Williams v. Moorehead

The opinion of the court was delivered by HoetoN, C. J.: The common source of title to the land in controversy was from Elias W. Tuttle. Upon the trial, Moore-head & Knowles in support of their case introduced a tax deed executed to Charles L. Flint, February 5, 1880; a quitclaim deed from Charles L. Flint to J. W. Bector, executed December 3, 1880; a warranty deed from J. W. Bector and wife to William Moorehead and E. C. Knowles, executed February 1, 1882; a sheriff’s deed, executed January 24, 1879, to Charles Mount, reciting a judgment in favor of Charles Mount against Elias W. Tuttle, dated August 6, 1878; and a sale of the real estate under said judgment on November 23, 1878; also, the proceedings in an attachment commenced March 23, 1878, by Charles Mount against Elias W. Tuttle, including the judgment rendered in such ease on August 6, 1878 ; the proceedings in an action of Charles Mount against William Wallenweber, commenced February 12, 1880, to quiet title, and in which action Charles Mount obtained such a decree, on April 6,1880; and, lastly, a quitclaim deed from Charles Mount and wife to William Moorehead and E. C. Knowles, executed July 24, 1882. On the part of Williams, it is contended that the tax proceedings for the years for which the land was sold were so irregular and defective that the tax deed of February 5,1880, conveyed no title. Williams’s chain of title, introduced in — 615 — evidence, was as follows: A warranty deed from Elias W. Tuttle and wife to Alfred Hawkins, executed June 5, 1876, but not filed for record until February 20, 1882; a warranty deed from Alfred Hawkins and wife to 'William Wallenweber, executed May 6,1878, and filed for record October 26,1878; and a warranty deed from William Wallenweber and wife to Israel Williams, executed January 5, 1882, and recorded February 20, 1882. No claim is made before us that the tax deed of February 5, 1880, is valid, or that Moorehead & Knowles have any title thereunder. As Elias W. Tuttle conveyed the premises to Alfred Hawkins before Charles Mount commenced his attachment proceedings against said Tuttle, and as the findings show that Charles Mount had actual notice that William Wallenweber, the purchaser from Hawkins, claimed to own the land at the time that Mount purchased the land at sheriff’s sale, we may assume, at least for the purposes of this case, that Mount was not a purchaser without notice, although the sheriff’s deed was recorded January 24, 1879, and the conveyance from Tuttle to Hawkins was not recorded until February 20,1882. (Bush v. T. G. Bush & Co., ante, p. 556; Holden v. Garrett, 23 Kas. 98; Comp. Laws of 1879, ch. 22, § 21; Freeman on Executions, § 336; 2 Leading Cases in Equity, pt. 1, pp. 94, 95; Davis v. Ownsby, 14 Mo. 170; Chapman v. Coates, 26 Iowa, 288; Hoy v. Allen, 27 id. 208.) Mount, however, had the legal right to contest the alleged claim and title of Wallenweber in a direct proceeding brought therefor. This conclusion leads up to the inquiry as to the validity of the judgment quieting title in Charles Mount, rendered April 6,1880. As Williams did not attempt to purchase from Wallenweber until January 5,1882, Williams obtained no title or interest in the property attempted to be conveyed to him on said date, if the judgment of April 6, 1880, decreeing that Wallenweber had no legal or equitable estate in the property so conveyed, is to be given full force and effect. The finding of the court in regard to this matter is as follows: “That on the 12th day of February, 1880, an action was — 616 — brought by Mount against Wallenweber in this court to quiet his title to said land against said Wallenweber, and the land at the time Ayas vacant and unoccupied. Service in said case was made by publication, upon proper affidavit being filed, showing the non-residence of Wallenweber, and the other statutory grounds required. The proper notice was published for four consecutive Aveeks in a newspaper printed, published and of general circulation in said county, the dates of publication being February 13, 20, 27, and March 5, 1880. The affidavit of the printer in proof of such publication was filed in manner and form required by law. Although this proof was. not examined, and therefore not approved or disapproved by the court, a decree was entered in said case quieting said Mount’s title to said premises by default, on the 10th of April, 1880.” The decree in the case commences as follows: “And now on this 6th day óf April, of the April term, 1880, of this court, and the 10th day of said month, this cause comes on regularly for hearing. The plaintiff appears by J. W. Rector, his attorney of record. The court finds that due and legal notice, for the time and in the manner prescribed by law, has been had and service made in this action by newspaper publication upon said defendant, William Wal-lenweber, he being then and ever since a non-resident of and absent from the state of Kansas, so that service of summons in this action could not be made upon him within the state of Kansas; and this being an action in which service and notice by publication upon a non-resident defendant is proper and authorized by law, yet said defendant has failed to answer or demur to plaintiff’s petition herein, or to appear in any way, but made and still wholly makes default herein,” etc. Service was actually made in the case, and filed. The only evidence offered tending, to show that proof of service was not examined by the court, Avas the testimony of J. G-. Lowe, one of the attorneys for Williams. He testified, among other things: “ I examined the papers in the case of Charles Mount v. William Wallenweber; that the affidavit of proof of publication of service did not have any indorsement that it