81 Fla. 805 | Fla. | 1921
Lead Opinion
STATEMENT.
On May 16, 1917, the. South Florida Farms Company, a corporation, filed its bill of complaint- against Byrne Realty Company, a corporation, The Barnett' National Bank, a corporation (successor to the National Bank of Jacksonville), and William T. Abbott, alleging in sub
There are other allegations not necessary to be stated here, that relate to. claims through or by the defendants to rights in the lands under the certificate referred to as “Exhibit A,” with prayers for appropriate relief against the said certificate and the. uses made of it, as a cloud upon complainant’s title to the lands. Exhibit “A” referred to is as follows: ,
’ “ ‘EXHIBIT A.’*
‘I, Lucius B. Wombwell, Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Florida, in whose custody as such Commissioner of Agriculture aforesaid are all the maps, plats and records of the public lands of the’ State of Florida, do hereby certify that Jno. A. Henderson has applied to enter on his account as State Selecting Agent all the following described lands, to-wit:
(Description omitted)
making a total of 15,961 acres.’ ”
“ ‘I further certify that the said land will be conveyed to the said Jno. A. Henderson or to his order as soon as the same has been patented to the State of Florida.
‘In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Department of Agriculture at*811 Tallahassee, the Capitol, this the 13th day of June, A. D. 1892.
(SEAL) £L. B. Wombwell, Commissioner of
‘Agriculture of the State of Florida.
‘Endorsed “ ‘John A. Henderson.' ”
The Byrne Realty Company and William T. Abbott answered, but not under oath, the oath being expressly waived by the bill of complaint.
On July 10, 1917, the defendant, William T. Abbott, filed a cross-bill against the defendant, South Florida Farms, Company, and the heirs of John A. Henderson, in which it is alleged in substance that “John A. Henderson in his lifetime, to-wit: in the year 1884 made and entered into a contract with the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida whereby he was employed by said Trustees to obtain from the United States selections and patents of such swamp and overflowed lands within the boundaries of said State as it was entitled to under the Act of Congress in that behalf, but which the State had up to that time failed to receive, and under the terms of which contract he was entitled to compensation at the rate of two cents for each acre of swamp and overflowed land so selected as a result of his labors and to be patented to the State, payable out of such of said lands as might be thereafter selected and specified by him at the sale price fixed from time to time by said Trustees. That said right of selection on the part of the said Henderson was recognized by said Trustees as an expense of the administration of their trust and, as such, prior in right to any other disposition to be made of ’ said lands; and that, upon written request made by said Henderson to the Commission
That the employment of said Henderson under the contract aforesaid continued until and after the year 1892, and on the 13th day of June, 1892, said Henderson was entitled, as compensation already earned under said contract, to have deeds or certificates (according as the lands selected had or had not been patented to the State) to many thousand of acres more than the total of all lands which had heretofore been so deeded or certificated together with the number of acres included in. said certificate so as aforesaid attached to the original bill as ‘Exhibit A.’ That being so entitled, said Henderson did on or before said 13th day of June, 1892, request the Commissioner of Agriculture to issue to him, on account of his compensation aforesaid, the certificate so attached as ‘Exhibit A,’ and said certificate was issued in compliance with said request pursuant to the authority delegated to him by said Trustees as aforesaid. That said Henderson was at that time entitled to select the lands-described in said certificate, and did so select them, on account of his compensation under said contract, that the only reason why conveyance of the legal title to said lands was not made to said Henderson at that time was because such legal title had not been transferred by patent from the United States to the State; and that from the date of the selection of said lands by said Hender
II
“That in and by said certificate ‘Exhibit A,’ it was provided, and said Trustees through said Commissioner of Agriculture thereby represented and promised that a deed to the lands described therein should be executed and delivered to said Henderson, or his order, upon the return of said certificate endorsed by him, as soon as said lands should be patented to the State of Florida by -the United States; that said original Certificate is now in the possession of this cross-complainant, ready to be produced as this Court may diréct; and that the copy thereof attached to the original bill herein as ‘Exhibit A’ is a true copy thereof. And it is prayed that said copy may, for the purpose of convenience, be deemed to be a part of this, cross-bill.
Ill
“That on the 15th day of July, 1890, said John A. Henderson entered into a contract with J. M. Kreamer and J. J. Dunne, whereby it was agreed, after reciting the substance of the above contract between said Henderson and said Trustees and the right of the former to a conveyance thereunder of some fifty to seventy-five thousand acres of land, that said Henderson should sell to said Kreamer & Dunne all the land to be received by him un
“ £5th. The said Henderson agrees that for all the lands that the said Kreamer & Dunne may designate he will have the State of Florida issue ‘Certificates’ whenever they shall desire and the same shall be delivered to the said Kreamer & Dunne in proportion as they may make payments on this contract, or the whole may be deposited in escrow, subject to the payment of the balance of the purchase money.’
“That thereafter the said Kreamer & Dunne paid to the said Henderson the initial payment of six thousand dollars, as provided in said contract, and elected the option given in the paragraph thereof above quoted that land Certificates should be obtained by said Henderson and delivered to said Dunne & Kreamer in proportion as they might make payments thereon; that subsequently and on or about the 11th day of August, 1892, the said Kreamer & Dunne, through the National Bank of Jacksonville, Florida, paid to said Henderson on said contract the additional sum of Five Thousand Dollars, that said land certificate attached to the original bill herein as ‘Exhibit ‘A,’ together with another land Certificate for 9,840 acres attached to said original bill as ‘Exhibit B,’ was delivered to said Dunne & Kreamer by said Henderson, in consideration of said.two payments amounting to the sum of $11,000 under and in pursuance of the provision of said contract above quoted that Certificates should be delivered to them in proportion as they might make payments thereon; that, although said Certificate ‘Exhibit A’ is dated, and was probably issued to said Henderson on
IV.
“That, as above alleged, from the time of the issuance and delivery of said Certificate 'Exhibit A’ the said Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund held the equitable title to the land in the same described in trust for the benefit of said John A. Henderson or his assigns until the legal title to the same, together with some millions of acres of other swamp and overflowed land was conveyed by the United States to the State of Florida, which was done by patent dated the 29th day of April, 1903; that thereafter the Trustees held the legal title to said lands under a like trust until the death of said Henderson, which occurred in the month of August, 1904; that soon after the said death of John A. Henderson, his heirs above named applied for and obtained from said Trustees, in full compliance as they alleged with the amount due him for services as agent of said Trustees as aforesaid, a deed which covered a large area of land and included the same 15,961 acres described in 'Exhibit A’ and involved in this cross-bill, which deed was dated the 28th day of December, 1904, was filed for record in the office of the Clerk of this Court on the 4th day of April, 1905, and is found recorded in Deed Book 52 at page 41;
V.
