1 Idaho 276 | Idaho | 1869
Lead Opinion
delivered the opinion of the court,
This action was commenced in the third judicial district court, on a bill filed, in which is alleged several distinct grounds of relief, concluding with a general prayer, that the court, by its judgment and decree, may give such relief “as the nature of the circumstances of this case may require.” Upon the trial the court below dismissed the bill, and gave judgment for costs in favor of defendants. Motion for a new trial was made. Upon the hearing of the motion in the court below, upon suggestion of the judge, counsel for plaintiff and defendants in open court consenting, the cause was adjourned to this court, under and in accordance with the terms and provisions of section 826 of the civil practice act, and the question is, shall this court advise and direct that the judgment and decision of the court below rendered on the second day of July, A. d. 1868, be vacated and set aside, and a new trial ordered ? The case was tried before Judge Cummins, and the facts found by the court were:
1. That on the eleventh day of September, 1866, the defendant, the Lincoln Silver Mining Company, by its assist-tant treasurer, C. F.Balcom, at Silver City, thereunto duly authorized, drew its bill or draft for ten thousand dollars on its treasurer in Providence, R. I., payable at the latter place to said defendant Cole, in United States gold coin, in consideration of advancements before that time made by said Cole to said company, at Silver City, in United States currency, which amounted to that sum at the rate of about seventy-two cents in the dollar; and Cole afterwards, and before the nineteenth day of October, 1866, made further advancements to said company, in legal-tender notes, amounting to the sum of one thousand three hundred and eight dollars and ninety-five cents, at the rate aforesaid, for which said company agreed to pay Cole the said sum of one thousand
2. That on the third day of September, 1866, said company was indebted to said plaintiff on account in the sum of seventeen thousand dollars for advancements before that time made by him to said company on like terms and rates as those by said Cole, and then agreed to make further advancements to said company to the amount of about three thousand and three hundred dollars, for which he gave his due bill to said company, and then and there received from said company, through said Balcom, a promissory note of said company, dated third of September, 1866, for thirty thousand dollars, payable in legal-tender notes at New York, on demand, to said Hazard, with interest at the rate of two per cent, per month; that said Hazard after-wards paid to said company the amount of said due bill, making the total of his advancements to said company twenty thousand and three hundred dollars, which was the consideration for said note, and the difference was added in order to make up the difference between currency and gold coin at that time in New York city, it being understood between the parties, as in the case of said Cole, that such
8. That by agreement of the judgment creditors executions were stayed on said judgments for sixty days, by entry in the record, for the purpose of giving time to said company to pay up and resume their operations.
4. That said company failing to pay up and resume their operations, said Cole, on receiving notice of the intention of said company not to pay up and relieve their property and prosecute their business, on the ninth of March, 1867, caused executions to be issued on his said judgments to the sheriff of said county, who thereupon, on the fourteenth of March, 1867, sold the personal property of said company, so attached, as aforesaid, for a sum sufficient to satisfy the smaller of his said judgments and costs, and the further sum of two thousand one hundred and forty-two dollars and forty-seven cents, which was applied to the other and larger judgment, and on the sixth day of April, 1867, sold the mill premises and appurtenances of said company for the sum of eleven thousand four hundred and thirty-five dollars and fifty-four cents, in full satisfaction of the balance due on said larger judgment. That said Cole at said sales became the purchaser of said mill premises and most of said personal property. That said mill premises consisted of a small amount of land in the vicinity of Silver City, with the
5. That said Cole, on sale of said personal property, received possession of the personal property so bid in by him, hired a keeper to hold and take care of the same, and kept the possession of the same until he sold it to defendant Wilson in, December, 1867; and the sheriff, on the sale of the mill property on the sixth day of April, 1867, filed in the recorder’s office of said county a certificate of such sale, and delivered to said Cole a duplicate of the same.
6. That at the time of said sales, and for some time before and after, there was a great depression in the mining business and property in said county, as well as in other businesses, and a great scarcity of money, in consequence of which there was little or no demand for the kinds of property sold. No one , of the several mills in the county were running, and no mines were yielding returns. That said Cole was the highest and best bidder for the property purchased by him at said sales, and no bidder offered any higher or better price therefor; that the executions on his said judgments were in their terms in accordance with the judgments, and they were read to the bystanders on the commencement of said sales without further announcement of the terms of sale.
7. That the attorney of said Cole who acted in procuring his said judgments, had no special or other powers from said Cole than such as pertain to the ordinary functions
8. That there was no contract between tbe plantiff and tbe defendant Cole, to tbe effect that plaintiff should forebear suing said company in consideration that Cole should give him tbe first information of tbe dishonor of bis said draft for ten thousand dollars, and that Cole should give him such first information in consideration of such forbearance, and institute simultaneous action and obtain simultaneous attachments with said Hazard,' but at most only a promise by said Cole at the request of said Hazard, that he would inform him of the fact of such dishonor in case that it occurred; which promise said Cole fulfilled by giving such information to Hazard on the night of its receipt.
