Bumpass v. Alexander
Bumpass v. Alexander
Opinion of the Court
delivered the opinion of the court.
This bill was filed to redeem a town lot sold under a deed of trust and for an account of rents, under the facts following. In June, 1865, the complainant, Edward F. Bumpass, held a town lot in the town of Paris under a purchase and title bond, upon which there was a livery stable. He permitted defendants then to take possession thereof as tenants, under an agreement that they were to do certain repairs, which were to come out of the rents. Some repairing was done accordingly in 1865, but no rate of rent was fixed, and no settlement had for the repairs. In January, 1866, the defendants were notified that they would thereafter have to pay rent. There was no definite term agreed upon, but the defendants were tenants at will. The complainant, Edward F. Bn-mpass, had long prior to this time conveyed the property in trust, and the trustee sold it', March, 1866, when the defendants became the purchasers at the price of $665, which was paid,-and the trustee’s deed executed to them. In the meantime it seems that the complainant, Washington Bumpass had paid to Edward’s vendor, the balance of purchase money due on the original purchase and taken a deed, and to him the complainant, Edward F. Bumpass, transferred bis equity of redemption under the trust sale. On the 5th of March, 1868, a few. hours before the time allowed for redemption expired, Edward F. Bumpass approached the defendants with a thousand dollars and
We do not think that the tender was a good one. The right of redemption, say this court, is one of strict law, and if the law be not complied with, nothing is acquired and the estate . remains with the purchaser. Farnsworth v. Howard, 1 Col., 215. The person proposing to redeem, says the statute, shall always pay or tender to the holder of the land the amount of money lawfully paid by him, with interest. Code, sec. 2131. The debtor or mortgagor whose land is sold has in this statute a plain and simple formula easily comprehended, and .which admits of no conditions or modifications to be imposed by him, or exacted by the purchaser. The simple payment or
It is insisted in argument that the relation of landlord and tenant existing between Edward F. Bum pass and the defendants forbade the purchase by them at the trust sale, upon the principle that the tenant cannot disparage his landlord’s title or reap advantage by the possession thus obtained. The doctrine is certainly a sound one, but it can have no application to this case. Here there was a tenure at sufferance under a landlord who held only an equitable title, and this equitable title he had conveyed in trust. The defendants surely acquired no advantage in the transaction by virtue of their relation, but stood, in reference to the trust sale, as any other stranger, and had a like right to become bidder at the sale. They did not place themselves in antagonism to the landlord’s right, or reap any benefit from their relation to their landlord, for he had parted with his equity and they had their option either- to submit to a change of landlords by the sale, or to become the owner of the landlord’s equity themselves. There is one view of this case, however, in which we cannot concur with the Chancellor. The bill ;s filed for - the
The cause will be remanded for further proceedings. The costs of this court will be paid by complainants, and the costs below as the Chancellor may adjudge.
Case-law data current through December 31, 2025. Source: CourtListener bulk data.