 274; Kennedy v. Shaw, 38 Ind. 474; Lockwood v. Slevin, 26 Ind. 124; Deming v. State, ex rel., 23 Ind. 416; Reed v. Coale, 4 Ind. 283. Filed April 2, 1886. But we do not agree that such an instrument may not impart actual notice to one who has seen it of record, for the law is that if the purchaser does actually see the instrument of record, it constitutes notice. Musick v. Barney, 49 Mo. 458; Hastings v. Cutler, 24 N. H. 481; Gilbert v. Jess, 31 Wis. 110; Musgrove v. Bonser, 5 Oregon, 313 (20 Am. R. 737). It is difficult to imagine any reason1 why this should not be the law, since it is immaterial where the purchaser sees the instrument, whether on the record or elsewhere. We regard the counter-claim as bad, for the reason that it does not show that the appellant had performed his part of the contract. He undertook to procure the vacation of an .alley, and this, as the answer discloses, he failed to do, for it appears, not only that he did not secure the vacation, but that he can not do so, for the reason that some of the adjacent property-owners have refused to consent to such vacation. As it affirmatively appears that they have actually refused to ■ consent, it can not be presumed that they will ever consent. The appellant is, therefore, not in a situation to prevent the .appellee’s grantors from disposing of their property. It would be unjust to permit a purchaser under an executory contract to tie up the right of disposition, when he is himself unable to perform his part of the contract. The epithets cast into the counter-claim are mere empty words, adding no strength to the pleading. Epithets can not .supply the place of facts'. Judgment affirmed.