Cooper v. Murphy
Cooper v. Murphy
Opinion of the Court
Suit was brought by Charles Johnson against Laura Murphy and Miles E. Murphy, the complaint being in two paragraphs. In the amended first paragraph it was, in substance, stated that the defendants are husband and wife; that January 29, 1900, Ethan A. Huffman, acting as attorney in fact for the plaintiff, conveyed by quitclaim deed to the defendant Laura Murphy certain real estate, described, in the city of Marion, Grant county, Indiana, for the consideration of $135, which deed was not delivered until in Eebruary, 1900, and it has never been placed on record; that it was executed and said money was paid and accepted under a mutual mistake of fact, in that the plaintiff’s only interest or title in the real estate was by virtue of a tax deed duly executed to him by the auditor of that county, and duly recorded in, etc., April 15, 1896, the consideration therefor being $59.66, when in truth and in fact the plaintiff on January 29, 1900, held an additional tax deed on the premises for $59.85, duly executed by said auditor September 1, 1898, and duly recorded in, etc., September 15, 1898; and he also, on January 29, 1900, held a tax certificate of purchase, duly issued to him for purchase of the real estate at county sale of said county for delinquent taxes, 1898, for $51.58, and he also at the same time held a certificate of purchase of the real estate, duly issued to him for purchase at city of Marion sale, 1898, for
The second paragraph was in the customary short form of a complaint to quiet the plaintiff’s title to the real estate, representing him as the owner thereof in fee simple.
A supplemental complaint was filed, wherein it was alleged that since the filing of the complaint, at the tax sale to be held by the county treasurer of Grant county and the city treasurer of Marion, respectively, February 2, 1902, the real estate described was advertised for sale for delinquent taxes in the plaintiff’s name; that February 1, 1902, he paid the state and county taxes legally due thereon in the sum of $166.71, and paid to the city treasurer of Marion $100, the sum of the -taxes due and legally assessed against the real estate; and .he asked that the sum so paid, together with the interest, penalty and charges thereon, be added to the sum found due him on his tax deeds and purchases and payments theretofore made, and that he have judgment for $1,200, and that the same be declared a first lien upon the real estate, and that it be ordered sold for the payment of the same, and for all other proper relief.
No answer appears to have been filed, but it was agreed that all matters of defense might be given under general denial. Upon trial by the court there was a general finding for the appellees. The plaintiff’s motion for a new trial was overruled, and judgment was thereupon rendered November 1, 1902, that the plaintiff take nothing by his action, and that the defendants recover of him their costs.
The assignment of errors is made by “Charles M. Cooper, as administrator with the will annexed of the estate of Charles Johnson, deceased, appellant.”
The appellees have moved to dismiss the appeal, showing here that the plaintiff died testate between the rendition of
There is some contention between counsel as to the character of the action. One paragraph of the complaint presented a cause of action for the quieting of the title of the plaintiff. Upon his death the right of action would be in the real party in interest, the person to whom the title under cloud has passed, the heir or devisee. It is claimed by counsel for the appellant that the evidence, the sufficiency of which is attacked on appeal, showed the action to be one for the recovery of money, and to enforce a lien therefor upon real estate. The action was not, under either paragraph of the complaint, one to recover a personal judgment against the defendants upon their promise or agreement, express or implied, or because of their wrongful act or omission. The true purpose would seem to have been to enforce a lien upon real estate in favor of the plaintiff for amounts accruing to him through the purchase by him at tax sales of the real estate of the defendant Laura Murphy, and the conveyance thereunder, invalid and ineffectual to convey title, and the subsequent payment of taxes by him to protect his interest so acquired.
If a conveyance for taxes does not convey title, but does transfer the lien of the State, such lien is “transferred to and vested in the grantee, his heirs and assigns,” who are entitled to recover the amount of the taxes, interest and
Appeal dismissed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.