“That the defendant heirs aforesaid of said John A. Henderson continued to hold the legal title to the land described in said certificate ‘Exhibit A,’ as well as the other lands included in said deed from said Trustees dated December 28, 1905, subject to said obligation to convey the same to the holders of said certificate until the conveyance of the same by said heirs to their co-defendant, said South Florida Farms Company, which conveyance (although dated the 20th day - of October, 1914) was not delivered and made effective, as this cross-complainant is informed and believes, until sometime in the month of December, 1915, and which was-filed for record in the' office of the Clerk of this Court on the 27th day of December, 1915, and is found recorded in Deed Rook 123, on page 185; that, although it is admitted that said certificate ‘Exhibit A’ was not filed for record in the office of said Clerk until the 14th day of July, 1916, at the time said defendant South Florida Farms Company
VII.
“That upon the delivery by said defendant heirs of John A. .Henderson to their co-defendant South Florida Farms Company of the deed hereinbefore referred to, which covered nearly 100,000 acres of land, including the 15,961 acres described in said certificate ‘Exhibit A,’ said South Florida Farms Company executed and delivered to said heirs of Henderson a purchase money mortgage upon all the property to it conveyed for the sum of $499,200, which represented all or nearly all of the purchase price of said land; that said mortgage was given to secure 35
“Therefore this cross-complainant further avers, that, . in the event he may.not be able to satisfy the Court that defendant South Florida Farms Company had at the time of closing its purchase of said land and the giving of said'mortgage knowledge or notice of the existence of said certificate ‘Exhibit A’ and of the equitable rights of the holder or owner of said certificate thereunder (which this cross-complainant believed to be a fact), he is entitled as against the defendant heirs of Henderson to á decree charging against the purchase money mortgage indtebt'edness remaining due from defendant South Florida Farms Company to defendant heirs of Henderson a sum equivalent to the proporition of the total purchase price which the fair value of the 15,961 acres described in the certificate ‘Exhibit A’ bears to the fair value of the total acreage included in and conveyed to said Farms Company by said deed of October 20, 1914, enjoining the defendant heirs of Henderson from collecting from said Farms' Company the sum so' fixed and from so disposing of said mortgage notes as to prevent the application of said sum to the benefit of this cross-complainant, and requiring defendant South Florida Farm's Company to make equi’
VIII.
“That, although the patent from the United States to the State of Florida conveying the legal title to several millions of acres of swamp and overflowed lands, including the 15,961 acres described in said ‘Exhibit A,’ was issued in the year 1903, as hereinbefore alleged, said patent has never been recorded in the respective counties where lie the lands described in it, and the fact of its issuance was not known either to this cross-complainant or to the Byrne Realty Company until shortly before the time action was begun to obtain judgment against said Dunne and the executor of Kreamer as hereinbefore set forth.
IX.
“That this cross-complainant is without any plain, adequate and complete remedy at law in the premises, hence is entitled to seek relief in a court of equity, where matters of the nature of those hereinbefore set forth are alone properly cognizable; and that complete justice and equity may not be done in this behalf by merely answering the original bill filed in this cause by said South Florida Farms Company for the reasons, among other things, that said heirs of John A. Henderson are not parties to such original bill, wherefore it becomes necessary that this cross-complainant file and present to the Court this his cross-bill herein.
“I. That the defendants hereto hereinbefore named, and each of them, be required to make full, true, direct and perfect answer to this cross-bill — but not under oath, the answer under oath being hereby expressly waived.
“2. That said defendant South Florida Farms Company be found to have acquired the title to the 15,961 acres of land, more or less, described in said certificate ‘Exhibit A’ with notice of the equitable rights .therein possesed by the holder of said certificate, and be decreed to hold the legal title in fee therein as trustee for William T. Abbott, cross-complainant, and be required to make and execute and deliver to him a proper deed of conveyance to the same; and that the mortgage for purchase money given by said South Florida Farms Company to defendant heirs of John A. Henderson and placed on record, as hereinbefore described, be cancelled and discharged of record, in so far as the same includes and affect's the land described in said certificate and to be conveyed to this cross-complainant as above prayed.
“3. That the defendant heirs of John A. Henderson be decreed to have inherited from their said father no greater rights in the land described in said certificate ‘Exhibit A5 than their father possessed after he had endorsed, transferred and delivered said certificate to said Kreamer and Dunne, and to have held the legal title to said lands, after the conveyance .of the same to them (together with other lands) by the deed of said trustees dated December 28, 1904, as trustees for the holder or holders of said certificate pursuant to its terms.
*821 “4. That, as an alternative prayer, in the event the Court find that defendant, South Flordia Farms Company, acquired said land described in said certificate, and the legal right to the same, without knowledge or notice of the existence of said' certificate and the equitable rights of the holders thereof, then it be decreed that this cross-complainant is entitled to receive from said South Florida Farms Company such part of the purchase money mortgage indebtedness remaining due from it to said defendant heirs of John A.' Henderson as the fair value of said 15,961 acres bears to the fair value of the total acreage included in said' deed of December 28, 1904; that said Farms Company be required to make equitable division of the payments still to be made by it to said heirs of Henderson under the terms of the purchase money mortgage and notes in the proportion aforesaid; and that the defendant heirs of Henderson be enjoined from collecting from said' Farms Company the proportion of said payments so decreed to belong to this cross-complainant, and from so disposing of any of said mortgage notes as to prevent or impede the performance of the above provision for division of payments, and be further required and enjoined to accept such proportion of said payments as may. be decreed to them, and to give and' deliver partial or total release of discharges of the lien of said mortgage upon payments being made by defendant Farms Company as so decreed.
“5. That in the event this court grant relief to this cross-complainant as prayed in the above prayer numbered 4, an account may be taken under the authority of this court of all taxes and assessments lawfully assessed upon the said land described in said certificate ‘Exhibit A’ and paid either by .defendant South Florida Farms*822 Company or by defendant heirs of John A. Henderson since they have respectively held the legal title thereto. And this cross-complainant now stands ready and hereby offers to pay, in the event aforesaid, whatever amount may be so ascertained, with legal interest thereon, as this Court may direct.
“6. That, in the event this Court denies to this cross-complainant the relief prayed in said prayer numbered 2 but grants him the relief prayed in the above prayer numbered 4, an account may be taken under the authority of this court of all taxes and assessments lawfully assessed upon the land aforesaid claimed by your orator and paid by defendant heirs of Henderson before such payments became the obligation of defendant, South Florida Farms Company. And this cross-complainant now stands ready and' hereby offers to allow to be deducted whatever amount may be so ascertained to have been paid, from his proportion of the first payments thereafter coming' due from defendant Farms Company upon the purchase money mortgage indebtedness hereinbefore described.
“7. That this cross-complainant may have such other and further relief as equity may require and to your Honor shall seem meet in the premises.”
The South Florida Farms Company filed a demurrer to the crossbill on the following grounds:
“1. Under and' by virtue of Chapter 6907, Laws of 1915, of the State of Florida, cross-bills are abolished in this State.
“2. Because a cross-bill cannot be maintained unless the complainant in the cross-bill has a legal or equitable claim against the complainant in the original bill.
*823 “3. Because the bill of complaint shows that the complainant in the cross-bill, William T.. Abbott, had no original claim whatsoever against the South Florida Farms Company.
“4. Because a cross-bill, is bad which required, the bringing in of new parties to enable the complainant to the cross-bill to set up a claim against the complainant in the original bill.
