No. 222 | 6th Cir. | May 7, 1895
This is an action of ejectment brought by the plaintiffs in error who were plaintiffs in the circuit court. The action was for the recovery of a tract of land described as containing 50,000 acres, being the same patented by the state of Kentucky, February 28,1779, to Abraham Morehouse. Plaintiffs claimed as heirs at law of Henry_ Banks, and, for the purpose of deraigning title to their ancestor 'from the patentee, Abraham Morehouse, offered in evidence a transcript of a record from the circuit court
The defendants in error justify the ruling of the court, upon several distinct grounds, any one of which, if well taken, renders the decree void as to the heirs of Abraham Morehouse, and therefore inadmissible as a link in the chain of title sought to be established by the plaintiffs in error. The first objection to the decree was to the jurisdiction of the court over the tract oi' land involved in this suit. The transcript tendered in evidence purports to he a bill in chancery filed in the circuit court of Franklin county, Ky. That court was one of general jurisdiction in both suits at common law and in chancery. Under the statute organizing circuit courts, its territorial jurisdiction was limited to the body of the county of Franklin. It has not been contended that its jurisdiction was limited to cases involving lands wholly within the county. On the contrary, it has been properly admitted that if any part of a body of land, or one of several parcels of land, subject to a common mortgage or equitable lien, be within the county in which the suit is brought, the court will acquire jurisdiction over the entire body of land, or the several parcels subject to the common mortgage or claim of lien, and may effectively exercise jurisdiction with reference to the entire subject-matter of the suit. This principle of local jurisdiction is familiar law, and the Kentucky courts, at an early day, expressly so announced it. Dunn v. McMillen, 1 Bibb, 409" court="Ky. Ct. App." date_filed="1809-06-02" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/dunn-v-mmillen-7378401?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7378401">1 Bibb, 409; Cave v. Trabue, 2 Bibb, 444; Brown v. McKee, 1 J. J. Marsh. 476; Owings v. Beall, 3 Litt. 104. The circuit courts of Kentucky, being courts of general common-law and equity jurisdiction, and not courts of special and limited jurisdiction, are within the well-known rule which presumes, upon a collateral attack, that a jurisdiction actually exercised by such a court was rightfully exercised, until the contrary clearly appears. Such courts of record are competent to decide upon their own jurisdiction, and to exercise it to final judgment. This applies to both jurisdiction over the subject-matter and over the persons of the defendants, and, when a judgment of such a court is collaterally brought in question, every reasonable presumption will be indulged in favor of the rightful exercise of jurisdiction, and they are not required to spread upon their records the facts and evidences upon which their jurisdiction
“It is presumed to have jurisdiction to give the judgment it renders, until the contrary appears. And the presumption embraces jurisdiction, not only of the cause or subject-matter of the action in which -the judgment was given, but of the parties also. The former will generally appear by the character of the judgment, and will be determined by the law creating the court or prescribing its general powers. The latter should regularly appear by evidence in the record of service of process upon the defendant, or his appearance in the action. But where the former appears the latter will be presumed.”
As already stated, the circuit court of Franklin county was a court of general common-law and equity jurisdiction. If we turn to the decree pronounced in the cause of Henry Banks v. Bastrop and the Heirs of Morehouse, we find that the judgment rendered was in regard to a contract for the sale of numerous parcels of land, and that the court adjudged that Bastrop and Morehouse were indebted to the complainant, Banks, in a sum in excess of $50,000, as purchase money for a large body of lands lying in distinct tracts, some of which were described as being in counties other than Franklin, while the locality of others did not appear. The court adjudged one contract, embracing many parcels lying in different counties, and adjudged to the complainant a common, equitable lien, embracing all the parcels sold, and that all the tracts should be sold for the satisfaction of a unit vendors’ equity. Clearly, the power to hear and adjudge a cause presenting questions of the kind adjudged was within the jurisdiction of the circuit court for Franklin county.
“The power to hear and determine a cause is jurisdiction. It is coram judiee whenever a case is presented which brings this power into action. If the petitioner states such a case in his petition that on a demurrer the court would render judgment in his favor, it is an undoubted case of jurisdiction. Whether, on an answer denying and putting in issue the allegations of the petition, the petitioner makes out his case, is the exercise of jurisdiction conferred by the filing of a petition containing all the requisites, and in the manner prescribed by law.” U. S. v. Arredondo, 6 Pet. 709.
