Red Jacket Tribe No. 28 v. Gibson
Red Jacket Tribe No. 28 v. Gibson
Opinion of the Court
There was sufficient evidence to justify the findings of the court below.
Evidence that the defendant Bennett acted without the concurrence of his co-trustee Dustman, or that the latter was induced to concur by reason of misrepresentations made by the former with respect to Worthington’s concurrence, was admissible.
Evidence that Dustman understood the propriety of the purchase was to be submitted to the “tribe” was admissible.
The court was authorized to revive, the lien of the mortgage of the Occidental Loan Association in favor of the plaintiff if the satisfaction of the mortgage was part of the. fraud practiced on the plaintiff.
The court below properly admitted evidence that the trustees never assembled and as a board considered the transaction,—the purchase from Gibson.
The prompt disavowal of the act of one of the trustees was a fact which the plaintiff was entitled to prove. Gibson was a member of the tribe, and acquainted with the by-laws, which did not authorize the trustees to invest in lands. The order instructing the trustees “to try and invest the money in the bank, not exceeding two thousand dollars,” does not purport to authorize an investment of money of the tribe otherwise than “in stocks, bonds, mortgages, or other securities, approved by two thirds of the members thereof present as a regular council.” Moreover, the by-laws of plaintiff could not be amended by a simple motion or resolution.
The decree of the court below annulled the deed from Gibson to the plaintiff, and did not provide for a reconveyance from the latter to the former. This on the theory that the transaction was fraudulent, and in equity the deed conveyed no title. The deed being annulled, the plaintiff was entitled to a return of the money or its equivalent.
Judgment and order affirmed.
Myrick, J., and Ross, J., concurred.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- RED JACKET TRIBE NO. 28, IMPROVED ORDER OF RED MEN, OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA v. JAMES A. GIBSON
- Cited By
- 3 cases
- Status
- Published
- Syllabus
- Equity—Action to Annul Conveyance—Fraud — Evidence.—In an action by the purchaser to set aside a conveyance on the ground of fraud, a witness for the plaintiff was asked on cross-examination whether he knew of any unfair act done by the defendant to induce the sale. Held', that the question was improper. Id.—Return of Purchase-money—Satisfaction of Mortgage — Revival of Lien. —In such an action, the plaintiff is entitled to a return of the purchase-money on obtaining a decree annulling the conveyance; and it appearing that a portion of the purchase-money had been used by one of the defendants to satisfy a mortgage held by a third person on certain other land belonging to him, held, that the plaintiff was entitled to have the lien of the mortgage revived in its favor. Benevolent Association — By-laws — Power of Trustees to Invest Money. —■ A member of a benevolent association, who is acquainted with its by-laws, is chargeable with notice of the restrictions thereby imposed upon the power of the trustees to invest the funds of the association. Practice — Evidence. — On the trial, certain evidence stated in the opinion was admitted against the objection of the defendants, and certain objections to questions asked by him on cross-examination were sustained. Held, that the rulings of the court were proper.