“5. Because it app'ears from the allegations of the cross-bill that there is no equity in it.
“6. Because the complainant to the cross-bill is seeking to enforce an alleged contract for the purchase of land 'barred by the statute of limitations..
“7. Because a contract for the purchase and sale of land must hot only be in writing signed by the proposed grantor, but must contain the name of the proposed grantee.
“8. Because the record of the original bill and the cross-bill shows that the lands in dispute in this case on the alleged contract embodied in the certificate of Womb-well never were assigned to either J. M. Kreamer or J. J. Dunne. ' ■
“9. Because the record shows that Kreamer and Dunne could not legally enforce any claim to the land and the complainant to the cross-bill, William T. Abbott, could have no greater rights than Kreamer and Dunne had.
“10. Because the Byrne Realty Company possessed no legal or equitable rights in the lands described in the certificate.
“11. Because Wombwell, Commissioner of Agriculture, .was without authority of law to execute the said certificate.
*824 “12. Because, under the law, thé Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund were without power to contract to sell or to agree to sell lands not yet owned by them..
“13. Because the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund were without power of law to authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to agree to execute deeds to lands not owned by them and for which they had no patent.
“14. Because the cross-bill is an attempt to enforce a stale claim on an alleged contract for the purchase of land;
“15. Because the complainant to the cross-bill, William T. Abbott^ could have no greater legal right to the lands than the Byrne Realty Company had.
“16. Because the mere endorsement of Henderson’s name on the certificate did not constitute an assignment. of the same to any person.”
The other cross defendants filed a demurrer to the cross-bill on the following grounds:
“First — That the said cross-complainant has not in and by his said cross-bill made or stated such a case as entitles him in a court of equity to the relief prayed for against these defendants, or either of them, or to any relief against them, or either of them, as to the matters contained in said cross-bill, or any of such matters.
'¡‘Second — That the endorsement of the land certificate mentioned in said cross:bill by John A. Henderson, and the delivery of the same to J. J. Dunne and J. M. Kreamer, conveyed, to said Dunne and Kreamer no estate legal or equitable in the lands therein described, and was*825 not a contract to convey any such estate or interest in said lands.
“Third — That the sale of said land certificate, mentioned in said cross-bill, and the purchase thereof by said cross-complainant, in the manner alleged in said cross-bill, conveyed to the said cross-complainant, no estate, legal or equitable, in the lands therein described, and was not a contract to convey any such estate or interest in said lands.
“Fourth — That said cross-bill shows on its face that said cross-complainant, and those through and under whom he derived his alleged title to the said land certificate mentioned in said cross-bill, and the alleged rights thereunder, in the manner alleged in said cross-bill, have been guilty of gross- laches in asserting their alleged claim.
“Fifth — That the said land certificate mentioned in said cross-bill are void and of no effect on their face.
“Sixth — That the said land certificates, mentioned in .the cross-bill, was not the subject of collateral pledge.”
The first demurrer was sustained on all of its grounds except the 7th and 12th grounds. The second demurrer was sustained. The cross-complainant appealed.
By an Act of Congress approved September 28, 1850', the United States granted to the State of Florida all the swamp and overflowed lands in the- State, then remaining undisposed of, the- title of the State to be perfected by the location of the lands and the issuance of patents therefor. Chapman & Dewey Lumber Co. v. St. Francis Levee Dist., 232 U. S. 186, 34 Sup. Ct. Rep. 297. When the granted lands are selected, located and designated by survey or otherwise and -patents are issued to
By'Chapter 610, Laws of Florida, approved January 6, 1855, the swamp and overflowed lands conveyed to the State under the Act of 1850, were vested'in five States .officers who -were. designated • as Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund pf the State to execute the express statutory trusts with reference to the lands. See Morgan v. Dunwoody, 66 Fla. 522, 63 South. Rep. 905.
The “necessary expenses of selection, management and .sale'-’ of the lands were to be paid from the fund under the trust Act of 1855. Yager v. McNeill, 60 Fla. 400, 53 South. Rep. 12.
The .authorized publication in book form of-the “Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida,” Vol. 3, page 290, contains thé following:
“Tallahassee, Fla., March 15th, 1884.
“The board met in the Executive Office.
“Present: W. D. Bloxham, Governor.
“W. D. Barnes, Comptroller.
“Henry A- L’Engle, Treasurer.
“P. W. White, Commissioner of Lands and Immigration.
“The. Commissioner of'Lands and. Immigration, having -been requested to employ a suitable and competent per*827 son, as Agent of the Board, to make further selections of lands granted to the State by Act of Congress, September 28th, 1850, and to procure the proofs required by the regulations of the United States Land Department for the approval of such selections, reported that he had employed Col. John A. Henderson, for that purpose, and that he was to incur all the expense necessary to make the selections, and proof required, and to receive as compensation for such service not exceeding two cents per acre upon the amount of such selections which may be patented to the State, and to be paid in such lands at schedule prices — which was approved by the board.”
The statutes of the State contain the following:
“All declarations and creations of trust and confidence of or in any messuages, lands, tenements or hereditaments shall be manifested and proved by some writing, signed by the party authorized by law to declare or create such trust or confidence, or by his last will and testament, or else they shall be utterly void and of none effect; provided, always, that where any conveyance shall be made of any lands, messuages or tenements by which a trust or confidence shall or may arise or result by the implication or construction of law, then, and in every such case, such trust or confidence shall be of the like force and effect as the same would have been if this section had not been made, anything herein contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding.” Sec. 2452, Gen. Stats., 1906.
“All. grants, conveyances or assignments of trust or confidence of or in any lands, tenements or hereditaments, or of any estate of ixxtex’est therein, shall be by deed signed, sealed and delivei'ed, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, by the party granting, conveying*828 or assigning, or by his-attorney dr agent-thereunto lawfully authorized, or by last will and testament duly made and executed;'or else the" same sháll be void and of none effect.” Sec. 2453, Gen. Stats., 1906.
(after stating the facts.)
An original bill was brought against the Byrne Realty Company, the ’ Barnett Rational Bank and William T. Abbott, by the South Florida Farms Company to remove as a cloud upon' its title to certain lands, a certificate referred to as “Exhibit A,” held by Abbott, covering the lands and the' proceedings had upon the certificate- adverse to the complainant. The theory of the original bill is that the certificate was and is void, and that the certificate and the action taken thereon gives to the defendants no rights in the lands. The defendant) Abbott, having answered, filed a cross-bill against the complainant and against the heirs of John A. Henderson, deceased, the said heirs being made new parties for the purposes of the cross-bill. The theory of the cross-bill is that John A. Henderson acquired from one of the Trustees- of the Internal Improvement Fund, the certificate “Exhibit A,” covering the lands, for services rendered to the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State, and that pursuant to a contract previously made with Kreamer and Dunne, Henderson endorsed and delivered the certificate to Kreamer and Dunne and received therefo.r certain payments as the purchase price of the lands covered by tire certificate, which certificate is 'now the property of Abbott, and that the Trustees and Henderson and his heirs held the'title (whether legal or■ equitable) to the lands, in trust for the holder of the certificate; and that if the South Florida Farms Company purchased the
Where an appeal is taken-from a decree on a cross-bill, rendered on demurrer thereto, the complainant standing on the demurrer, the original bill is properly-incorporated in the record, as the court in passing on the demurrer must consider the bills together for the reason that the cross-bill must be germane to and an auxiliary of the original bill and pray for affirmative relief concerning matters in litigation under the original bill. Jones v. Bryant, 204 Ill. App. 609; 21 C. J. 512.
