McWilliams v. Great Spirit Springs Co.
McWilliams v. Great Spirit Springs Co.
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
While there are five allegations of error assigned by the plaintiffs in error, only the first two
First, the refusal of the court to admit-competent and relevant evidence offered by them ; and, second, error in its conclusions of law. The defendants below offered to prove that a custom had prevailed for many years in Mitchell county to enter lands on the books of the county for taxing purposes in the same manner as was done in this case. This was properly overruled, as no custom in Mitchell county can change or vary the requirements of the law.
The other offer was that of an expert attorney and abstracter, to show that the description of the land in controversy contained in the various tax books and proceedings described the same land as that described in the tax deed. This was properly refused. It seems to us clear that a description of a piece of land with ordinary and reasonable certainty is not that kind of a description that would require the service of an expert to tell what it means.
Did the court err in its conclusion of law? Assuming that the number of the township and range appearing at the top of the column should be read with each description following until a change is indicated, the description of this land on the tax-roll would be as follows : “ All N. W. N. of river, S. 31, T. 6, R. 9 No. of acres 20.” The law provides that the delinquent tax-list and the redemption list shall describe the land "as the same are described on the tax-roll.” 'Tiedeman on Real Property, § 830, says :
"A full and complete description gives monuments, corners, and distances, and the. quantity of land conveyed. The relative value of them, in determining the boundaries, is in the order given.”
The number of acres is *not given in either the de
There are several other reasons assigned and urged why the deed is voidable, but as the one discussed is sufficient to sustain the judgment of the court below we shall not at this time consider them.
The judgment of the court below is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.