Brown v. Kennedy

12 Colo. 235 | Colo. | 1888

De France, C.

The decree appealed from is substantially but a personal money judgment against the defendants for the sum of $1,360 and costs. No personal liability of the appellants, or either of them, to the plaintiff is disclosed by the pleadings or the evidence, and for this reason the decree, in so far as the same is a personal judgment against the appellants for the payment of money, is. erroneous.

The pre-emption law of the United States, under which Brown made his filing, prohibits the-entry of land by one person for the benefit of another, and the agreement to that effect between these parties was therefore illegal.

The appellants assailed the written agreement, which forms the basis of this action, as one based upon or connected with the previous illegal agreement, and as so tainted therewith as to render the latter invalid. The written agreement recognizes the existence of the illegal agreement, and makes no provision for a discontinuance thereof. On the contrary, it provides that Brown shall pay Kennedy the sum of $523. '15 for a one-half ownership in the “ quarry and business.”

In his petition for a receiver, filed in'this case, Kennedy alleges that the land filed upon by Brown and containing the said stone quarry “is of little or no value, except for the purpose of operating and working said quarries thereon.”

The following questions and answers appear in the testimony given by Kennedy in this case: “Question. State the circumstances under which the articles of agreement set out in the complaint was drawn, and where it was drawn? Answer. The agreement was drawn to better my condition in running the quarries, in Mr. Love’s office at Fort Collins. Mr. Brown and Mr. Love and myself were present. Q. What was said by Mr. Brown to you, and by you to Mr. Brown, immediately before the agreement was drawn, about the kind of an agreement, and for what purposes? A. I told him that I wanted stone to make the money out that he was calling for; and I told him that I wanted to have a fresh deal; and I told him that I would give him a half interest, and he said he would take it. I told him I would go into partnership with him, and give him a half interest. Brown and me both gave Love some instructions as to. the agreement to be drawn. Love drew up the most of it himself.” This testimony was offered by the plaintiff, and received over the objections of counsel for defendants. In the light of these facts, it seems clear to us that the acquisition of a one-half ownership in the quarry was a part of the consideration on Brown’s part for entering into said agreement. The land having little or no value except for the stone it contained, there is but little foundation for drawing a distinction between the land and the quarry. Under such circumstances, we think the land and the quarry must be held to be one and the same thing, so far, at least, as the parties to this contract are concerned.

Now, how was Kennedy to acquire title to the land so as to invest Brown with one-half ownership? Brown was then in possession of the land, and by the terms of the written contract was ‘ ‘ to have complete control of working and operating the quarry.” There is no evidence of any provision having been made to secure title to the land, except through and by means of the illegal agreement. We can arrive at no other conclusion from a consideration of the agreement itself and the surrounding facts, than that it was the intention of the parties to ■ the agreement for Brown to secure the title to the land under the illegal agreement, and for him and Kennedy afterwards to adjust the matter between them in accordance with the terms of the written agreement.

If the contract simply provided for a joint adventure to work the quarries and divide the profits, there could be no doubt, we think, of its legality; or, if it were such that the legal part could be separated from the illegal part, then it might, perhaps, be considered as two contracts, and the legal contract enforced. But it is not susceptible of such division. As it reads, before Brown can have an interest in the business to be carried on thereunder, he must pay the sum of $523.15. He is to pay this sum for a half ownership in the “ quarry and business.” How much of it was to be paid for a half interest in the business, and how much for a half interest in the quarry, cannot be determined from the contract. Thus the legal and illegal parts are so blended as to be inseparable. It is manifest, therefore, that the clause in the contract relating to the acquisition of an ownership by Brown constitutes the principal, and it may be said the only, consideration upon which Brown entered into the same.

If this be the proper construction of the contract, then it will be seen that both parties were to partake of the fruits to be derived from an act to be done in violation of law. Where such is the case, and the same is made to appear to a court of justice in an action brought to enforce the contract, the court simply leaves the parties where it finds them, and refuses any relief. In support of these views we cite Railroad Co. v. Taylor, 6 Colo. 1; and Hoyt v. Macon, 2 Colo. 502.