Chapter 6907, Acts of 1915, does not forbid the use of cross-bills in proper cases, though the' statute expressly provides for obtaining affirmative relief upon answers in classes of cases stated in the Act. A cross-bill is permissible in this case.
In a cross-bill seeking- affirmative relief new parties may be added, whose-presence is essential to a complete determination of the matter. Indian River Mfg. Co. v. Wooten, 48 Fla. 271, 37 South. Rep. 731; Price v. Stratton, 45 Fla. 535, 33 South. Rep. 644; 21 C. J. 505.
A cross-bill must be as complete and perfect as an original bill, 21 C. J. 507. A cross-bill is demurrable where it does not contain the allegations necessary-to show that the cross-complainant, is entitled to relief, where it is uncertain and indefinite in its allegations as to those matters on which counter relief is sought, or where, seek
A cross-bill is defective when it is uncertain and indefinite as to those matters on which counter relief is sought. Jackson v. Relf, 26 Fla. 465, text 470, 8 South. Rep. 184; 5 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 662; Harding v. Olson, 76 Ill. App. 475.
It is incumbent upon a complainant to allege in his bill every fact, cleai’ly and definitely, that is necessary to entitle him to relief; and if he omits essential facts therefrom, or states such facts therein as show that he is not entitled to relief in a court of equity, he must suffer the consequences, of his so doing. Godwin v. Phifer, 51 Fla. 441, 41 South. Rep. 597; Gillespie v. Chapline, 59 Fla. 500, 52 South. Rep. 722.
A demurrer containing appropriate specific grounds, does not admit asserted conclusions that are not sustained by proper allegations, or that are contrary to law. See Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Palmes, 109 U. S. 244, 3 Sup. Ct. Rep. 193; Stand. Ency. Proc. 951, et seq.
.The only question to be determined is the sufficiency of the allegations of the cross-bill to state an equity for the relief prayed as against the demurrers thereto.
It is encumbent upon the complainant in a cross-bill to allege all the ultimate .facts that are essential to show the equity upon which he relies for the relief prayed. If any equity is not duly alleged in a cross-bill it is demurrable. If from the facts alleged an equity may be implied, but the allegations show that a once potential
The allegations as to the creation of the asserted equity-are in substance:
“That in 1884 John A. Henderson entered into a contract with the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida whereby he was employed by said Trustees to obtain from the United States selections and patents of such swamp and overflowed lands within the boundaries of said State as it was entitled to under the Acts of Congress in that behalf, but which the State had up to that time failed to receive, and under the terms of which contract he was entitled to compensation at the rate of two cents for each acre of swamp) and overflowed lands so selected as a result of his labors and to be patented to the' State, payable out of such of said lands as might be thereafter selected and specified by him at the sale price fixed from time to time by said Trustees. ' That said right' of selections on the part of said Henderson was recognized by said Trustees as an expense of the administration of their trust, and, as such, pndor in right to any other disposition to be made of said lands; and that, upon written request made by said Henderson to the Commissioner of Agriculture who was the member of said Board of Trustees having custody and control of all the records of said swamp and overflowed land and of the preparation of all transfers thereof, said Commissioner of Agriculture was authorized, and it was his custom, to issue to said Henderson (in case the lands selected and specified had not yet been patented to the State) certificates in the form and to the effect exemplified by said ‘Exhibit A.'
*832 “That the employment of said Henderson under the contract aforesaid continued until and after the year 1892, and on the 13th day of June, 1892, said Henderson was entitled, as compensation already earned under said contract, to have deeds or certificates (according as the lands selected had or had not been patented to the State) to many thousands of acres more than the total of all lands which had heretofore been so deeded or certificated, together with the number of acres (15,961 acres) included in said certificate so as aforesaid attached to the original bill as ‘Exhibit A.’ That being so entitled, said Henderson did on or before said 13th day of June, 1892, request the Commissioner of Agriculture to issue to him, on account of his compensation aforesaid, the certificate so attached as ‘Exhibit A,’ and said certificate was issued in compliance with said request pursuant to the authority delegated to him by said Trustees as aforesaid. That said Henderson was at that time entitled to select the lands described in said certificate, and did so select them, on account of his compensation under said contract, that the only reason why conveyance of the legal title to said lands was not made to said Henderson at that time was because such legal title had not been transferred by patent from the United States to the State; and that from the date of the selection of said lands by said Henderson and his notification thereof to said Commissioner of Agriculture the said Trustees held the equitable title — and, after the issuance of patent by the United States to the State, the legal title — to the same in trust for the benefit of the said John A» Henderson, his heirs and assigns.
“That in and by said certificate ‘Exhibit A,’ it was provided, and said Trustees through said Commissioner of Agriculture, thereby represented and promised, that, a deed to the lands described therein should be executed*833 and delivered to said Henderson, or liis order, npon the return of said certificate endorsed by him, as soon as said lands should be patented to the State of Florida by the United States.
“That on the 15th day of July, 1899, said John A. Henderson entered into a contract with J. M. Kreamer and J. J. Dunne, whereby it was agreed, after reciting the substance of the above contract between said Henderson and said trustees and the right of the former to a conveyance thereunder of some fifty to seventy-five thousand acres of land, that said Henderson should sell to said Kreamer & Dunne all the land to be received by him under said contract (after providing for certain contingencies specified) at certain price per acre therein expressed; and that the 5th and final paragraph of said contract read literally as follows, to-wit:
“ ‘5th. The said Henderson agrees that for all the lands that the said Kreamer & Dunne may designate he will have the State of Florida issue ‘Certificates’ whenever. they shall desire and the same shall be delivered to the said Kreamer & Dunne in proporton as they may make payments on this contract, or the whole may be deposited in escrow subject to the payment of the balance of the purchase money.’
“That thereafter the said Kreamer & Dunne paid to said Henderson the initial payment of six thousand dollars, as provided in said contract, and elected the option given in the paragraph thereof above quoted that land certificates should be obtained by said Henderson and delivered to said Dunne & Kreamer in proportion as they might make payments thereon; that subsequently and on or about the 11th- day of August, 1892, the said Kreamer & Dunne, through the National Bank of Jack*834 sonville, Florida, paid to said Henderson on said contract the additional sum of five thousand dollars, that said land certificate (for 15,961 acres) attached to the original bill herein as ‘Exhibit A,’ together with another land certificate for 9,840 acres attached to said original bill as ‘Exhibit B,’ was delivered to said Dunne & Kreamer by said Henderson in consideration of said two payments amounting to the sum of $11,000 under and in pursuance of the provision of said contract above quoted that certificates should be delivered to them in proportion as they might make payments thereon; that, although said certificate ‘Exhibit A’ is dated, and was probably issued to said Henderson, on the 13th day of June, 1892, the same was not endorsed on the back by said Henderson and delivered by him to said Kreamer and Dunne until on or about the date of the payment of said five thousand dollars as aforesaid; that by such endorsement, transfer and delivery all the right, title and interest acquired by said Henderson under said certificate in and to the lands therein described passed to and became vested in the said Kreamer & Dunne.
