Bedford v. Moore
Bedford v. Moore
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
The petition further states, that said Alfred died in January, 1870; and that he did not redeem in his life-time; that since his death, plaintiff being entitled to dower and homestead in said realty, paid the amount due on said mortgage, with interest and costs, and in addition to that, another large debt of said Alfred, to redeem said land and discharge it from all liens and incumbrances whatsoever due to defendants; and that the defendants, although paid in full, have refused to re-eon vey said real estate; wherefore the plaintiff prays, that they may be compelled so to do.
The defendants deny every allegation of the petition, and set up that on or about the 29th day of November, 1865, during the life-time of said Bedford, by virtue of several executions, all the interest of said Bedford in said land was sold to one George Whitcomb. The defendants in their answer further state, that on the 22nd day of May, 1868, the equity of
In her replication, the plaintiff denies all the allegations of the answer.
At the May Term, 1878, this cause was tried. At the trial Louisiana Bedford introduced hérself as a witness and testified, that it was always her understanding that by paying the money she should have the land — that she saw Mr. Joseph C. Moore in regard to the redemption of the land, and that he asked her if she could not by some means hold on to the land, and that she told him that she had no means except some swamp land —that at no time did Mr. Moore intimate that he intended to hold on or keep a part of the land — that she always understood that if she paid the money she should have all the land back. On cross-examination she says that she does not remember that Jos. C. Moore told her, that she, her husband and Mr. George Whitcomb had conveyed to Mr. Thomas Allen one-fourth of the south 40 acres, excepting the house, but says that she remembers that to be a fact, that she does not remember that Jos. C. Moore, in any conversation with her expressed a desire to hold back a part of the laud; that at the time she talked to Jos. C. Moore at his office, James L. Moore was there, and taking part in the conversation; that she did not have possession of the money that was paid to the Moores, that Mr. Patterson acted as her agent and attorney; that she
H. J. Neal then testified that he was at the sale, when the land in controversy was sold, that he made one bid, and that Jos. C. Moore told him that the matter was understood between him and Mr. Bedford, and that he thinks Mr. Moore told him not to bid, that he was going to let Mr. Bedford have the land back, and that after that statement he bid no more ; that the land sold fox- $500, and was worth some $1,000 or $5,000, and that would be a fair valuation. On cross-examination he said, that Thomas Allen paid 3,300 dollars for the px-operty; that when the sale was going on he put in a bid to clog the thing, in order to get time to investigate; that he cannot state exactly what Jos. C. Moore said, but that he did say that he was buying the property in for Mr. Bedford, with a privilege in him to redeem, and fox- him not to bid; that he has an interest in the result of the suit; that Thomas Allen furnished the money to redeem; that Thomas Allen and he furnished the money to get a part of the land; that Mrs. Bedford has an interest in this suit; that if she does not make a deed to us as she agreed, we will hold her for damages; that she gave a bond for the entire land.
"Wm. H. Sherman testifies that he was present when the land was sold, that he made two bids, but made no other bid from some information that he got from Jos. C. Moore; that he asked whether the property by the sale would pass into other hands, and that he understood that it would not; that he cannot give the exact words; that the land sold for $565, that it is worth $3,000; that what Mr. Moox-e told hixn detex-x-ed witness from bidding any further on the day of sale, and that Moore told him that if there had been a general bidding he would have withdrawn a part of the land; that the land. was sold in a lump. On cross-examination he said, that he
W. P. Swank testified, that be was at tbe sale; that at tbe sale Moore said that whenever Alfred M. Bedford paid the money be would get bis land back; that be thinks this was at tbe time of sale; that tbe land is worth $50 per acre exclusive of tbe Bedford dwelling bouse, and that tbe bouse is worth $1,500. On cross-examination be said that tbe conversation was on tbe day of sale, and that bis understanding was, that whenever Bedford paid tbe amount of tbe mortgage be was to have bis land back.
James L. Patterson testified that be knew tbe Moores and Bedford; that be knew tbe land; that it is tbe homestead tract; that for tbe purpose of redeeming this homestead tract be paid $3,200 or $3,300 to Jos. C. Moore for Mrs. Bedford; that Mr. Moore banded him a deed for all tbe land except about 10 acres; that be paid tbe money to redeem tbe entirety of tbe land; Mrs. Louisiana Bedford is tbe widow of Alfred M. Bedford, and tbe land in controversy is a part of tbe homestead. On cross-examination be said that be never talked to James L. Moore about it.
Jos. O. Moore swears, that he paid James L. Moore a part of tbe $500 mortgage debt, half of it.
Tbe plaintiff also introduced tbe deed from Jos. O. Moore and James L. Moore, from which it appears that in consideration of $3,270 they convey to Louisiana Bedford tbe north-east quarter of tbe south-east quarter of section 5, township 26, N. B. 16 east, containing 40 acres, and tbe undivided three-fourths of tbe south-east quarter of tbe south-east quarter of section 6, same township and range, that remains after deducting tbe right of way of tbe St. L. & I. M. It. B,, and other reservations more specifically set out, • and unnecessary to be noticed in this abstract. This deed is dated April 13, 1871.
Tbe plaintiff also introduced tbe deed from Jackson, sheriff, to the Moores, dated Nov. 19th, 1869, from which it appears, that tbe east half of tbe south-east quarter of section 6, T. 26, N. B. 16 east, was sold by virtue of a foreclosure of a mortgage dated tbe 26th day of May, 1855, for tbe sum of $565.
J. H. Bethune then testified, that he heard Jos. O. Moore remark to him, that if Mrs. Bedford was not satisfied with the deed, trade or matter, she could have the money back, and that Moore told him to tell Patterson so; and witness says that he thinks he told him ; does not remember whether Patterson made a reply or not; the impression of witness is, that Patterson said the money was not wanted, but the land.
