87 Miss. 773 | Miss. | 1905
delivered the opinion of the court.
. Notwithstanding the fact that the decree pro confesso and judgment final were" taken in the court below by reason of the default of the defendant in failing to file an answer .to the.bill of complaint, we find ourselves unable to sustain the decree ren
Nor can the bill of complaint be maintained under the pro: vision of Code 1892, § 500. That section gives the real owner the right to file a bill only in a case “when a person, not the rightful owner of any real estate, shall have any conveyance or other evidence of title thereto, or shall assert any claim or pretend to have any right or title thereto, which may cast doubt or suspicion on the title of the real owner.” If such suit results in favor of the complainant, the judgment final is that the conveyances or other evidences or claim of title shall be canceled, and the cloud, doubt, or suspicion removed from the title. But, to maintain a suit under the provisions of that section, it is necessary that the bill of complaint show the perfect fairness of complainant’s own title; but it must also show the invalidity of his adversary’s claim. The bill of complaint in the instant case is lacking in both respects. It contains no definite and specific statement of facts showing that it has a perfect legal or equitable title to the land, and it is lacking in precision and clearness in its charge of the invalidity of appellant’s claim. It avers that both parties
A suit may be brought, under the terms of Code 1892, § 500, to cancel and remove a cloud upon any valid title to land, whether such cloud be cast upon the perfect title by recorded instrument or by mere assertion of unknown, but hostile, claim. Cook v. Friley, 61 Miss. 1. But when, as in the instant case, there is a distinct admission of deraignment from a common source, such admission necessarily conveys the idea that complainant is advised of the nature and character of the adverse claim asserted by defendant. In such state of case, if the claim be a particular muniment of title, it must be specifically referred to. But, whatever the character of the hostile claim asserted, if known to the complainant, the facts demonstrating its invalidity must be set out. In such case mere general allegations of fraud and simulation are not sufficient.
The decree is reversed, the decree pro confesso vacated, and the cause remanded.