“That, as above alleged, from the time of the issuance and delivery of said certificate ‘Exhibit A’ the said Trustees of the Internal Improvement held the equitable title to the land in the same described in trust for the benefit of said John A. Henderson or his assigns until the legal title to the same was conveyed by the United States to the State of Florida, which was done by patent dated the 29th day of April, 1903; that thereafter the trustees held the legal title to said, land under a like trust until the death of said Henderson, which occurred in the month of August, 1904; that soon after the death of John A. Henderson his heirs above named applied for and obtained from said trustees a deed which covered a large area of*835 land and included the same 15,961 acres described in ‘Exhibit A’ and involved in this cross-bill, which deed was dated the 28th day of December, 1904, was filed for record in the office of the Clerk of this Court on the 4th day of April, 1905; that the said trust which had attached to said land described in ‘Exhibit A’ from the time of its issuance and delivery to said Henderson in 1892 to his death in August, 1904, passed at once upon his death to his said heirs with respect to the equitable title and attached to the legal title when said heirs received the same by virtue of the deed aforesaid, dated December 28th, 1904; and that said heirs received said legal title charged with and subject to the same obligation to convey said lands to the holder or holders of said certificate ‘Exhibit A’ as their ancestor, the said John A. Henderson, had held his equitable right while living and would have held the legal title had he lived to acquire the same.” It is also alleged that the conveyance by the Henderson heirs was made subject to the asserted trust.
Counsel for appellant, complainant below, in their brief say:
“Our cross-bill is one to enforce a trust growing out of and superseding the complete performance and consummation of that part of the contract between Henderson and Kreamer and Dunne covering the lands described in this certificate. The contract itself is no longer in question; it has as to these lands been terminated by performance which substituted Kreamer and Dunne and their successors in interest for Henderson as eestms que trustent of an express trust. What we are seeking is simply to compel a compliance by the successors of the trustees with the terms of the trust, which the trustees themselves created and which we allege was known to*836 all the defendants in our cross-bill. The fact that a conveyance of the land is prayed is an incident to the execution of the trust and has no relation to the performance of the contract.”
A lawful subject-matter and competent parties having appropriate authority in the premises are' requisite to the creation of an express trust. In order to create an express trust, the subject, object and terms of the trust must be definitely stated by competent authority; and in order to be enforced by judicial proceedings, the trust must be evidenced as may be required' by law. Where the declaration or creation of an express trust in lands is by statute required to “be manifested and proved by some writing signed by the party authorized by law to declare or create such trust,” the subject, object and terms of the trust must be definitely expressed in a writing executed by an authorized party as the statute provides, or the trust cannot be proved for judicial enforcement. See 39 Cyc. p. 44, 53, 57; Lines v. Darden, 5 Fla. 51; Floyd v. Smith, 59 Fla. 485, 51 South. Rep. 537; 1 Perry on Trusts (6th ed.) Sec. 79 et seq.
The Act of Congress of September 28, 1850, granting to the State the swamp and overflowed lands in the State, provides for “a patent to be issued to the State therefor ; and on that patent, the fee simple to said lands shall vest in the said State.” The State statute, Chapter 610, approved January 6, 1855, vested' in the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund for specific purposes the lands granted to the State by the above stated Act of Congress. The title of the State did not vest in it until the patent covering the lands was issued. Chapman & Dewey Lumber Co. v. St. Francis Levee Dist., 232 U. S. 186, 34 Sup. Ct. Rep. 297; 22 R. C. L. 335; Little v. Williams, 231 U. S. 335, 34 Sup. Ct. Rep. 68.
The allegation of the cross-bill that in 1884 John A. Henderson “entered into a contract with the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida, whereby he was employed by said Trustees to obtain from the United States selections and patents of swamp and overflowed lands * * * under the terms of which contract he was entitled to compensation * * * payable out of said lands as might be thereafter selected and specified by him at the sale price fixed from time to time by said Trustees,” is not in accord with the public record of the Trustees of which the court may take judicial notice. See Bloxham v. Florida Cent. & P. R. Co., 35 Fla. 625, 727, 17 South. Rep. 902; 15 R. C. L. 1109 et seq.; Caha v. United States, 152 U. S. 211, 14 Sup. Ct. Rep. 513; 16 Stand. Ency. Proc. 600; Pearcy v. Stranahan, 205 U. S. 257, 27 Sup. Ct. Rep. 545; French v. Senate of California, 146 Cal. 604, 80 Pac. Rep. 1031, 69 L. R. A. 556; 16 Cyc. 905. The resolution of March 15, 1884, set out in full in the statement, shows that the Trustees “employed Col. John A. Henderson” “to make further selections of land granted to the State by an Act of Congress, September 28, 1850, and to procure the proofs required * * * for the approval of such selections,” he “to receive as compensation for such service not exceeding two cents per
The allegations that Col. Henderson was by contract employed by the Trustees “to obtain from the United States selections and patents of swamp and overflowed lands” and that “under the terms of which contract he was entitled to compensation * * * payable out of such lands as might be thweafter selected and specified by him at the sale price fixed from time to time by said Trustees,” are at variance with the public record of the State officials; and in so far as the allegations conflict with such record, they are not admitted by the demurrer. See 21 C. J. 445, and authorities cited su/pra. The resolution under which Gol. Henderson was employed is set out in the statement with a reference to the printed minutes of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, who are public State officals, of- whose record's the court may take judicial notice. Col. Henderson was employed “to make selections of land,” “and to procure proofs required for the approval of such selections,” his “compensation for such service” to be “paid in such lands at schedule prices.” He was not employed “to obtain selections and patents” of the lands, and his compensation Avas not “payable out of such of said lands as might be thereafter selected' and specified by him.” The resolution of employment provided for “compensation not exceeding two cents per acre of the selections which may be patented” and clearly contemplated that the compensation was to be paid in lands after patents had been issued to the State. This tends to refute the allegations of conclusions * * * that the Trustees recognized the íúght of Ool. Henderson to make selections years before patents were issued, and that the Commissioner of Agriculture
When the certificate “Exhibit A” was made and delivered to Kreamer and Dunne, the lands described therein had not been patented to the State and were not within the control of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. For the services of Col. Henderson in procuring proofs of proper selections of swamp and overflowed lands in the State, on which patents could issue to the State under the Act of Congress and the regulations of the United States Land Department, his compensation was, under the terms of his employment, to be made “in such lands at schedule prices.” It is not shown that authority was given to Col. Henderson to select as he desired, particular lands as his compensation, so as to withdraw his selections from the control of the Trustees under their statutory trust, even if under the Act of Congress granting the lands and under the State statute defining the powers of the Trustees, such authority could have been given either before or after the State acquired the title to the lands by patents issued. It does not appear that the Commissioner of Agriculture had authority to issue the certificate “Exhibit A” as a binding, obligation of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. Sections 146, 152, 154, 156 and 157 General Statutes of 1906, and Section 1, Chapter 3127, Acts of 1879, do not confer authority
While the expenses of selecting the lands to be patented to the State may be a prior claim against the lands of the fund, such claim gives no right to select or sell particular lands unless the selection or sale is duly recognized or acquiesced in by the trustees icitlvin their statutory powers, or is adjudged by appropriate judicial proceedings. See Yager v. McNeill, 60 Fla. 400, 53 South. Rep. 12. Col. Henderson did not acquire the equitable title to the lands described in the certificate by virtue of the delivery of the certificate to him. Allegations of fact as to an alleged express trust in lands that can be proved only by parol in violation of the statute are no admitted by the demurrers. The certificate “Exhibit A” issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture which was endorsed on the back-in blank by Col. Henderson and by him delivered to Kreamer and Dunne^ is not sufficient to “manifest or prove” an express trust in the lands described in the certificate, either against the trustees or against Col. Henderson, since the certificate is not a declaration of a trust and it is not signed by a party who was authorized by law to declare or create a trust in the lands, as is expressly required by Section 2452, General Statutes of 1906. In Anderson v. Northrop, 30 Fla. 612, 12 South. Rep. 318, the trust was expressly created by a will sufficient for that purpose under the statute.
