Porter v. Beaty
Porter v. Beaty
Opinion of the Court
The opinion of the court was delivered by
The ownership of a quarter section of land in Grant county is the subject of controversy in this action. James Porter holds the original patent title, and also claims under a tax deed issued to his grantor on September 17, 1900. Alvin R. Beaty claims title to the land under a tax deed executed September 5, 1896. Porter has never been in possession of the land, while Beaty took and has held the possession of the same since December 28, 1902. The trial court decided that Beaty was the owner of the tract by virtue of his tax deed, which had been of record since 1896 and which was held to be valid upon its face.
The tax deed upon which Porter made his claim was invalid upon its face, and, besides, he had not taken possession of the land within two years after the deed was recorded, and in fact never has had possession of the land.
The real controversy between the parties arises over the validity of Beaty’s tax deed issued in 1896. If it is valid on its face the five-year-statute of limitations extinguishes the original title under which Porter now claims. Appellant contends that several tracts were sold, and that the recitals in the deed fail to show that a separate certificate was issued for each tract sold. In one part of the deed the issuance of a certificate of sale is spoken of, but elsewhere in the instrument it plainly appears that a certificate was issued for each tract, that these were duly assigned, and that prior to the execution of the deed they were presented to the
Another objection to the deed is that it fails to show an assignment from the one who purchased at the tax sale to the grantee in the deed. It recites that a sale was made to C. N. Beal, and that is followed by a recital that:
“Whereas, the said C. N. Beal, did, on the 28th day of September, A. D. 1892 duly assign the several certificates of the sale of the said several parcels, tracts and lots of property aforesaid and all his rights, title and interest to said property to C. S. Hinchman, Trustee for the Western Loan Association.”
In the granting clause there is a recital that the county clerk, on the payment of the consideration and the presentation of the certificates, did grant, bargain and sell the lands to “said C. S. Hinchman, Trustee for The Western Land Association.” A reading of these names in the deed, which corresponds closely, suggests to any one that they represent the same party, and that a clerical error was made in writing “Loan” for “Land.” The deed has been on record for more than five years, and every reasonable presumption is to be indulged in favor of its validity. No testimony was offered to show that these were distinct companies, nor anything to overcome the presumption that the names represent the same party. In each recital “C. S. Hinchman, Trustee,” was named, so that the same individual who obtained the assignment and presented the certificates to the county clerk received the deed. In each case he was named as trustee, and of course it will be presumed that he had duly executed his trust. The deed itself expressly treats them as the same party where, in the second recital, it refers to “said C. S. Hinchman, Trustee,” etc., and under the rule of interpretation applicable where a deed has been of record more than five years it must be held that an assign
There is an objection that the deed does not indicate the consideration for which each tract was sold. This is based on the fact that the deed fails to show the amount of the subsequent taxes paid in the years 1892 and 1893. It does show that the property was sold for the taxes of 1891, and also the sum for which each tract was sold. As no taxes were paid by the purchaser or his assignee for the years 1892 and 1893 the amounts of the same would not enter into the consideration of the deed. At this time it may be presumed that the owner of the fee title may have paid the taxes for those years. The sums for which each tract was sold being stated as well as the subsequent taxes paid on each by the holder of the certificates, the amount for which each must have been conveyed may therefore be definitely
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.