9. That on the seventh of December, 1867, Cole obtained a sheriff’s deed of said mill premises under said sale, and on the same day by deed conveyed the same to defendant "Wilson, and at the same time sold and delivered to. said 'Wilson the personal property so purchased by him, and said Wilson then and there entered into the possession of said property under said deed and sale, and still holds the same.
10. That at the time of his purchase from said Cole, defendant Wilson had no knowledge of any claim, demand, or alleged equity of said Hazard, except that he was a judgment creditor of said company, subsequent to said Cole.
As conclusions of law applicable to the facts aforesaid, the court found:
1. That plaintiff has established no equities that would entitle him to the relief sought, or to any relief which this court could give.
2. That the judgments of said Cole were valid subsisting judgments, and that the sales thereunder were valid; at the most, they were merely irregular, so far as the clause requiring the same to be paid and collected in gold coin, and which irregularity might have been corrected by application to the court in which said judgments were rendered, or in the appellate court.
3. That no application or showing having been made by any party in interest to the court in which said judgments
4. That there was no fraud in the judgments or sales thereunder, and this court does not find' grounds in the alleged inadequacy of price to disturb the sales.
5. It results that the defendants are entitled to judgment against the plaintiff for their costs, and it is so ordered.
As appears from the statement, the motion for a new trial is based upon two general grounds: 1. Insufficiency of the evidence to justify the decision of the court, and that such, decision is against the law. 2. Errors in law occurring at the trial and excepted to by the plaintiff. No exception was taken to the first, second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, or ninth finding of fact. The only exception to findings of fact which is shown in the statement, is to the fifth and tenth, but in an assignment of errors and exceptions, signed by plaintiff’s attorneys and filed as a paper in the case, after having been served upon defendant’s attorneys (which, however, has no certificate of the judge who tried the case attached to it showing its correctness), the tenth finding is excepted to as well as several exceptions for failure to find, etc.
Upon the argument, counsel on each side took an extensive range, pressing the consideration of their respective views touching each particular fact as found by the court; and while we do not desire that it shall be considered as a precedent in future cases, we propose to consider the case upon this basis, as argued, and it is sufficient to say of the several findings numbered respectively first, second, third,! fourth, sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth, that no testimony’ is reported in the statement from which this court is able* to determine either as to their propriety or impropriety, and we consider it well settled that in such case this court is bound to presume that the testimony was in every respect sufficient to support the findings. The testimony in reference to the fifth finding appears in the statement, and it is
Ezra Mills testified: “I was deputy sheriff in March, 1867. I made the sale of the personalty March 14, 1867. On the same day of sale I made a bill of sale to Cole, and put him in possession.”
Thomas Cole testified: “At the sale I received a bill of sale of the personalty bought by me, and the same time received possession of it. I moved over there, boarded and slept there, and kept personal supervision and possession of the property until I went below, when I hired and paid a man to take and hold possession of it for me until I came back. I kept possession of it from the time bought until I sold the property to ’Wilson.”
In addition to the above it also appears that Cole after-wards sold a large portion of the personalty and delivered it to Wilson.' The foregoing is extracted from a large mass of testimony directed to this point, and appears to fully support the finding of the court, unless the questions and considerations of law'urged by plaintiff’s counsel shall have the effect to render such proof of facts inapplicable to this case.
The testimony shows that the personalty was sold on the premises of the Lincoln mill company, against whom the execution ran, and that after the sale and purchase thereof by Cole, the property was left upon the same premises, and it is insisted that this being true, there was no such actual and continuous change of possession as is required by the fifteenth section of the “act concerning fraudulent conveyances,” which provides that “every sale made by a vendor of goods and chattels in his possession or under his control, and every assignment, unless the same be accompanied by an immediate delivery, and be followed by an actual and continued change of possession of the thing sold or assigned, shall be conclusive evidence of fraud as against the creditors of the vendor or the creditors of the person making such assignment, or subsequent purchaser in good faith.”
