62 So. 26 | Ala. | 1913
Lead Opinion
This is an action of ejectment in Avhich the appellee recovered judgment against the appellant. A general statement of the facts may be seen in the special finding made by the trial court on request of the parties, and which appears in the record.
The Legislature of a state is incompetent to' make laAvs disposing of the title to the public lands of the United States, or laws by Avhich a patent of the general government may be impeached or avoided. — Wood v. Pittman, 113 Ala. 207, 20 South. 972. Until a patent issues, the legal title remains in the United States, and this although the purchase money be paid in full.— Knabe v. B'urden, 88 Ala. 436, 7 South. 92. But the payment of purchase money in full vests a perfect equity in the purchaser, leaving in the general government no more than a bare, technical legal title, held in
But a different principle must control the conclusion in this case. Appellee, having, through the agency of the probate court, disposed of the right which his ancestor at law had acquired by final payment and receipt of the Land Office certificate to that effect, undertakes now to defeat that disposition by showing a patent subsequently issued to him. He is embarrassed by no covenants of warranty. He is in the same position as if he had executed a quitclaim of the interest shown at the time by his ancestor’s certificate. The precise question thus presented does not seem to have occurred heretofore in this state, but it has been well settled nevertheless. The patent under which appellee claims discloses the fact that it was issued as final evidence of the same purchase which had theretofore been evidenced by the certificate issued to his ancestor at law. He was not a stranger to the title conveyed by the probate court proceeding. “In the case of sales made by the United States, the law gives the right, and the patent may be considered, not as the title itself, but as the evidence by Avhich it is shown that the prerequisites to a legal sale have been complied with.” — Goodlet v. Smith
One other point is made in favor of the judgment below. ■ Appellee’s mother, Sarah J. Arnett, was appointed and qualified as his guardian. Subsequently Sarah J. Crumley filed her petition as guardian for appellee to have the land in question sold for his maintenance and support. The proceeding resulted in the sale under which appellant claims. In its special finding the trial court states that Mrs. Arnett had married Crumley in the. interval between her appointment as guardian and the filing of the petition. This fact did not appear in the evidence, nor does it appear what else may have happened. It is of no consequence in this proceeding. For aught appearing, the proceeding in the probate court may have been essentially correct, and upon collateral attack the presumption must be indulged that it was. If at the time of filing the petition the guardian had changed her name, in whatever way or for whatever cause, the change should have been stated in the petition for the sake of formal regularity. And if she were then a married woman, and if it be conceded that her second husband’s assent to the continuance of the guardianship was indispensable, her subsequent marriage did not ipso facto terminate her guardianship, and his assent must be presumed. — Carlisle v. Tuttle, 30 Ala. 623. If the petition was filed and the proceeding prosecuted by the guardian, as for aught appearing was the case, the court had jurisdiction. The court knew its own records and had the parties before it. Its decrees affirm that Sarah J. Crumley was guardian for the appellee. Such being the case, the decree rendered and the sale had under it, however irregular, are beyond col
The judgment will be reversed and tbe cause remanded. If the evidence remains without substantial change, the court below Avill give judgment on a second trial for the defendant.
Reversed and remanded.
Rehearing
ON REHEARING.
The finding of facts made by the judge below left it uncertain as to Avhen and by Avhom the commutation payment was made on the entry which had been made by appellee’s ancestor at law. In preparing the original opinion Ave acted upon the idea that the final payment had been made by the entryman from whom appellee inherited. Now it appears that the payment Avas made by the appellee and his brother while they were minors or, more probably, by their guardian for them. But the payment, by whomsoever made, was for their benefit, and they later received a patent on consideration of the original entry and the commutation payment. The payment was made about two years prior to the proceeding for the sale of the land in the probate court. At that time they received the certificate and at that time they became entitled to receive a patent in due course. To that time, according to the cases we have cited, the title acquired by the subsequent patent related. Such being the case, the principle stated in the opinion and supported by numerous authorities is applicable to the title received by them in like manner as if their ancestor had made the payment. There are no authorities to the contrary in this state. The application for a rehearing and for an affirmance must be denied.