136 P. 656 | Or. | 1913
delivered the opinion of the court.
á. One other question should be considered, as the case will be remanded for further proceedings. Defendants contend that the court committed error in admitting in evidence the transcript of the judgment-roll in the case of Dunn & Lott v. Roth et al., for the reason that the defendant J. Peters was not a party to the suit, and therefore not bound by the decree. Of course, he was not bound by it as to any interest he might have had in the land; but, as he had none, he could not have been a proper party to the suit. The complaint in that suit charged that there was a deed on record purporting to be executed by Dunn & Lott to Both, but that Dunn & Lott did not sign a deed, and that their names were forged thereto. Both was a party to the suit, and made default, thereby confessing the complaint. The decree to that effect is conclusive of the facts decreed as to Both and his grantees, if parties to the suit, and therefore Both’s deed to plaintiffs conveyed no title. The decree was competent evidence of the fact that Both had no title to the land when he conveyed it to plaintiff, and it is conclusive against the plaintiffs. There was no question of estoppel involved, and therefore no necessity to plead one. The decree was simply evidence of the failure of the title in the plaintiff.
Reversed.