It is urged that while there can be no question as to the
j We are, however, fully satisfied that the 'real question to be determined in'the consideration of this and every similar case is, Who has the possession and control of the goods, he who purchased under the sale, or he who was the owner before such sale? If it be found that the goods are under the supervision and dominion of the party claiming to have made the sale, it (the sale) is absolutely void as to creditors, etc., though the goods have been moved a thousand miles. If, on the contrary, it is found that the goods
Again, in order to sustain the sale in view of the meaning and intent of the fifteenth section before referred to, it is neither important nor necessary that the goods should be or remain in the possession of the purchaser. It is only essential that they be not allowed to revert to or remain in possession of the vendor. In this case, the sale took place in Owyhee county. The goods wrere sold in and upon the premises of the Lincoln mill company, at or near Silver City. The sale took place on the fourteenth of March, 1867. In the complaint in this action, which v?as filed February 10, 1868, it is alleged, “ That for more than a year last past, said defendant, the Lincoln Silver Mining Company, has refused payment of its indebtedness, and has had no agent, employee, or representative in this territory,” etc. This allegation the plaintiff would not be permitted for any purpose to dispute, and when considered as true, renders it absolutely impossible that the goods sold at said sale could have i’everted to or remained in possession of the vendor, to wit, said company.
The tenth finding is excepted to, and the testimony reported at some length, but we are unable to discover a sin
Hazard and Wilson appear to bave been the only witnesses examined upon tbe questions involved in tliis exception, and did it appear that the testimony of these two stood one against the other, in their statements conflicting, the rule clearly is, that we should hold the finding supported. But upon examining the testimony, we find that Wilson swears positively that he had no notice except such as the record gave him, and Hazard says nothing about notice. Objection and exception is also made to the findings of the court in this, that the court omitted to find a fraud upon Hazard, for that Cole admitted to Hazard and others, that the time for redemption did not expire until the month of December, 1867. We are unable to see how such finding was material or in what manner it could have affected the ultimate conclusion. The testimony upon this point is meager and unsatisfactory. But if it be conceded that a finding upon the fact complained of would have been as claimed by counsel, there is no tenable ground for designating it a fraud. The time' at which the right to redeem expired was ascertainable in the office of the recorder of the county, and was equally within the reach and knowledge of both Cole and Hazard, and neither party had a right, or was in any manner justifiable in relying upon the recollection of the other.
Exception is also made, that the court omitted to find that the defendant Wilson entered upon the premises under a lease from the agent of the Lincoln silver mining company with the knowledge of Cole, and that he held the same under such lease until December, 1867, Cole consenting. There is no force in this objection. It can make no difference by what terms Wilson held the premises before purchasing, though it had been by brute force, the only ma-j terial question being, did he obtain the title by his pur-l chase ? This having been answered in the affirmative by I the court, such finding as is asked could not affect the case.
The statement shows only a single exception to have been
It seems to be conclusively settled, that a judgment can only be impeached in a court of equity for fraud in its concoction. It is also said, on the highest English authority, approved and adopted by Kent and Story, that there is no case in which equity has ever undertaken to question a judgment for irregularity. (2 Story Eq., sec. 1575, note 1; 8 Johns. Ch. 275; 4 Id. 85; 6 Id. 234; 20 Johns. 677; 7 Cal. 443; 34 Id. 301.)
The complaint in this case charges no fraud in obtaining the judgments sought to be set aside, except the general allegation that they were obtained in fraud of the plaintiff’s rights. It is urged that the judgments were void, in that they were rendered for gold coin. They were not void. The most that can be said of the judgments on this ground, in any event, is, that they were irregular, and might have been modified on motion in the same court, or on appear by the appellate court. (Betts v. Butler, ante, 185; 2 Nev. 100; 27 Cal. 100, 496.) While a sale under a void judgment passes no title, if the judgment is merely voidable for irregularity the sale is good. (8 Cal. 568.) A purchaser at sheriff’s sale under execution issued upon a judgment which is voidable only, acquires a good title. (1 Cow. 622.)
In view of tbe reasoning of tbe supreme court of California it may be said that if either defendants or creditors have tbe right to come into a court of equity and impeach and set aside judgments at law and sales thereunder, on tbe ground that tbe judgments and tbe process thereunder contained a clause for their collection in gold coin, the direct effect would be to unsettle titles to a large portion of property within this territory, and to ruin hundreds who have reposed confidence in judicial sales, and paid valuable considerations for titles thereunder.
Far better would it be upon reason, and we think it to be well settled upon authority on tbe doctrine of waiver and acquiescence, to bold that what has been done and long acquiesced in, until rights of third parties have grown up thereunder, should be presumed to have been rightly done. All mere irregularities may be waived; besides, in all these cases of judgments with specific clauses for gold, gold dust, or gold bars, when they have been satisfied by sale, and titles thereunder have accrued to third parties, the judgment upon the doctrine of waiver should in each case be considered the law of the case, and an attempt to impeach
Having said this much upon the theory that the judgments in this case sought to be set aside are irregular, because of the gold-coin clause contained, it may be well questioned if such clause be an irregularity.
