Newland v. Morris

Cassoday, O. J. This is an action of ejectment to recover the land described, of which the plaintiff claims to be the absolute owner in fee. The defendant Archibald Morris answered by way of a general denial. The defendant Alice Morris, in addition to such denial, answered by way of an equitable counterclaim to the effect that September 2, 1889, she entered into the possession of the premises under an oral agreement with one Solomon Fielding, who then had title to the land, whereby she was to have the title to the land conveyed to her by him in consideration of certain services, care, and support during his life, as therein alleged, and that she had fully performed the same on her part, and that she had also made improvements on the land, relying upon such agreement, at a cost of $1,500, but that Solomon Fielding died August 20, 1899, without making a conveyance to her as he had agreed; and that the plaintiff took title to the land knowing all the facts. The trial court found against the defendants and in favor of the plaintiff upon all questions at issue, and that the defendants wrongfully and unlawfully withheld the possession of the premises from the plaintiff, and assessed his damages at $100, and judgment was ordei’ed thereon accordingly. Such judgment was entered in the usual form April 23, 1901, and for $100 damages and $121.75 costs and disbursements as taxed. June 25, 1901, the defendants paid into court and to its clerk the amount of the costs and disbursements so taxed, and also filed an undertaking with two sureties for a new trial under the statutes, in the sum of $300, containing the following condition and undertaking: “The condition of the above obligation is such that whereas the above-bounden Alice Morris and Archibald Morris have applied to the court in the above-entitled action for an order [396] setting aside tbe judgment rendered in said action in favor of the plaintiff and against the defendants therein, and granting a new trial on all the issues involved in said action in accordance with the statutes of the state of Wisconsin in such cases made and provided: “Now, therefore, if said court shall grant said order, and the same be made and entered of record, granting a new trial to the defendants in said action upon all the issues involved therein, and said defendants shall well and truly pay all costs and damages which may he finally awarded the plaintiff in said action, then and in such case the above obligation shall be null and void; otherwise to remain and he in full force and effect.” Signed by the two defendants, and two persons as sureties, in the presence of two witnesses. November 8, 1901, the trial court made an order reciting the facts stated, and also that the defendants had paid the costs as taxed, and given and filed a bond with sufficient sureties, as provided by sec. 3092 of the Statutes of 1898, as therein made and provided, all of which had been duly made to appear to that court; and upon motion of the attorney for the defendants it was thereby: “Ordered that, under and by virtue of section 3092 of the Wisconsin Statutes of 1898, the judgment in this action be, and is hereby, vacated and set aside, and a new trial be, and hereby is, granted, in this action, upon all and each of the issues thereon, viz., upon the issue of law made hy the defendants’ answer to the legal claim made hy the plaintiff’s complaint, and also upon the issue upon defendant Alice Morris’ counterclaim, to wit, equitable defense set up and made by the answer of the defendant Alice Morris, and also upon the issues that may he raised by any and all other and further pleadings that may be made and allowed in this action.” From that order the plaintiff brings this appeal. As indicated in a recent decision of this court, the statute contemplates that the order be made “upon condition that all costs recovered thereby ... be paid,” and “that the applicant execute and file an undertaking” as therein prescribed. Sec. 3092, Stats. 1898; Rupiper v. Calloway, 105 Wis. 4. [397] Here tbe undertaking was filed and costs paid June 25, 1901, pursuant to an order of tbe trial court inade June 22, 1901, giving permission to file tbe same and pay such costs; and proceedings on tbe judgment were thereby stayed to enable tbe defendants to comply with tbe statutes, and to enable tbe respective parties to be beard on tbe application. Tbe order vacating tbe judgment was not made until some months after-wards, but it refers to tbe bond or undertaking and tbe sureties in a way to show that tbe court acted upon it and approved of it. Tbe statute provides that tbe undertaking shall be "in such sum as the court shall direct, to tbe effect that be will pay all costs and damages which may be finally awarded tbe other party.” In tbe recent case referred to it was held that tbe giving of tbe undertalcing as prescribed by tbe statute was “a condition precedent to tbe vacation of tbe judgment,” and that “a new trial should not be granted until tbe judgment has been vacated.” Rupiper v. Calloway, supra; sec. 3092, Stats. 1898. That section also provides that “the sureties shall justify their responsibility in tbe same manner as bail on arrest.” Id. Tbe qualifications of bail on arrest must be as follows: “(1) Each of them must be a resident and householder or freeholder within tbe state. (2) They must each be worth tbe amount specified in tbe order of arrest, in property within tbe state, exclusive of property exempt from execution.” Sec. 2704, Stats. 1898. Tbe justification of each of tbe sureties to tbe undertaking in question states that be is a resident and freeholder of tbe county and state, and that be “is worth tbe sum of six hundred dollars over and above all bis debts and liabilities and exemptions,” but fails to state that be is worth that amount "in property within the state,” as prescribed by tbe statute. Such right of a new trial being purely statutory, and tbe giving of tbe undertaking prescribed being a condition precedent, such omission seems to be fatal. By the Court. — Tbe order of tbe circuit court is reversed, and the cause is remanded for further proceedings according to law.