If we turn to the bill filed by the complainant Banks, we find that it substantially alleged: (1) That the complainant contracted and sold four tracts or parcels of land to Abraham Morehouse for the consideration of $17,500, no part of which had been paid. One of those tracts is the one now involved. Concerning that tract, it was alleged that it had been located and surveyed by the complainant and one Phillip Barbour, and that Barbour had assigned his interest in the survey to the complainant; that Morehouse had caused a patent to issue to himself, and thereby acquired the legal title. (2) It alleged that, as a part of the same contract, the complainant had contracted to furnish the said Morehouse other lands to the aggregate value of $32,500, these other lands “to be ascertained by the appraisement of good, disinterested men, on oath,” reference being made to the contract itself for the details of the agreement. (3)
Without further going into the details of the bill, it is clear that a case was stated within the general equitable jurisdiction of the court It may be admitted that no very clear case was alleged in regard to Morehouse’s liability for the lands subsequently transferred to Bastrop. Neither is any very clear case stated in regard to any other or further liability, as against Morehouse, than that arising upon Ms agreement to pay $17,500 for the four parcels originally transí erred to Min. The objection to jurisdiction concerns alone the locality of the parcels of laud embraced within the common vendor’s equity asserted against all the parcels, whether conveyed to Morehouse or Bastrop. The bill is silent as to the location of the four parcels transferred to Morehouse. As to those parcels transferred to Bastrop, it appears on the face of the bill that many of them were in counties other than Franklin. As to the remainder, there is no allegation by which the court could determine their situation. With reference to the four tracts sold and conveyed to Morehouse, and for which he was to pay $17,500, evidence is found in that record that the large tract of 50,000 acres, being tbe one involved in this action, was wholly situated in Lincoln county, and the proof in this cause confirms that evidence. There is nothing in the record from the Franklin circuit court which throws any light upon the locality of the other three parcels sold to Morehouse. Neither does it throw any light upon the locality of many of the parcels transferred to Bastrop. The evidence submitted in the cause now on trial did establish that several of the parcels included in the Bastrop agreement were within the limits of Franklin county, as constituted at the time of the Banks suit. Now, on this state of facts, what are the presumptions with reference to the local jurisdiction? If complainant, Banks, has stated on the face of his bill facts sufficient to support Ms contention of a gross sale of lands to Morehouse
Holding, as we do, that the presumptions favorable to the rightful exercise of jurisdiction with reference to the res have not been overcome by evidence, we pass to the question as to jurisdiction over the persons of the defendants. The questions for decision upon this branch of the case do not seem to have been expressly raised or decided by the circuit court. But inasmuch as it appears that Hie record was admitted by the court, subject to the objection we have already disposed of, and excluded at the conclusion of all the plaintiffs’ evidence, without: any specific reason being assigned, it. may be assumed that, if excluded for any reason rendering the decree absolutely void, the judgment for the defendants, under instruction of the court, should not be reversed.
Banks’ bill charged that Morehouse was dead, and that the names and residences of his heirs were unknown, but that they were not residents of Kentucky. It also charged that Bastrop was not an inhabitant of Kentucky, and prayed that the court “would direct a publication against the defendants, as nonresidents, as the law directs.” The bill was marked as filed July 18, 1823. By an affidavit signed and sworn to by the complainant, Banks, and attached to the bill, it ivas averred that Bastrop was not “an inhabitant of Kentucky,” and that “the heirs of Abraham Morehouse are not inhabitants of Kentucky, as he believes, and that he does not know1 the names or residences of said heirs.” Following- the bill and affidavit in the record appears what purports to be an order for publication, undated. This order is in these words:
“Commonwealth of Kentucky, Franklin County—Set.
“Henry Banks, Complainant, v. Philip Henry Neving Tot Bastrop, or his Heirs, etc., Defendants. Chancery.
“This day the complainant, by Ms counsel, and the defendant, Philip Henry Keying Tot Bastrop, or his heirs, and the unknown heirs of Abraham Morehouse, dec’d, having failed to enter their appearance herein and answer the complainant’s bill, and it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that the said defendants are not inhabitants of this commonwealth, therefore, on motion of tho compl’t, by his counsel, it is ordered that unless the defendants do enter their appearance herein on or before the first day of the next term of this court, and answer the complainant’s bill, the same will be taken against them for confessed. And it is further ordered that a copy of this*690 order be forthwith inserted in some authorized newspaper printed in this commonwealth, for two months, successively.
“F. P. Blair, O. F. G. C.”
None of the defendants appeared or defended, and on the 17th March, 1824, an order pro confesso was entered, in these words:
“The defendant having failed to answer the complainant bill, as required by law, it is therefore ordered that the same be taken for confessed, for default. And thereupon the complainant submitted the cause to the court for trial and decree.”