In December, 1864, the legislature of this territory passed what is commonly known as the Specific Contract Act, which act was uniformly enforced until January, 1868, when its validity was questioned for the first time. And this court, as then constituted, held the said act void, as conflicting with the act of Congress, making the promise of the United States government a legal tender, etc., and while this court would not have been the first to disregard such decision, it is asserted that the supreme court of the United States, in a recent decision (which we have been unable to examine), have in substance and effect overruled it; but as this view of the case was not presented by counsel, said decision not having been issued at the time this case was argued, we are not satisfied to base our decision upon the point first made.
Some objection is made by plaintiff that there were two sales, and that the sheriff’s return is defective, etc. It is sufficient to say of this objection, that a purchaser under execution does not depend for his title upon the return of the sheriff. (12 Cal. 133; 4 Wend. 506; 1 Cow. 623; 8 Cal. 186; 4 Id. 47; 4 Wheat. 506.) In this latter case, it was held that it mattered not what return the marshal made, or whether he made any return at all.
It is insisted that inasmuch as the draft which was the foundation of the larger of Cole’s judgments against the Lincoln silver mining company was drawn by one agent or office of said company in this territory on another agent or office of the same company in Bhode Island, it was not in fact a bill of exchange and, as a consequence the addition of twenty-five per cent, to said judgment as damages under the act of this territory was fraudulent, and rendered the-
In addition, by express provision of the act of January 11, 1866, damages are allowed on “bills drawn or negotiated in this territory, on any person or company,” etc., which language, as we think, clearly imports that whatever the general rule may be, the legislature of this territory did not intend a restriction to bills drawn by one person or corporation, etc., here, on another person or corporation, etc., elsewhere. Nor do we, in any event, well see how such thing could be considered a fraud, such as to invalidate the judgment. If the question was raised, or in any manner became an issue on the trial, it must have been ruled upon in some way by the court, and so became a judicial determination of the matters involved, and if erroneous, should have been excepted to, and corrected in the appellate court.
Much stress is laid by counsel in the argument, and some testimony reported in the statement, on what is termed Hazard’s rigktto redeem the property sold under Cole’s judgments, he being a subsequent judgment creditor, and upon the further fact, as alleged, that two certificates of sale were filed with the recorder. We are ill prepared to admit that this question is in any wise entitled to our consideration, for the reason that the complaint is in no sense a bill to redeem, nor does the testimony show any offer to redeem within any known rule of law. We may, however, remark that the filing of the certificate of sale by the officer making the sale in the manner prescribed by statute was intended to impart, and did impart, to Hazard and to all the world, constructive notice of the estate acquired by the purchaser under it— notice not only of the fact of sale, but of the legal consequences. (31 Cal. 812, 813.)
The filing of the certificate imparts notice of certain facts, and the sequence of these facts is a question of law, and a mistake thereunder is at one’s peril. Hence any statement which may have been made by McQuade, Cole’s attorney of record, as to what Cole claimed, or what were his rights in the premises, can matter not. Hazard was bound, under
There is nothing shown in the statement whereby it can be seen that the court erred in excluding the amended judgment offered in evidence by plaintiff.
On motion for a new trial, or on appeal, every intendment is in favor of the judgment or ruling of a court of record. The party complaining must show error affirmatively. It does not appear from the statement what the judgment or the amendment was; nor in what court; nor against whom it was rendered; nor that it was in any wise material to any issue in this case; and as a consequence of this, it does not appear that any material right was affected by the ruling complained of. In such a case the exception must be disregarded as immaterial. No error being shown, the ruling excluding the proffered testimony is conclusively presumed to be correct. (10 Cal. 267.) Nor is it ground for anew trial that the findings were filed after the adjournment of the term. They were filed within ten days after the trial, which is all that is required by the statute.
In conclusion, we do not hesitate to say that the facts found by the court are fully supported by the evidence, and are ample as a predicate to support the judgment. The omissions to find we have shown to be immaterial, as affecting no substantial right. We are unable to see any basis upon which it might be supposed that a new trial would result in any manner different from the former trial, and where such is the case a new trial will not be granted. (1 Cal. 213; 6 Id. 26; 1 Id. 285.)
The motion for a new trial must be denied and the judgment of the court below affirmed, and it is so ordered.
In passing upon this motion, we have considered it generally, and in so doing have passed upon several questions which it is insisted by counsel for defendants were not properly before the court. Consequently we consider it advisable to suggest that the proper practice to be adopted in the future on motion for new trial and on appeal is to
Motion for a new trial denied. Judgment affirmed.
Concurrence Opinion
concurring:
The basis of thissuitis laid upon theground that the plaintiff, and defendant Cole, before the commencement of then-said actions entered into a mutual agreement whereby they were to commence simultaneous suits and make their liens mutual and share pro rata in proportion to their respective claims by reason of the issuing of their said attachments, i. e., that one should not be superior or stand preferred before the other. The court on the trial did not find the proof sufficient to support these allegations in the bill. No exceptions were taken, and counsel admit that they failed to show the several frauds in this regard.