had ever been approved by the court and ordered filed; nor were there any papers in the case showing that the court had ever examined the service of proof thereof and approved it. I am well — 617 — acquainted with the practice in this court about such matters, and have been for ten years. I know that at the time the case was heard that it was not and never had been the practice of the court either to examine or approve the service by publication, or the affidavit proving such service, and that it was not done in that case.” Upon this oral evidence and the finding of the court, it is contended on the part of Williams that all the proceedings in the action of Mount v. Wallenweber to quiet title are void; hence, that no title passed to the premises from Mount to the plaintiffs. The claim is, that the district court of Washington county never acquired jurisdiction in the case of Mount against Wallenweber to render the judgment therein, because proof of service was not inspected or approved by the court. The following provision of §75 of the code is cited: “No judgment by default shall be entered on such service until proof thereof be made and approved by the court, and filed.” Counsel, however, fail to quote in their brief all of said § 75. It reads as follows: “Service by publication shall be deemed complete when it shall have been made in the manner and for the time prescribed in the preceding section; and such service shall be proved by the affidavit of the printer, or his foreman or principal clerk, or other person knowing the same. No judgment by default shall be entered on such service until proof thereof be made, and approved by the court, and filed.” Without, at this time, passing upon the question whether the finding and judgment of the court can be impeached by oral evidence, we are of the opinion that as service by publication was made upon Wallenweber in the manner and for the time prescribed by § 74 of the code, and as such service was proved in accordance with the provisions of the statute and afterward filed, that the failure of the court to examine or inspect the proof thereof, or to further approve the same, did not defeat or set aside such service. We say, “to further approve the proof of service,” because, notwithstanding the oral evidence and the finding of the trial court, it appears from the recitations of the decree that the court found “that due and — 618 — legal notice for the time and. in the manner prescribed by law had been had and service made in the action by publication upon the defendant Wallen weber.” Although there was no actual examination or inspection of the proof of service under the evidence and findings of the court, and although we have no order of the court entered on the minutes approving the pi’oof of service and ordering the same to be filed, there was a recitation in the decree of approval of the proof of service. Therefore we do not consider said judgment void, or liable to be successfully attacked collaterally. (Foreman v. Carter, 9 Kas. 674; Pierce v. Butters, 21 id. 124.) The failure of the court to more fully “approve the proof of service” when it appears that the service was regular and sufficient in all other respects, is at most an irregularity — not an omission that will oust the court of jurisdiction and render its judgment a nullity. Under the terms of said § 75, in all cases where judgments are rendered by default upon service by publication, it would be good practice for the court to enter on its minutes approval of the proof of service, and order the same to be filed, but its omission so to do is not fatal to the jurisdiction of the court. Complaint is made that the court erred in rendering judgment against Williams for all the costs. We think this complaint is well taken as to such costs as accrued before Williams was let in to defend, and the judgment as to the costs will be modified accordingly. The other alleged errors need only be noted briefly. Williams is in no situation to complain of the action of the district court in opening up the judgment obtained by default by Moorehead & Knowles against Mount. Moorehead & Knowles had the right to waive the statute and consent to an answer being filed. Section 144 of the code authorizes the court to allow a plaintiff to file a supplemental petition alleging facts material to the case occurring after the former petition; therefore when Moorehead & Knowles became the owners of the title of Charles Mount subsequent to the commencement of the action, they had the right, with the consent of the court, to file the — 619 — supplemental petition setting up their claim under -such title, notwithstanding the allegations of such supplemental petition were in conflict with the original petition filed by them. This case was virtually disposed of upon the supplemental petition and the answer of Williams thereto. Before Mount brought his action against Wallenweber to quiet his title, he had obtained a sheriff’s deed. ■ He knew then •that Wallenweber made some claim to the land; but Wallen-weber, if he had title at all, must have derived the same through Tuttle; Tuttle’s conveyance was not recorded until February 20, 1882, long after the institution of the attachment proceedings and the suit to quiet title; therefore he brought his action properly against Wallenweber to determine whether the latter had any interest in the land. (Douglass v. Nuzum, 16 Kas. 515.), The judgment was properly rendered; .and it is too late for Wallenweber, or any person claiming from him, to object in a collateral, proceeding. The judgment of the district court will be affirmed, except that all costs which accrued prior to the time that Williams became defendant will be taxed to Moorehead & Knowles. All the Justices concurring.