Idaho Gold Mining Co. v. Winchell
Idaho Gold Mining Co. v. Winchell
Opinion of the Court
— This action was commenced against twenty-eight defendants for the purpose of quieting the title to the-Eobinson and Austin mining claims and the Eobinson millsite,, all of which -are patented and located in Bingham county. Due service of the summons was made on all of the defendants. Some of them suffered default, others filed disclaimers, and others demurred, which demurrers were overruled, and those-demurring refused to plead further. Only the defendant Winchell answered and defended in the ease. Judgment was entered in conformity with the prayer of the complaint against all of the defendants except the respondent, Winchell; and, as-to him, the court found that he had a valid hen and judgment against the said mining claims and millsite for the sum of $649.47 and costs, which he was entitled to enforce. This appeal is from the judgment in favor of Winchell.
Numerous errors are assigned, all to the effect that the court, erred in rendering judgment in favor of Winchell, the respondent.
The following facts appear from the record. That on the twenty-eighth day of November, 1894, E. E. Chalmers and others were the owners of said mining claims, and the mill-site and improvements thereon, and on that date entered into-an agreement with the -Idaho Gold Mining Company, the appellant, whereby they agreed to sell and convey, by good and sufficient deed of conveyance, free and clear -of all encumbrances, said property to appellant for the sum of $5,700, to be paid in certain stipulated payments; said payments to be made at the-bank of Wells, Eargo & Co., at Salt Lake City, Utah. A deed, of said property, executed by said Chalmers and his co-owners, was at that time placed in escrow in said bank, to be delivered to the appellant corporation upon its making the payments as-stipulated in said agreement. It was also agreed therein that the appellant should have immediate possession of said property, with the right to work the same during the life of said contract. It was also agreed that a former contract made by-said E. E. Chalmers and co-owners with one Wilson for the sala-
It is contended by counsel for respondent that the Union company was not only the agent for, but the owner of, said property, so far as liens created in the working of said mines was concerned, and'he calls attention to Session Laws of Idaho, 1893, page 4-9, in support of that contention. We cannot construe said act to support respondent’s contention. Section 1 of said act is as follows:
“Section 1. Every person performing labor upon, or furnishing materials to be used in the construction, alteration or repair of any mining claim, building, wharf, bridge, ditch, dike, flume, tunnel, fence, machinery, railroad, wagon road, aqueduct to*735 create hydraulic power or any other structure, or who performs labor iu any mine or mining claim, has a lien upon the same, for the work or labor done or materials furnished, whether done- or furnished at the instance of the owner of the building or other improvement or his agent ; and every contractor, subcontractor, architect, builder, or any person having charge of any-mining or of the construction, alteration or repair, either in whole or in part, of any building or other improvement, as-aforesaid, shall be held to be the agent of and owner for the purpose of this chapter; provided, that the lessee or lessees of' any mining claim shall not be considered as the agent or agents, of the owner under the provisions of this chapter.”
We do not think said act was intended to include a transaction like the one in the case at bar. If a person or corporation can unlawfully take and hold possession of the property of another, and create liens against it, as was done in this case, an-owner may be deprived of his property .without his consent, and without due process of law. Had the Union company gone into possession of said property with the consent of the appellant, then a very different question would be presented.
Counsel for respondent admit that the only question for determination is, Was the Union company the owner of that said property for the purpose of creating the. lien of respondent?We answer that question in the negative. Despondent in his answer avers that at the time he furnished said wood to the Union company it was “working and operating said mines as owners,, and not as lessees, of any person or company,” and that his claim of lion was filed, and suit brought to foreclose the same, against said Union company, and judgment then taken against it.. The appellant company was not made a party to said suit, nor had it any interest therein. The respondent evidently considered the Union company the owner of said mining claims, and, under the facts of this case, his lien must be confined to his interest in said mining claims, which was nothing, at least,, after the purchase price had been paid by the appellant. It is well settled that a lien Dke that under consideration cannot be imposed on property by one who has unlawfully ousted the-owner. If so, it would be taking his property without his consent, against his will, and without due process of law.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- IDAHO GOLD MINING COMPANY v. WINCHELL
- Cited By
- 9 cases
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- Published
- Syllabus
- Lien — Interpleader Action. — A person who flies a lien on property for material furnished, and thereafter appears in an inter-pleader action brought to determine the priority of the rights of creditors to the purchase price paid for the property on which the lien is claimed, and demands that his claim be paid out of said fund, waives such lien and is estopped from foreclosing the same. Minino Claims — Ouster.—Where one unlawfully ousts the owner from mining claims and in working the same creates debts, such debts are not legal claims for liens against the mining claims. Estoppel — Purchase Price Eund. — Where one has a valid lien on property for the payment of a debt, and such property is sold on a contract made prior to the creation of such debt, and the claimant goes into a court of equity and asks to have his lien claim paid out of the purchase price fund, he is estopped from thereafter resorting to such property to make such debt. Decree op Court of Sister State. — A decree of a court of equity which has jurisdiction of the parties is binding on them, and if such decree affects the title to real property in another state such decree will be given force in that state. (Syllabus by the court.)