83 P. 24 | Kan. | 1905
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This action involves the title to a quarter-section of land in Rooks county. W. B. Ham claimed it under a regular chain of conveyances from the United States down to himself, and Henry Booth asserted title under a tax deed to James F. Houlihan, and a transfer from Houlihan to himself. There is no dispute as to the validity of any of the conveyances on either side, except the Houlihan tax deed, and the case turns upon whether that instrument is void upon its
It is argued that the deed is faulty in failing’ to give the residence of the assignee, the Eastern Banking Company. Assuming that a statement of the residence of the purchaser and assignee is a requisite part of a tax deed, as the plaintiff plausibly contends, the question remains whether it is not substantially given in this case. The statute prescribes the form of a tax deed and provides that it shall be substantially followed. A literal compliance, however, with that form is not required. A departure from the statutory phraseology will not invalidate the deed if the idea in the prescribed recital is fairly included and stated in other words. (Brown et al v. Cockrill, 6 Kan. 311; Mack v. Price, 35 Kan. 134, 10 Pac. 521.) The deed, instead of stating that the assignment was made to the Eastern Banking Company, of a certain county and state, recites that it was made to “the Eastern Banking Company, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of Connecticut.” In effect this was a statement that the company resides in the state of Connecticut.
Another objection made to the deed is that only one description of the land is contained in it. That is the description first given of the quarter-section, and in reciting the sale and conveyance of the land appropriate reference is made to the first description, which appears to be accurate and complete. There was but a single tract taxed, and, as it could not be sold for the taxes'charged against it, the county treasurer bid it off for the county. As the county is not a voluntary or competitive bidder, it necessarily took the entire tract. (Larkin v. Wilson, 28 Kan. 513; Mack v. Price, 35 Kan. 134, 10 Pac. 521.) There being no division of the property in the sale, the recital of the sale, assignment and conveyance by such terms as “said property” and “the real property above described” shows definitely that the same tract was referred to throughout
It is argued that the deed does not recite the presentation of the certificate to the county clerk prior to the issue of the deed, but this is not required in the form prescribed by statute. Nor is there anything substantial in the objection that the deed is not made in the name of the county. In this respect it follows the statutory form, which, as to the conveyances to which it applies, must be deemed sufficient. (Gibson v. Hammerburg, ante, p. 363.)
The judgment of the district court is affirmed.