The allegations of the cross-bill that John A. Hender
Even if the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund had authority before patents issued to reserve the lands in trust, and attempted to do so by authorizing the issuance of the certificate “Exhibit A,” and such certificate could be regarded as legal evidence of a declaration or a creation of a trust by the trustees in favor of Col. Henderson and his assigns, without violating Section 2452, General Statutes of 1906, yet the assignment of the trust by Gol. Henderson was not made by deed duly executed and attested, as required by Section 2453, General Statutes of 1906, which applies to any interest in a trust in lands; therefore, the alleged assignment by endorsement in blank and delivery of the certificate by Col. Henderson is “void and of none effect” as evidence of an assignment of an interest in a trust in lands, under the terms of the statute, Section 2453, General Statutes of 1906. The statutes referred to when applicable, as here, are controlling, whatever may be the rule elsewhere. An express trust in the lands described in “Exhibit A” is not shown by the cross-bill.
• The allegations of the cross-bill, as ' to the contract between John A. Henderson and Kreamer and Dunne
Even if the endorsement in blank and delivery of the certificate “Exhibit A” by Henderson to Kreamer and Dunne can be regarded as by reference legally supplying a description of lands agreed to be sold under the prior contract, it does not with certainty and definiteness appear that the payments received by Henderson were the full purchase price of the lands covered by the certificates. The allegations are of an “initial payment” “as provided in the contract,” and as to an “additional sum” paid “on said contract,” in connection with another land certificate not involved in this suit. There is an allegation that the payments were made “under and in pursuance of the provisions of said contract above quoted that certificates should be delivered * * * in proportion as payments are made thereon;” but the acreage price is not shown, nor are other terms of the contract given, though it does appear that “certain contingencies” were an element of the contract.
The allegations of the cross-bill show that the cross-complainant had knowledge of the terms and conditions of the executory contract between Col. Henderson and Messrs. Kreamer and Dunne, and consequently had knowledge of the price per acre to be paid for the lands covered by the contract; but the cross-complainant significantly refrains from alleging the price per acre, which if shown would enable the court to determine whether the “initial”
If the alegations, including those of the payments made, do not clearly show an executed contract as to the land's covered by the certificate “Exhibit A,” then there is no trust in such lands. And if the allegations as to the payments made, taken with other allegations, and with the disclosure made by the cross-bill of the existence of other facts known to the complainant but not adduced; do not clearly show full payment or a completed sale which is essential to the trust asserted, the allegations are not well pleaded' and consequently the conclusion asserted as to a trust in the land is not admitted by the demurrer.
Even if the “contingencies” shown to be a part of the contract, but not set forth in the cross-bill, are not material to the asserted equity under the contract, it should have been so alleged, when it is alleged thht “certain contingencies” were a part of the executory contract. Hon constat the undisclosed “contingencies” alleged to be a part of the contract destroy the asserted equity.
The asserted legal sufficiency of the allegations to establish a trust is not ad'mited by the demurrer, when the facts definitely alleged do not clearly show facts upon which a trust was created by the law.
Possible inferences- favorable to the -cross-complainant that otherwise may be drawn from the allegations made, will not be indulged when it is manifest that information affecting the equities asserted is withheld, since it must be assumed that the pleader would have made a full disclosure of the alleged price per acre, etc., if it would' have
If the facts relied on to establish the trust are not sufficiently pleaded, they are not admitted by the demurrer. And' if full information as to facts is shown to be withheld, and such facts are material to the asserted trust, deductions from other allegations that only partially disclose the facts are not admitted by the demurrer.
The cross-bill shows an executory contract for the sale of all the lands Col. Henderson was to receive for his services to the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, and apparently the contract did not contemplate an executed sale of any portion of the lands less than the whole.
The provision that certificates may be issued to Kreamer and Dunne for lands “in proportion as they may make payments on this contract” does not indicate a purpose to make a complete sale of any of the lands except as an entirety. The alternative provision of the contract, to-wit, “or the whole may be deposited in escrow subject to the payment of the balance of the purchase money,” also contemplates one sale of all the lands. One provision is that certificates may be issued in proportion as payments are made on a continuing executory contract; the other is that all the lands may be placed in escrow. An executory agreement to sell' all the lands that Col. Henderson was to receive from the Trustees was apparently the only purpose of the contract. And the cross-bill shows, no other contract or any purpose to make a completed! sale of any part of the lands.
If the payments made were in full for the particular lands, and not part payments under the contract or on the purchase price of the lands, covered by the certificate, it could easily have been alleged. For aught that definitely appears, the amounts received by Col. Henderson were partial payments on the executory contract under its terms, and the equities asserted do not exist because the terms of the contract were not complied with by reason of an abandonment, an. amendment, or an agreement or otherwise. The fact that no application is-shown to have been made for deeds when the lands were “patented to the State” in 1903, pursuant to the express terms of. the certificate which being without legal force or effect was merely endorsed in blank and delivered by Henderson to Kreamer and Dunne, indicates that no rights were then claimed under the certificate. Col. Henderson was then living. The certificate may have been left outstanding as being of no legal efficacy.
The allegations do not with certainty and definiteness show a complete sale by John A. Henderson for a consideration fully paid, of his interest in the particular lands here involved.
In State ex rel. Dixon v. Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, 20 Fla. 402, the relator had made pay
In Yager v. McNeill, 60 Fla. 400, 53 South. Rep. 12, the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund ratified the “certificates or contracts” referred to, if they were not made by due authority of the Trustees.