The defendants then introduced a deed of mortgage, signed by A. M. Bedford alone, dated the 8th day of December, 1857,
Next the defendants introduced a deed of mortgage from A. M. Bedford alone, to J. L. Moore, Treasurer of Constantine Lodge No. 129, A. F. A. M., for the east half of the southeast quarter, section 6, T. 26, N. E., to secure the payment of $550; to the introduction of which mortgage' deed, the same objection was made as before, and with like result.
The defendants then introduced a deed from Lazarus W. Pritchett, sheriff, dated 29th- day of November, 1865, from which it appears that by virtue of various judgments obtained subsequent to the mortgage to the Constantine Lodge in 1855, the east half of the south-east quarter of section 6, T. 26, N. E. 16 east, was sold to George Whitcomb, on the 21st day of November, 1865; to the introduction of which deed the same objection was made as heretofore and with like result.
A deed from Bedford and wife to the St. Louis & Iron Mountain Rail Road — right of way — dated .July 22nd, 1867, was next introduced by the defendants. This road passes through the land in controversy, and there is no dispute about the right of way.
The defendants next introduced a deed from A. M. Bed-ford and Louisiana Bedford, his wife, and George Whitcomb, to Thomas Allen, dated 14th day of September, 1868, from which it appears that one undivided one-fourth part of 40 acres in section 6, T. 26, N. E. 16 east, is conveyed to Thomas Allen; the land is described by metes and bounds, and is embraced in the south-east quarter of the south-east quarter of scetion 6,T. 26, N. E. 16 east; but the conveyance is made upon the express condition that the I. M. E. E. shall locate its depot on the land, and it is further agreed that the parties in interest, Bedford and wife, Whitcomb and Allen, shall give the
The defendants then introduced a deed dated May 29th, 1868, from Jacob L. Shelby, sheriff, to George Whitcomb, for the east half of south-east quarter, section 6, T. 26, N. R. 16 east, sold by virtue of a foreclosure had in County Court.
Also defendants introduced another deed from Jos. C. Moore and James L. Moore, to the St. L. & I. M. R. R., dated January 15, 1870, (objected to as irrelevant, but objection overruled, and ruling excepted to).
The defendants then introduced the release of Louisiana Bedford of her dower interest in the warehouse tract described particularly in the deed, and also reserved in the deed from the Moores to Mrs. Bedford, dated. ......
The plaintiffs then re-introduced James L. Patterson, who said that he paid the money as Mrs. Bedford’s agent to the Moores, at the office of Jos. O. Moore; that he does not remember that Moore said if the deed was not satisfactory, to return it; that Mr. Bethune said that Moore said so; that he did not communicate what Bethune said Moore said to Mrs. Bedford; that when he and Moore were negotiating about the land, “ we always used the word redeem;” that he heard Moore say, that he was not in a condition as an honorable man, to make a deed for all the land to Mrs. Bedford, as he had promised Mr. Loughborough, Allen’s agent, not to put it out of his power to convey the land to Allen — that when Moore handed him the deed for a part of the land only, he asked him, “are you going to convey the land not in the deed to Mr. Allen ?” Moore then said it would depend on how Mr. Allen acted in regard to promises he made to him. On cross-examination, he said, as agent and attorney of Mrs. Bedford, lie directed this suit to be brought, and that Mrs. Bedford had repeatedly ratified his action.
This was all the evidence. The court dismissed the bill. Motion for a new trial and re-liearing was made, but by the
The foregoing is the printed statement of the case, as made by the appellant’s attorney.
1. From this statement, it is evident that when the defendants purchased the mortgaged lands under decree of foreclosure, they did so with the understanding that Alfred M. Bed-ford, the mortgagor, might redeem. Even if there had been no such understanding, the facts and circumstances attending the sale would constitute the purchasers trustees by implication.
When a party at a .judicial sale, by his acts and declarations, prevents others from bidding, and purchases the property at a sacrifice, he becomes thereby a'trustee to hold the title for all parties interested,
2. This suit is brought by the plaintiff, as widow of Alfred M. Bedford, who died without redeeming the lands. The plaintiff claims the right to redeem upon the alleged ground that, as a widow, she had a dower in the lands and also a homestead.
If it be admitted that she had the right to redeem, is she not barred from redeeming the ten acres in dispute, after what transpired between her and the defendants ? Through her agent she offered to redeem all the lands including the ten acres in dispute, but the defendants had made some disposition of this ten acres, and would not agree to convey it to her. Her agent then accepted a deed for the balance of the land, except some parts about which there is no dispute, and this deed was delivered to the plaintiff and accepted by her.
The agent wa;s informed that if she did not want the land conveyed he would return the money and take back the land.
The defendants understood that the plaintiff was making a purchase, but the plaintiff looked upon it as a redemption. Yiewing it in either light, the transaction ought to be a bar to any further redemption. The agent merely understood that the defendants would only make a deed for the lands conveyed, and unless this deed was accejffed in satisfaction of
There seems to be no dispute about the power of the agent to transact the business. It was' his duty to reject the deed unless accepted on the terms it was tendered. As he accepted it with a full understanding of its import, and as the plaintiff took it from him without objection, the presumption is that she stood upon this settlement as final and conclusive.
Under this view it is unnecessary to discuss the points in regard to the admissibility of the several deeds read by the defendant.
Let the judgment be affirmed.
Reference
- Full Case Name
- Louisiana Bedford v. James L. Moore and Joseph C. Moore
- Status
- Published