The second and most potent ground which the counsel for plaintiff raise for setting aside the judgments of defendant Cole is, that said judgments were rendered for gold coin; that executions issued for gold coin only; that bids were not received in any other kind of money, and such proceedings were a fraud upon plaintiff’s rights and equity of redemption.
Since we have had this case under consideration, the supreme court of the United States have decided the question in favor of gold-coin judgments, and we are bound by that decision.
The third ground of complaint is, that Cole’s judgments were obtained upon domestic bills of exchange drawn by the Lincoln gold and silver mining company, in this territory, upon their house in the state of Bhode Island, and that twenty-five per cent, damages are taxed up in said judgments.
We do not think this point is well taken. The rule is well laid down in 1 Parsons on Notes and Bills, p. 632. He says: “It is not absolutely necessary that the drawer should be a different person from the drawee; for it is very common for a man to draw upon himself; and it has long
The fourth ground of complaint by plaintiff is, that the defendant Cole, not only taxed up the twenty-five per cent, damages, but he also charged the interest on said bills of exchange, and taxed the same in his judgments. This is undoubtedly true, and would on motion, at the proper time, have been corrected by the court, and modified or reduced the judgment about eighty dollars, or if the court had refused to modify the judgment in this particular, such refusal would be good ground for assignment of error on appeal. It was a mere irregularity, and can not be attacked for the first time by a bill in equity, either by the defendant in the case or by a judgment creditor. The bill must show some fraud in the concoction of the judgment. There is no fraud contended for on this point, and it is doubtful whether the district court would have the right to correct its own judgment in such cases after the adjournment of the term. It is not probable that this error was discovered by anybody until Hazard had made his ineffectual attempt to redeem the Lincoln mill property; for he had contracted to Cole’s judgments, and would not have considered any fatal error in the entry, or any conviction of fraud in a judgment that he desired to purchase.
The next or fifth ground of complaint in the order in which I am considering this question is to the fifth finding
The delivery or possession of the personal property purchased by Cole at the sales, or any fraud in that particular, are not complained of in the bill filed by the plaintiff. But inasmuch as the court found upon this question, upon proof submitted at the trial, and now'made a part of the statement, and in view of the able arguments of counsel and the importance the plaintiff attaches to this question, we have carefully considered the evidence submitted and do not find sufficient ground to overrule the opinion of the court as to this finding, or set aside the judgments on this ground. If there can be anything said in addition to what the chief justice has said in support of the possession claimed by Cole, it may be put upon the ground that Hazard was cognizant of, and consented to, Cole’s possession, and the manner that he took and held the property. Webb swears that he bought some articles of personal property at the sales of the fourteenth of March, 1867, but at request of Cole and Hazard he did not take them away, but left them there under an arrangement with Hazard and Cole, so that the property might be kept together. Three days prior to the fourteenth of March, Cole and Hazard entered into a mutual agreement in writing for Cole to proceed and sell the property on his executions. The substance of the agreement was that the property should not be sacrificed; that Cole should be the purchaser if necessary, and turn it over to Hazard, by Hazard’s paying Cole the amount of his judgments. The meaning of the contract was that Hazard, on paying Cole the amount due him with costs, he, Hazard, should be subrogated in law and equity to all the rights
It is true Cole was to sell the property according to law. Hazard, then, was interested in the title that Cole might obtain on his sales upon execution. Now, if Cole had committed a fraud or such a mistake in conducting the sales, then Hazard would have good ground to complain. He might seek his remedy in an action at law upon his contract, or if the property was still in the hands of Cole, he might ask to have the sales set aside. But, suppose that Hazard had been a party to the fraud. It could not be contended that he would be entitled to any relief. Hazard, although a witness on the stand, in his testimony now before us does not deny Webb’s testimony that he had agreed with Cole that the personal property should be kept together on the premises, nor does he testify but what Cole, either by himself or his agent, had continued control of the property.
I do not take it that either party committed any fraud, and of course Hazard could not have participated in any. But let us see what relation Hazard stood in, and how he treated these sales. Hazard was at the sales and saw how they were conducted. He was several times on the premises, and swears that he had meetings there with the defendant, Wilson, in regard to Wilson’s purchasing the property before he did make a purchase. He said, or must have known, that Cole had hauled the one or two hundred cords of wood from Long Gulch, and stacked it with the property or wood on the premises. He knew the character and dominion that Cole exercised over the property then, as well as he does now. He had, or at least he should have had, as much anxiety to make his money on his judgments as he has at any time since. If Cole did not have full and complete possession of the property and a valid title, why did Hazard stand by with his executions in his hand and refuse or neglect to levy ? The fact is, Hazard treated these sales as valid and sufficient. Can it be supposed that if Hazard had performed his contract with Cole for the purchase of the property which he was endeavoring and so
Tbe next and last ground of complaint is tbe two sales of tbe real property made by Cóle on bis executions. It is contended by tbe plaintiff that these sales were a fraud upon bis right of redemption. It appears that tbe first sale was made on tbe sixth of April, 1867. Tbe time for redemption on this sale would run out on tbe sixth of October, 1867. Tbe second sale was on tbe eighth of June, 1867. Tbe time for redemption would run out on tbe eighth of December, 1867. Tbe only return on these executions is made upon tbe last sale or alias execution.