The cross-bill alleged that Henderson had a contract Avith Kreamer and Dunne to sell them all the lands he was to receive as compensation for his services to the State, showing it to be an executory contract, but the entire contract is not exhibited nor is the price per acre disclosed; and there is no allegation that the lands covered by the certificate were paid for in full. From the indefinite allegations of the cross-bill as to an “initial payment,” and as to an “additional” payment “under and in pursuance of the power of said contract” there can be no certain inference that the payments made to Col. Henderson by Kreamer and Dunne were in full for the lands covered by the certificate “Exhibit A” and by the other certificate referred to as- “Exhibit B,” it being alleged that “Exhibit A,” together with another land certificate for 9,840 acres attached to said original bill as ‘Exhibit B,’ was delivered to said Kreamer and Dunne by said Henderson in consideration of said two payments amounting to the sum of $11,000.00 under and in pursuance of the provisions of the contract” that certificates should be delivered in proportion as payments might be made. By withholding the full terms of the executory contract and the price per acre to be paid, the cross-complainant has in the other ambiguous allegations failed!
Treating the subsequent conveyance by the Trustees of the lands in controversy to the heirs of Ool. Henderson as an authorized ratification of his selections of the lands described in the certificate, “Exhibit A,” yet the certificate is insufficient to evidence an express trust in the particular lands, and the allegations as to the contract between Henderson and Kreamer and Dunne and as to the endorsement in blank and delivery of the certificate, “Exhibit A,” describing the lands, and as to the payments made to Henderson by Kreamer and Dunne, do not clearly and distinctly show an implied trust arising from a
From the allegations of the bill and the exhibit made a part of the bill, it clearly appears that if an equitable interest in the particular lands did accrue to Kreamer and Dunne by the blank endorsement and delivery of the certificate “Exhibit A” to them by John A. Henderson and the receipt of Col. Henderson of money as payment thereon, pursuant to the contract between them, that equity has been lost or extinguished by subsequent events of which they had legal notice and the lapse of time during which they were required by law and the circumstances to take appropriate steps to protect their alleged inchoate claim.-
The certificate was delivered in 1892; it does not definitely appear that the money received thereon was more than a partial payment; the endorsement and delivery of
The certificate itself under which the cross-complainant claims, in asserting an equity in the lands, stated that the land Avould be conveyed to John A. Henderson, or to his order “as soon as the same had been patented to the State of Florida.” If Kreamer and Dunne were entitled to the lands by reason of this certificate .and of the “initial” and “additional” payments made thereon under their contract with Henderson, it was their duty to acquire proper muniments of title as contemplated by the express terms of the certificate and to' pay the balance of the purchase price, if any was unpaid. If the certificate was efficacious, it could have been' used in getting con
Under the resolution or contract of employment Col. Henderson could have obtained lands as his compensation as soon as the patents were issued to the State. Many thousands of acres were due him “at schedule prices,” and as he did not obtain deeds for any of it after it was patented to the State in April, 1903, when he lived till August, 1904, it can not fairly be said he recognized the right of the holders of the certificate “Exhibit A” by not demanding title to the lands covered by the certificate.
Affirmed.
Taylor, J., and Gibbs, Circuit Judge, concur.
Browne C. J., and Love, Circuit Judge, dissent.
Ellis and West, J. J., disqualified.
Dissenting Opinion
dissenting:
After a most careful consideration and study of the questions arising in. this case, and with the greatest deference to the views of the majority of my learned associates, I find, most reluctantly, that I am compelled to dissent from some of the views expressed in the prevailing opinion.
This case is brought to this court by an appeal from the judgment of the lower court sustaining demurrers to the cross-bill, two of the grounds .of both demurrers raising the question of want of equity in the bill and laches.
The effect of the demurrers is to admit the truth of all the facts that are sufficiently alleged by the cross-bill as well as the conclusion necessarily resulting from the facts, stated and to assert that in the particulars stated in the demurrers, the cross-bill is insufficient to show a cause of action. While all facts necessary to be proven should be alleged, it is sufficient if the ultimate facts are stated without' detail. H. W. Metcalf Co. v. Orange County, 56 Fla. 829, 47 South. Rep. 363.
A general demurrer for want of equity should be over
From the statement of this case, it' appears that the allegations of the cross-bill show that, by contract entered into between John A. Henderson and the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, in 1884, the said Henderson was employed to obtain selections and patents from the United States Government for certain swamp and overflowed lands to which the State was then entitled, but which it had failed, up to that time, to receive; and for his services under the terms of said contract, the said Henderson was to receive as his compensation at the rate of two cents for every acre of swamp and overflowed lands so selected, as a result of his labors and to be patented to the State, “payable out of such lands as might be thereafter selected and specified by him, at the sale price fixed from time to time by said Trustees.” That on June the 13th, 1892, during the term of the said Henderson’s employment under the contract mentioned, he was entitled as compensation already earned by him under said contract to have deeds or certificates (according as the lands selected by him had or had not been patented to the State) to many thousands of acres more than the total of all lands theretofore deeded or certified to him, together with the number of acres included in the certificate referred to as “Exhibit A”; that the said Henderson, being so entitled, requested the Commissioner of Agriculture to issue to him such certificate, and in accordance with the custom of said Commissioner under such circumstances and, as it is expressly alleged, pursuant to the authority delegated to him by the said Trustees, and in compliance with such request, such certificate was duly issued.
That thereafter Kreamer and Dunne paid to the said Henderson the initial payment of Six Thousand Dollars as provided in said contract and under the option given in the quoted paragraph, elected that the land certificates should be obtained by the said Henderson and delivered to the said Kreamer and Dunne in proportion as they might make payments thereon. That subsequently, about August 11, 1892, Kreamer and Dunne paid to the said Henderson on the said contract the additional sum of Five Thousand Dollars and that said land certificates designated as “Exhibit A,” with another for Nine Thousand Eight Hundred and Forty acres were delivered to the said Kreamer and Dunne by the said Henderson in consideration of said two payments, amounting to the sum of Eleven Thousand Dollars, under and in pursuance
These allegations set out a valid agreement, by which the said Henderson agreed to sell to Kreamer and Dunne “all the land to be received by him” under the contract between him and the said Trustees at a certain price per acre alleged to be stated in the contract, but which is not specifically set out in the cross-bill. In said contract, the said Henderson agreed that for all the lands the said Kreamer and Dunne might designate he would have the State of Florida issue certificates, “whenever they shall desire and the same shall be delivered to the said Kreamer and Dunne in proportion as they may make payments on this contract, or the whole may be deposited in escrow subject to the payment of the balance of the purchase money.” Under the alleged contract between Henderson and the said Trustees, the former would be paid out of the lands selected as the result of his labors and patented to the State, such part as “might be thereafter selected and specified by him at the sale price fixed from time to time by the said Trustees.” Such allegations sufficiently stated the effect of the alleged contract with respect to the privilege conferred thereby on the said Henderson of choosing and designating certain parts of the selected lands for his compensation.
