Keys v. Mathes
Keys v. Mathes
Opinion of the Court
Opinion by
A demurrer was overruled to the petition in this case, and whether that ruling was correct, is the question. Two causes of demurrer were alleged: First,
The substantial averments of the petition are: That on the 30th day of November, 1880, Andrew J. Cavitt was the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sumner county, and on that day he sold and conveyed the same to J. C. Mathes, by a deed containing general covenants of warranty. Said conveyance was executed by Andrew Cavitt and Mami Cavitt his wife, by which conveyance they covenanted that their title was good, and free and unincumbered, except as to a certain mortgage to one W. F. Irwin, dated September 1,1879. The deed to Mathes.from Cavitt and wife was filed for record on the 15th day of August, 1883, but Mathes took possession of the land on the 30th day of December, 1880, and has remained in the full possession and control ever since. There was recorded in the office of the register of deeds for Sumner county, on the 2d day of June, 1883, a paper purporting to be a mortgage on said land, executed by Andrew J. Cavitt and Mami Cavitt his wife, to L. Keys, the plaintiff in error, on the 1st day of Juiie, 1883, to secure a note executed by Cavitt to Keys, for the sum of $186, made on the 1st day of June, 1883, due the 1st day of June, 1884, with interest at 12 per cent, per annum from maturity. It is alleged that this mortgage is a forgery; that Andrew J. Cavitt in his lifetime, and Mami Cavitt his wife, never executed such a note or mortgage; that it is invalid, and not a lien on the land. The death of Andrew J. Cavitt is averred, and it is alleged that Mami Cavitt was duly appointed the administratrix of his estate. The prayer is, that the note and mortgage be declared of no force or effect; that said mortgage be adjudged to be no lien on said land; that the title of Mathes be forever quieted against said Keys, and said mortgage; that Keys be decreed to deliver said note and mortgage to be canceled, and for other relief.
I. The contention for the plaintiff in error is, that the facts in this case as pleaded show that the causes of action are
The case of Jeffers v. Forbes, so confidently relied upon, is one in which the widow and heirs of Jeffers made separate and distinct deeds to Forbes for their respective interests as heirs-at-law, in the real estate of the husband and father, and then they commenced a joint action to set their deeds aside, because obtained by Forbes by fraud and deceit. The court says:
“The deed of the widow passed no title away from her children. That deed may stand or fall without in the least affecting any of the other conveyances. Suppose an action was brought to set aside the widow’s deed alone, can it be claimed for a moment that the children would be necessary or proper parties to such an action ? ”
Apply that test to the facts presented here, and suppose Keys had to commence an action for the foreclosure of his mortgage, who would be the necessary parties ? Cavitt, who signed the note and mortgage as principal debtor, would have to be sued. He is dead, and it is clear Mami Cavitt as administratrix of his estate would be a necessary party. Mrs. Cavitt signed the mortgage, and she would have to be a party. Mathes owns the land, and is in the actual possession and control of it, and he is an absolutely necessary party, or the legal title could not be divested if a sale was necessary. If Cavitt had retained the legal title at his death, his heirs would have been necessary parties, but as Mathes holds the legal title, Cavitt’s heirs are not necessary or proper parties; so that it is clear that Mathes, the administratrix of the estate of Cavitt, and Mrs. Cavitt, would all be necessary parties in an action by Keys, to foreclose the mortgage. This establishes unity of liability, and that can be anticipated by unity of action. The relief prayed for avoids liability, by an adjudica
II. The second claim is, that the petition does not state a cause of action. It is not necessary to recite these facts again, for the inference is too plain, from what we have said concerning the first cause of demurrer, that the petition alleges a cause of action. It may not be stated as fully in detail, and with that precision of statement and averment so desirable in a pleading, but all the essential statements constituting a cause of action are embraced therein. There is no error in the ruling of the court below on the demurrer, and we recommend that the judgment be affirmed.
By the Court: It is so ordered.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.