“ Cole says that be relies upon tbe first sale; that tbe last sale was made by bis attorney, McQuade, in bis absence, without bis advice or authority.” “Hazard says that Cole told him tbe last of August or first of September that bis time for redemption would run out about tbe first day of December. I told him I thought I bad sixty days more in addition to redeem in. He seemed surprised, but seemed to be satisfied. I found by conversation with Judge Miller that I did not have tbe sixty days to redeem in. When I came back from San Francisco I went to tbe recorder’s office to see tbe exact time in which to redeem. I found two certificates of sales. McQuade, Cole’s attorney, came into tbe office, and I asked him if be bad collected any more money for me. He first refused to answer; then be said be bad not. I then said, here are two certificates of sales. He said, that makes no difference; you will find tbe return was made under tbe alias execution and your rights have been preserved. We claim under tbe last sale. Next morning I met him there again, and be said, we claim under both sales; if tbe first is not good, tbe last is. In consequence
Cole told me be did not expect I would. On tbe twenty-seventb day of November I tendered Cole nine thousand five hundred and eigbty-two dollars legal-tender notes in redemption of tbe Lincoln mill property. He said in reply to my tender that bis judgment was for gold coin, and that be would not take greenbacks; made no other objection to tbe tender. Martin Heman and E. H. Clinton, witnesses introduced by Hazard, testified in regard to tbe tender in substance tbe same as Hazard. Heman testifies that “ Cole said to him that be Avould not take greenbacks, but if Hazard bad tendered him coin, or greenbacks at coin rates, be would have taken it.”
Now, if there was any fraud in these sales, or in consequence of there being two sales, and that fraud operated upon tbe rights of Hazard, and defendant Wilson was cognizant of or a party to tbe fraud, bis purchase can not be protected, for tbe sales ought to be set aside. In tbe first place, can two sales be made of tbe same property for the same debt, without committing a fraud ? It sometimes •happens, though we trust not often, that tbe preliminary proceedings of a sale, such as giving tbe requisite time or tbe manner of writipg notices or posting tbe same, or tbe place and manner of conducting tbe sales, are wholly insufficient and not in accordance with tbe law, and tbe sale for that reason is invalid or void. Or suppose tbe legality of tbe sale may be doubtful, all of which is done without any fraud or intention of fraud, can tbe party proceed to make a second sale without applying to tbe court to set aside the first sale? Or suppose tbe second sale is made by mistake or without authority, does it vitiate tbe first sale so as to call for tbe aid of tbe court? If one of tbe sales were invalid and tbe other good, then tbe court could not aid tbe case, for tbe invalid sale would be no sale at all. But suppose that both sales were good so far as tbe proceedings can be determined; then tbe first sale would certainly be good, and tbe party might rely upon it even after tbe second sale bad been made, did it not actually mislead or work an injury
The ground raised by plaintiff’s counsel, that there being no return made by the sheriff on the first execution, and a return having been made on the second or alias execution, invalidates the sale under the first execution, is not well taken. My associate has shown in his opinion that a return may not be made at all, and still the sale may be good. The authorities are decisive on this point, and it must be so held when there is no fraud in the transaction.
We will now consider how Hazard treated these sales. It is not contended that there was fraud practiced in making the sales, or that there was anything wrong, except in the fact that there were two sales. Hazard says he should have performed his agreement with Cole if he had not discovered that two sales had been made. This can not be, for by his own testimony he swears that the first time he discovered that two sales had been made, “ was when he was in the recorder’s office about the last of August or first of September, 1867,” when the terms of his agreement with Cole show that he should have performed certain conditions therein by the first of July, 1867, two months prior to the time that he discovered the two sales.
Admitting the facts as Hazard states them, by his own observance of the record, that the time for redemption on the first sale ran out on the sixth day of October, 1867, and ■ the time for redemption on the second sale would be on the eighth of December, 1867, could he be deceived in regard to his rights? He complains that Cole told him his time for redemption would expire about the first of December. But he admits that he saw the record of the two sales, and
Now, did Hazard at that time suppose be would obtain a good title to tbe property by redeeming from Cole?. Did be suppose tbe sales were valid and bis title would be good against tbe Lincoln mill company and against other judgment creditors? Most certainly be did. No better evidence could be given of this fact than bis offer to pay over nine thousand dollars for tbe property and accept such a title as Cole bad acquired under bis execution sales.