On the day next ensuing, a final decree was rendered, w'hich contains the following recital:
“At a court held on the 18 March, 1821, this cause came on to be argued by the counsel for complainant, and upon examination of the depositions, and it appearing to the court that an order of publication against the defendants has been duly made and filed according to law, the court doth order, adjudge, and decree,” etc.
Then follows a lengthy decree upon the merits of the case.
Under any fair and reasonable construction of- this recital, it must be conceded that this is to be taken as an adjudication of two facts: First, that an order of publication had been made, in pursuance of the statute; second, that due publication of that order had been made, and the evidence thereof filed. The statute then in force regulating publication for absent defendants was the Kentucky act of December 19, 1798 (1 Litt. Laws Ky. 592), as amended by the act of December 22, 1803, which repealed so much of the former act as required, in addition to newspaper publication, a publication at the door of the courthouse, and upon a Sunday, in some church or meetinghouse, during the hours of divine service, and also pre scribed what should be sufficient evidence of the newspaper publication. So much of the act of 1798 as was still in force, and relevant to this controversy, prescribed that where a suit was brought in any court of chancery, concerning any “absent defendant,” “the court may, on satisfactory proof to them made, that such defendant or defendants is or are out of this commonwealth, or that upon inquiry at his, her or their usual place of abode, he, she, or they could not be found, make any order similar to that which is directed to be made in cases of absent debtors, adapting the same to the nature of the case, a copy of which order shall be published in like manner as is directed in case of absent debtors, and thereupon, if the appearance of such absent defendant or defendants be not entered, the complainant may proceed in like manner as if an appearance had been entered.” The other provisions of the act relate to the mode of publication for absent debtors, and prescribe that “the court shall appoint some day in the succeeding term for the absent defendant or defendants to enter his, her or their appearance to the suit,” etc., “a copy of which order shall be forthwith published in the Kentucky Gazette or Herald, and continued for two months successively.” By the act of 1803 it was provided “that a certificate of the printer in whose paper the said order shall have been published agreeably to the said act, that it has been so done, together with a copy of said publication, shall be deemed and held sufficient evidence of thai fact”
■‘Although, as has been decided, the decree, as to Evans, may he deemed erroneous, on the ground that the record does not exhibit the evidence oí publication, and thus show that it was legal and sufficient, yet this decree is not therefore void as to him, because the record shows the fact that Utero ivas some evidence of publication, deemed sufficient by the circuit judge, and we will not now presume that there was no regular publication.”
The case of Applegate v. Mining Co., heretofore cited, is peculiarly applicable, because it arose in Kentucky, and involved a construction of the same statute now under consideration. The record which had been excluded contained an order for publication, but no evidence of publication appeared, and there was no recital or finding by the court that there had been a due publication. After an elaborate review of the cases hearing upon the question, the court concludes by saying:
“The result of the authorities, and what we decide, is that where a court of general jurisdiction is authorized in a proceeding’, either statutory, or at law' or in equity, to bring in, by publication or other substituted service, nonresident defendants interested in, or having a lien upon, property lying within its territorial jurisdiction, but is not required to place the proof of service upon the record, and the court orders such substituted service, it will be presumed, in favor of the jurisdiction, that service was made as ordered, although no evidence thereof appears of record, and the judgment of the court, so far as it affects such property, will he valid. The case of Galpin v. Page, 18 Wall. 350" court="SCOTUS" date_filed="1874-05-18" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/galpin-v-page-88815?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="88815">18 Wall. 350, cited by counsel for defendants, is not in conflict with this proposition. The judgment set up, on one side, and attacked, on the other, in that case, was rendered on service by publication. The law permitted service to be made by publication only where certain facts were made to appear to tho satisfaction of 1lio court, and the court, by a precedent order, which must necessarily appear of record, authorized service to lie made by publication. But the record showed no such order, and the publication, therefore, was the unauthorized act of the party, and appeared ’’.riirmatively to be invalid and ineffectual.”
But it has been urged that this is not the case of a silent record; that, upon the contrary, the evidence as to the steps taken to acquire jurisdiction appears in the record; and that this evidence operates to contradict the recital in the decree, and must prevail. In Galpin
“But the presumptions which the law implies in support of the judgments of superior courts of general jurisdiction only arise with respect to jurisdictional facts concerning which the record is silent. Presumptions are only indulged to supply the absence of evidence or averments respecting the facts presumed. They have no place for consideration when the evidence is disclosed, or the averment is made. When, therefore,- the record states the evidence, or makes an averment with reference to a jurisdictional fact, it will be understood to speak the truth on that point; and it will not be presumed that there was other or different evidence respecting the fact, or that the fact was otherwise than as averred. If, for example, it appears from the return of the officer, or the proof of service contained in the record, that the summons was served at a particular place, and there is no averment of any other service, it will not be presumed that service was also made at another and different place; or if it appear, in like manner, that the service was made upon a person other than the defendant, it will not be presumed, in the silence of the record, that it was made upon the defendant also. Were not this so, it would never be possible to attack collaterally the judgment of a superior court, although a want of jurisdiction might be apparent upon its face. The answer to the attack would always be that, notwithstanding the evidence or the averment, the necessary facts to support the judgment are presumed.”