Whether or not the creation of such special privilege on the part of said Henderson by the then Trustees,, by means of a contract providing for his compensation for the services to be rendered by him as aforesaid thereunder, before the lands were actually patented to the State, would bind the State or future trustees in the event of an attempt to deny such right; or whether, as is contended in the prevailing opinion in this case, the resolu
Even if it be admitted that, as between the said Henderson or his assigns on the one side and the State or the Trustees on the other, the Certificate alleged, was without binding effect, had it been questioned, yet it plainly appears from the allegations of the cross-bill that the selections of such lands as are described in' the said certificate were recognized and ratified by the Trustees after said lands had been patented to the State in 1903, when, as it is alleged, “soon after the death of the said Henderson,” his heirs, above named, applied for and obtained from the said Trustees a deed which covered a large area of land and included the same fifteen thousand nine hundred and sixty-one acres described in “Exhibit A” and involved in this cross-bill.
If the said Henderson had the right under his contract with the said Trustees to select lands that were to be conveyed to him by such Trustees and did select the lands described in said Certificate, as it is alleged he did, then such Trustees, or the Commissioner of Agriculture, who himself was one of such Trustees, and, as it is alleged, had the authority delegated to him by such Trustees so to do, would not be acting beyond the scope of their re
Taking into consideration the recitals of the contract between Henderson of the one part and Kreamer and Dunne of the other part, the situation of the parties and their alleged action with reference to such contract, it is apparent that the so-called land certificate issued to Henderson by the Commissioner of Agriculture was such certificate as was referred to in the quoted clause of the said contract and as was in the contemplation of the parties thereto, and was obtained from the Commissioner of Agriculture by the said Henderson and delivered by him to the said Kreamer and Dunne pursuant to the provisions of said contract in order to carry out in good faith his obligations thereunder, consequent upon the payment lo him by the said Kreamer and Dunne of the said sum of Eleven Thousand Dollars and their election to exercise their option under the said contract as aforesaid. It is alleged in the said cross-bill, and therefore admitted by the demurrers, that the said Henderson received from Kreamer and Dunne the sum, of Eleven Thousand Dollars; that in consideration thereof and in pursuance of the quoted provisions of said contract, he delivered to Kreamer and Dunne two certificates, which certificates, under the terms of said contract, he was to deliver to the said Kreamer and Dunne “in proportion as they may make payments on this contract;” that is, such certificates should be delivered to the said Kreamer and Dunne in the degree or measure as they made payments on the contract. Such allegations plainly import that as Kreamer and Dunne designated certain lands and paid over to the said Henderson the purchase price, he would
Construing the action of Col. Henderson in delivering to Kreamer & Dunne such certificates, as it is-alleged he did, pursuant to the provisions of said contract and “in consideration of” the payment to him of the said sum of elevent thousand dollars, I submit, the fair and reasonable deduction to be drawn from all of the allegations of the cross-bill, relative to the alleged transaction, is that the particular lands described in the said certificates were paid for in full at the agreed purchase price before the alleged delivery of said certificates.
As between Henderson of the one part and Kreamer and Dunne of the other, what was the effect of such certificate, if it was not" binding upon the Trustees to the extent of creating an express trust in such lands for the benefit of the said Henderson? Was it a mere scrap of paper? The certificate in question, signed by the Commissioner of Agriculture, ex officio a member of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, and in whose custody were all of the maps, plats and records of the public lands of the State of Florida, declares that “John A. Henderson has applied to enter on his account as State Selecting Agent all the following described lands,” a particular description being set out therein, and “I further certify that the said land will be conveyed to the said John A. Henderson or his order as soon as the same has been patented to the State of Florida.” This certificate, as it is alleged, was then endorsed and delivered to Kreamer and Dunne by the said Henderson, and thus, he thereby affirmed and ratified the recitals therein contained. If such certificate was of no binding
It is contended that if Kreamer and Dunne ever acquired any equitable rights in the premises the allegations of the cross-bill show that they lost the same by
Acts constituting abandonment must be positive, unequivocal and inconsistent with the continuance of the contract. 39 Cyc. 1353. Aside from mere inaction of the vendees of Henderson in failing to apply for their deed, for the time stated, no evidence of abandonment of their accrued rights is made to appear.
But it is urged that the cross-bill shows that the vendees of Henderson and their assigns have been guilty of such gross laches in asserting their rights as to deprive ■them of any remedy at this late day. The facts and circumstances relied upon to establish such alleged laches are, briefly stated, the delay of the cross-complainant and those under whom he claims in failing to take any action towards enforcing their claims from their accrual in 1904, when the legal title to the lands in question was conveyed to the heirs of the said Henderson (for it must be borne in mind that the prevailing opinion in this case holds that no right's could accrue to the purchasers until the trustees had conveyed to Henderson or his heirs) up to the filing of the cross-bill; the conveyance by such heirs in 1915 to the South Florida Farms Company; though, it is alleged, with notice to the latter of the rights of those under whom complainant in the cross-bill claims; the great increase in the value of such lands during such interval; the death of the said Jno. A. Henderson, who was cognizant of the circumstances of the transaction and the consequent loss of his evidence and the presumed payment of the taxes on such lands by the holders of the
Laches is a neglect to do something that by law a man is obliged or in duty bound to do. Anderson v. Northrop, 30 Fla. 612, 12 South. Rep. 318, 324.
According to Mr. Pomeroy, the doctrine of laches cannot be more concisely or accurately stated than in the language of Stinness, J., in Chase v. Chase, 20 R. I. 202, 37 Atl. Rep. 804: “Laches, in legal significance, is not mere delay, but delay that works a disadvantage to another. So long as the parties are in the same condition, it matters little whether one jiresses a right promptly or slowly, Avithin limits allowed bjr law; but when, knoAving his rights, he takes no steps to enforce them until the condition of the other party has, in good faith, become so changed that he cannot be restored t'o his former state, if the right be then enforced, delay becomes inequitable and operates as estoppel against the assertion of the right. The disadvantage may come from loss of evidence, change of title, intervention of equities and other causes; but when a court sees negligence on one side and injury therefrom on the other, it is a ground for denial of relief.” 1 Pomeroy’s Equitable Remedies, Section 21.
What disadvantage has the alleged delay in asserting the claims set up by cross-complainant worked to the heirs of Col. Henderson, Avho are made defendants in the cross-bill? The State obtained a patent to the land in question in 1903. From the allegations of the cross-bill no application is shown to have been made by Jno. A. Henderson up to the time of his death in 1904 for the conveyance to him of the lands to which he was entitled in
If the land has greatly enhanced in value, the purchase price was paid before such increase, and the benefit thereof should inure to the vendees of the said Henderson. If the South Florida Farms Company purchased such lands with notice of the rights of the Henderson vendees, then it took the same charged Avith the trust in connection theravith; if it took such lands without such notice, then the relief prayed for, as against the Henderson heirs, if the allegations of the cross-bill can be sustained, can be afforded, with due provision for their reimbursement for such expenses as they have incurred, if any, because of the delay in the enforcement of the trust.
The relation between the said John A. Henderson on the one side, and Kreamer and Dunne on the other, was, at the inception of the contract, apparently and presum
I am forced to the conclusion, therefore, that the judgment on the demurrer should be reversed and the cause remanded.
Browne, C. J., concurs in the dissenting opinion.