It is true Cole sold tbe property to Wilson two or three days before tbe time for redemption would run out on tbe last sale. But of- that there can be no complaint, even if Cole bad claimed under tbe last sale, or if Hazard bad a right to redeem therefrom. He must make a good and sufficient offer to redeem, one which Wilson (or Cole for Wilson) would be bound to accept, and unless be did make such offer and tbe offer was refused, be was not defrauded or prejudiced by the sale.
From tbe whole history of this case we are led to believe that there was no intention to deceive, and that Hazard was not deceived in tbe manner or mode of making tbe sales,
However great may be tbe burden to tbe plaintiff, or however strong bis appeal for equitable interposition, be has not laid or relied upon any substantial ground for relief, and bis accumulation of seeming grievances is swept away tbe moment be fails to show that actual fraud has been committed.
Rehearing
On Petition eor a Beheading.
It is, perhaps, well settled that this court will not grant a rehearing in a case like the one at bar, unless it is probable that a different decision from tbe former would be made. It seems that in California, from whence tbe civil practice act and whole judicial system of this territory have been taken, and tbe decisions of whose courts are -generally relied on as good law, has adopted and declared tbe rule in that state to be, that a rehearing will not be granted with tbe same indulgence as formerly. (7 Cal. 330.) And while this court will at all times be willing to correct any errors it may commit, yet in tbe present case we will not disturb tbe action of the court as formerly constituted unless manifest error has been committed.
And in tbe consideration of this petition it of course becomes necessary to examine to some extent tbe merits of tbe case looking at tbe bill, the answer and tbe facts, taking, however, tbe facts as found by Judge Cummins. Tbe basis of tbe whole proceeding is a contract alleged by tbe plaintiff to have been made between himself and tbe defendant Cole; that they should simultaneously commence suits by attachment, against tbe Lincoln mining company, in tbe event that a certain warrant in Cole’s favor, drawn by an officer of the company upon tbe treasurer thereof, at Providence, Bbode Island, was protested for non-paym'ent, or any other drafts upon tbe treasurer of tbe company were dishonored; be, Cole, being agent of the express company, bad made such arrangements that be would have tbe first information of tbe dishonor of any drafts on tbe company. It seems,
The effect of the contract was this: the means of information possessed by Cole as express agent were to be used by Cole and the plaintiff to secure the amounts due them from the Lincoln company, by the attachment of its property, while the laborer and business man were “to be squeezed out,” as it were. Now, the court below finds that there was no such contract. The old equity maxim, “ that he who seeks equity must do equity,” as also that a man must come into a court of equity with clean hands, applied to the alleged contract in this case, would not entitle the plaintiff to the relief sought, had he succeeded in establishing the contract. It is true that the parties might lawfully make such a contract, but if, after it was made, one should disregard it and secure himself first, equity would not interfere, but leave the parties to their rights at law, for the parties would only be placed in the same condition in which they by their agreement sought to place the other creditors.
It is also well established, that when a party has once had a plain, adequate remedy at law, and by his own laches loses it, equity will not relieve him. A court of equity will not encourage negligence, but will insist that every man take advantage of his legal rights at the proper time. The plaiutiff herein had a plain simple remedy at law — the statute gave him the right to redeem. Had there been any question as to the amount to be paid, or the kind of money, the court would have saved his rights and determined the sum. But this is not a bill to redeem. The court below finds that the real estate in question sold for eleven thousand four hundred and thirty-five dollars and fifty-four cents. There is nothing to show that any such sum was tendered or offered, in accordance with the statute.
The j udgments of Cole were in no sense void, but merely irregular, and would have been corrected on motion in the
The rights of the plaintiff in this case are no greater than those of any judgment creditor. He bad the right to redeem. The law gave bim tbe right, and the court would have awarded it. In addition to the rights given him by law, Cole entered into a special contract with plaintiff, declaring the sum at which he might redeem, and plaintiff agreed to pay such sum. Looking at the whole case, we are of opinion that the conclusion of Judge Cummins, that there is no equity in the bill, was correct.
It is especially found by the court below that there was no fraud in the judgment or sale thereunder. We think that so far as the records in this case disclose the facts, Cole acted in entire good faith, his sole object being to secure his claim. The plaintiff, in addition to his statutory rights, had a written contract with Cole as to the sum to be paid and the time of payment. What act has Cole done that is inequitable? We have shown that equity ought not to enforce the contract claimed to have been made, and on which this bill is founded.-
We will not in detail examine the points made by the plaintiff in his petition for a rehearing, but briefly refer to some of them. As to the question of practice in filing the finding after the entry of judgment, in the case at bar the objection is merely technical; it has worked no injury to the plaintiff. Whether the check or warrant on the treasurer of the company was, within the meaning of the statute, a bill of exchange, we think is of no moment in this case. We might hold it not to be such, and yet it would make no difference in the determination of this case.