In Settlemier v. Sullivan, 97 U.S. 444" court="SCOTUS" date_filed="1879-01-18" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/settlemier-v-sullivan-89815?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="89815">97 U. S. 444-448, Justice Field, who delivered the opinion of a majority of the court, said, as to the effect of a judgment recital of jurisdictional facts where the evidence as to the steps taken is found in the record:
“Here it is contended that the recital in the entry of the default of the defendant in the case in the state court, ‘that, although duly served with process, he did not come, but made default,’ is evidence that due service on him was made, notwithstanding the return of the sheriff, and supplies its omission. But the answer is that the recital must be read in connection with that part of the record which gives the official evidence prescribed by the statute. This evidence must prevail over the recital, as the latter, in the absence of an averment to the contrary, the record being complete, can only be considered as referring to the former. We do not question the doctrine that a court of general jurisdiction, acting within the scope of its authority,—that is, within the boundaries which the law assigns to it with respect to subjects and persons,—is presumed to act rightly, and to have jurisdiction to render the judgment it pronounces, UDtil the contrary appeal's. But this presumption can only arise with respect to jurisdictional facts, concerning which the record is silent It cannot be indulged when the evidence respecting the facts is stated, or averments respecting them are made. If the record is silent with respect to any fact which must have been established before the court could have rightly acted, it will be presumed that such fact was properly brought to its knowledge. But if the record gives the evidence, or makes an averment with respect to a jurisdictional fact, it will be taken to speak the truth, and the whole truth, in that regard; and no presumption will be allowed that other and different evidence was produced, or that the fact was otherwise than as averred.”
The first insistence of the defendants is that the order of publication is not datéd, and that it does not, therefore, appear when that order was made, and that, if not made before publication, the publication would be nothing more than the private act of the parties, and invalid. For this position, counsel cite Miller v. Hall, 3 T. B. Mon. 242, 243, and Galpin v. Page, heretofore cited. While it is true that where it is sought to affect a defendant by constructive
“I, Jacob H. Holman, editor of the Commentator, a newspaper published at Frankfort, In Kentucky, hereby certify that the annexed order of court, Henry Banks against Philip Henry Keying Tot Bastrop, etc., was published ten weeks in said paper.”
The “annexed order” referred to is the order we have heretofore cited, and that order is shown to have been published for 10 weeks in the official paper. It must follow that the order was made before it could have been published. There is therefore no contradiction of the redial that an order of publication “had been duly made.”
The next objection is that it is not shown that the order had been published for “two months successively,” as required by the order and by the statute. This objection is not well taken. It was published for “ten weeks,”—a time in excess of two months. The publication had been completed when the certificate was dated,--October 13, 1823. It could not have been begun before July 18, 1823,—the date when the bill was filed. If the order for publication was made on the day of the filing of the bill, and the last publication made on the day the certificate was filed, there would be an interval of 12 weeks. Now, of course, it is possible that the publication may have been begun, and then abandoned for one or two weeks, and again resumed. But there is no evidence which operates to contradict the judicial finding, possibly based upon a. knowledge of the date of the order made, or of the first or last day of publication, that the publication had been duly made and filed. Where the evidence found in the record is not inconsistent with a recital of jurisdictional facts, the recital cannot be regarded as contradicted.
The next and last objection pressed upon us is that the order of publication is. void, as not being authorized by the statute. The order recites that, “it appearing to the satisfaction of the court that the defendants are not inhabitants of this commonwealth The statute provides for publication “on satisfactory proof * * * that such defendant or defendants is or are out of this commonwealth,” or could not be found on inquiry at Ms or their usual place of abode. The argument advanced is that one may not be “an inhabitant of this commonwealth,” and yet be temporarily in the commonwealth, in such way as not to be “out of this commonwealth,” in the sense of the statute. We think the legislative meaning of the words “out of this commonwealth ” imply and embrace the ease of one who is properly described as not “an inhabitant.” “In law, the term ‘inhabitant’ is used technically with varying