If the contract of March 3, 1881, were considered to be valid as against Brown, how does it affect appellants, and are they proper parties to this action? They were made parties upon the theory that Kennedy had some lien upon the quarry, or the use thereof, which he was entitled to have enforced in and by the action; and, if no such lien existed, they were not proper .parties. It is alleged, and was found by the court, that they had accepted the lease from Brown with notice of Kennedy’s rights and equities. Brown avers in his answer that he changed his pre-emption filing upon the land to that of a homestead filing on the 3d day of May, 1881, and this fact is not controverted. On that day he notified Kennedy to the effect that the agreement of March 3, 1881, should no longer be binding, and at the same time claimed the quarry as his own. Kennedy, upon the same day of such notice, removed from the quarry the team and tools then in use at such quarry in the working thereof, and subsequently took no action to claim or insist upon his rights under said agreement until the bringing of this action. After giving such notice to Kennedy, and asserting his ownership to the quarry, Brown operated the quarry for Ms own benefit and upon his own account, and to the exclusion of Kennedy.

There is nothing in the written agreement which would prevent Brown from making the change in his filing from that of a pre-emption to a homestead claim. The law will not censure, but rather commend, his act in thus withdrawing from and repudiating the former illegal agreement, which, to have carried the same out on his part, would have involved him in the crime of perjury. When Kennedy and McMonagle placed Brown in possession of the land under the agreement that he should file upon and enter the same under the pre-emption law for their benefit, they lost their possessory rights to said land, and could hot have recovered the possession back from Brown, had he seen fit to repudiate such agreement. Kennedy occupied no better position after his purchase o'f McMonagle’s interest. In an action to recover back such possession from Brown, the aid of the illegal agreement would have been required in support of such action. Swan v. Scott, 11 Serg. & R. 164; Wright v. Pipe-line Co. 101 Pa. St. 204. The law will not afford to guilty parties any relief against the consequences of their own illegal acts. The transfer of property for an unlawful purpose is valid as between the parties to such transfer. Bump, Fraud. Conv. 436.

The law of this state regulating the rights of settlers upon government land, as between themselves, has been cited as having some bearing upon the questions involved in this case, but the statute upon this subject has no force as applied to land which has been filed upon and is held under the pre-emption or homestead law of the United States. Sec. 2686, p. 787, Gen. St. 1883. When Brown filed upon the land under the homestead act it became his as against all persons except the United States government. This homestead act provides that land acquired under its provisions shall in no event “become liable to the satisfaction of any debt contracted prior to the issuing of the patent therefor.” Sec. 2296, Rev. St. U. S. 1873-75. Now, if Kennedy were allowed a lien upon the quarry, or the use of the quarry,— the quarry being a part of the land,— it would be an infringement upon this provision of the homestead law; for, whatever debt or claim may exist in favor of Kennedy against Brown, the same was incurred by Brown before he made his filing under such homestead act. The right to use land, and to take from it that part or any portion of that part which constitutes its value, does not fall short of an interest therein.

Should the view be taken that this was a partnership contract, and that the right to work the quarry thereunder was a partnership asset, then such right did not extend beyond a dissolution of the partnership. The partnership, if any existed, was a partnership at will, and dissoluble at the pleasure^ of either partner; for the contract does not provide any definite period for the duration of such partnership. Pars. Partn. 401; 1 Lindl. Partn. 218. We think, under the facts, that a dissolution took place on the 3d day of May, 1881, when Brown notified Kennedy that the agreement should no longer be binding. This was a mere partnership in the profits to be derived from working the quarry if any partnership existed. The land belonged to Brown, as between him and Kennedy. Any lien, therefore, which Kennedy might have as a partner could not extend to the land, as it was not partnership property. 2 Lindl. Partn. 680-682, inclusive.

In any view, therefore, that may be taken, the appellants are not proper parties to the action. But we do not think the contract valid as against Brown, and therefore we think that the decree should be reversed and the action dismissed.

Stallcup, C., dissents.

Per Curiam.

Por the reasons stated in the foregoing opinion the judgment is reversed and the cause remanded, with directions that the same be dismissed.

Reversed.

Mr. Justice Elliott not sitting, having tried the case below.