As to the opinions of the attorney of Cole and statements of Cole himself, as to which sale he claims under, it can be of no moment; there could be but one valid sale, and the plaintiff was bound to know the law in that regard. And, as we have before suggested, the rights of the plaintiff would have been saved and protected by the court, and an adjudication would have been made as to which sale was legal, and the sum required to redeem would have been declared.
We have carefully scrutinized this case, hoping to be able to afford the plaintiff some relief — indeed, we were anxious to do so; but from the whole case we are satisfied that there is no equity in the bill; hence the motion for a new trial was properly denied, and the petition for a rehearing will be overruled.
Rehearing denied.
On a Motion to Modify the Judgment oe the Supreme Court.
Lewis, J. This cause has been argued by counsel and submitted to the court on the motion of plaintiff to modify the order issued herein, of the eighteenth of May, 1869, and to order the clerk to transmit the papers on file to the court below.
This cause came on to be heard in the district court for Owyhee October 22, 1868, and was submitted to that court on motion for a new trial, and on motion of the district court the motion of the plaintiff for a new trial was adjourned into this court under the provisions of sec. 326 of the practice act.
On the twenty-first of January, 1869, this case came on to be heard in this court on the motion of plaintiff for a new trial. The said motion was argued at length and was submitted to and taken under advisement by this court February 3. On the fifteenth of May the opinion was announced and judgment entered herein denying the motion remanding the case. On the seventeenth of May the clerk was ordered to transmit the papers to the court below. On the eighteenth of May, on motion of counsel for defendant, the judgment of this court was modified so that this court not only denied the motion for anew trial, but also affirmed the judgment of
The above is the status of this case as we glean from the records herein.
The questions to be determined by this court, then, are:
1. Ought the said order be modified ?
2. Has this court the authority to modify the same ?
This court has no original jurisdiction in this case, and only acquired jurisdiction in pursuance of sec. 326 of the Practice Act.
That act, among other things, provides “ that all questions of law arising on motions for a new trial in the district court may be adjourned into the supreme court for decision, and the supreme court may give judgment or remand the case.”
We are of opinion that all cases that are brought into this court under the extraordinary provisions of this section, which serves to empower a district court to transfer parties litigant to this court without even saying “by your leave,” should be determined solely upon the questions adjourned here for decision.
The case at bar was submitted to the district court on the plaintiff’s motion for a new trial. The question then pending was: Shall a new trial be ordered or denied? That was the only question adjourned into this court for decision, and this court had no authority or jurisdiction to hear and determine any other question. The latter clause of section 326, “or may make any order according to the justice of the case,” in our opinion has no application to the case at bar. This court then having disposed of the only question before it, to wit, the motion for a new trial, could go no further, and we are satisfied that this court as formerly constituted were of that opinion, as evidenced by the order made herein of May 15; and the order of May 18, being made without authority, should be revoked.
This general rule rests, however, on the supposition that all the proceedings have been regular, that no fraud or imposition has been practiced upon the court or opposite party; for if such appears to have been the case, the appellate court will assert its jurisdiction, and recall the case. Against an order or judgment improvidently granted, upon a false suggestion or under a mistake of facts, the court will afford relief even after the adjournment of the term, and will, if necessary, recall a remittitur. (24 Cal. 52.)
A decree will be set aside for irregularity after the record has been remitted. (Wales v. Travis, 8 Johns. 566; Chamberlain v. Fitch, 2 Cow. 243.)
Under rule 18 of this court, the plaintiff in this case has to the close of this term to file a petition for a rehearing, and the remittitur herein could not properly issue until the close of the term, unless so ordered by the court. No such order was made by this court. The remittitur was issued on the eighteenth of May. The general order directing re-mittiturs to issue on payment of costs has not, then, been made; and even if it had been so made, the defendants have not brought themselves within the rule.
Believing, then, that the order of this court, affirming the judgment of the court below, was at least improvidently made, and that this court has the authority to correct the same, we have no hesitation in so doing. As to the latter part-of plaintiff’s motion, asking that the papers be sent down, we are clearly of opinion that the papers in this case properly belong to the district court of the third judicial district. They were brought here by that court for the purpose of determining the motion adjourned, and when that question was disposed of, the purpose for which they
We shall therefore order that the remittitur issued herein be recalled; that the order and judgment of this court of the eighteenth of May, 1869, affirming the judgment of the court below, be vacated and set aside; that the papers herein be transmitted to the court below, and that a remittitur issue in accordance with the order and judgment of this court of the fifteenth of May. ■
Noggle, C. J.: I concur.
