20 W. Va. 62 | W. Va. | 1882
announced the opinion of the Court:
There not appearing to have been a replication filed to the answer of the defendant, and the cause not appearing to have been heard upon any replication to the answer, the answer will be assumed to be true in this opinion, so far as it is responsive to the allegations of the bill.
The question presented for decision in this case has never been decided by this Court, so far as I am aware; and is not without difficulty and complication. This question involves the interpretation and construction of the 3d section of the 65th chapter of the Code of this State in relation to dower. To arrive satisfactorily at what is the true legislative intent and meaning by the enactment of that section, it is necessary to recurto prior legislation upon the subject and the reasons therefor, so far as we can learn them. In the case of Wilson et als. v. Davisson, 2 Bob. Va. 384, the first part of the syllabus is as follows: “The vendor of land conveys the same to the vendee in fee simple, and receives part of the purchase money, but no security for the residue. On a bill in equity against the vendee to enforce the implied equitable lien of the vendor a decree is made for the sale of the land, and the proceeds are more than sufficient to satisfy what remains due to the vendor. The surplus is claimed by creditors of the vendee who have obtained judgments against him, and taken him in execution, from which he escaped. With the ven-dee’s assent, a decree is made in favor of those creditors for the surplus. Afterwards, the vendee dying, a bill is filed by his widow against those in possession of the land, to-wit, one to whom the purchaser at the sale under the decree had aliened the whole, and two others to whom that one had aliened a part claiming to be endowed. Held by two judges (Stanard and Baldwin), that the land in the hands of the purchasers is not chargeable by the widow, and that her bill
That cause was decided in August, 1843, and if the principle held by the majority of the judges, who sat in the case, were followed in the case at bar, there would be no difficulty in affirming the decree of the court below. But by an act of the Legislature of Virginia of the 20th of February, 1846, certain distinguished lawyers of that, state were appointed to revise the civil Code, &c.; and the revisers in their report to the General Assembly of Virginia of a Code reported section 3 of chapter 110 as follows : “Where land is bona fide, sold in the lifetime of the husband, to satisfy a lien or incum-brance thereon, created by deed, in which the wife has united, or created before the marriage, or otherwise paramount to the wife, she shall have no right to be endowed in the said land, or any of its proceeds, notwithstanding a surplus of such proceeds may remain after satisfying the said lien or incumbrance.” The revisers in a note to said third section and in explanation thereof say: “In Wilson v. Davisson, 2 Rob. 398, the court of appeals were of opinion, that in equity the vendor’s lien for unpaid purchase-money was paramount to the wife’s right of dower, although the husband had the legal seizin. But although the land was sold under the decree of a court of equity to satisfy the vendor’s lien, and the surplus of the proceeds of sale applied towards judgments against the husband, all which occurred in the husband’s lifetime, it was still seriously insisted, that the widow had a right to charge the lands in the hands of ■the purchaser to the extent of one-third of such surplus. The court below so decided; and the decree was reversed in the court of appeals only by a divided court, two judges against one. The question being thus left in doubt, we propose to settle it hereafter by this section, so as to conform to the opinion of the two judges, who composed the majority.”
The Legislature, however, did not adopt said third section, as reported by the revisers, hut amended it materially,
In the case of Robinson v. Shacklett, 29 Gratt. 99, Judge Staples in delivering the opinion of the court at. page 107 in speaking of the said 3d section of chapter 110 says: “ It seems, that this section was reported by the revisers without the last clause so as to conform the law to the opinion of the majority of the judges in Wilson v. Davisson. The Legislature added the last clause, which conforms to the opinion of Judge Allen, who dissented in that case.”
It will be observed by comparing section 3 of chapter 110, as adopted by the Legislature in the Code of 1849, with section 3 of chapter 110, as reported by the revisers, that the Legislature struck from the revisers’ report these words, “ or any of its proceeds, notwithstanding a surplus of such proceeds may remain after satisfying the said lien or incumbrance,” and added the concluding clause to said section 3 as contained in the said Code of1849, which I have given in quoting the section in full.
In the case of Wilson, &c., v. Davisson, 2 Rob. 384, as appeal’s by the statement of the case in the report, the circuit court hold, that the complainant was entitled to charge the property with her dower interest either by way of a yearly charge thereon of said sum of nine dollars and two cents
At pp. 397, 398 Judge Allen says: “The principles involved deeply affect the rights of many and are of great practical importance in the administration of justice. Marriage settlements are comparatively rare in this State. The wife usually depends upon the provision made for her in the will of her husband or the interest secured to her in his estate by the law. Tier right to dower, frequently the only resource left for her own support and the sustenance of her children, is a humane provision of the common law, and has always
Again at pages 401, 402, the judge says: “If then the wife’s title to dower was a vested interest, which attached during coverture, her legal title to dower in the whole subject could not be controverted at law; and in equity, as it seems to me, it can only be treated as subordinate to the implied lien of the vendor to the extent of that lien, and no further. She was no party to the suit, by which the legal estate passed out of her husband. A court of equity could only treat her husband as a trustee for the vendor to the extent of his lien. Hpon the surplus she has a legal claim, and she has done no act to divest her estate. The party purchasing
From this it is manifest, that in the said case of Wilson et al. v. Davisson, Judge Allen’s opinion was, that the widow in that case was entitled to dower in the surplus, which remained after satisfying the vendor’s lien and the costs, and that it constituted a charge upon the land in the hands of the purchaser and those claiming under him. In fact he so expressly and unmistakably expresses himself; and the syllabus of the case in substance so represents him. From the note of the revisers to section 3 to said chapter 110 of the Code of 1849 it is clear and in fact is generally conceded, that it was the decision of the majority of the court in the last named case, that led to the adoption of said section 3 in said Code, and that the Legislature in the adoption of that section ignored the decision of Judges Baldwin and Stanard in that case and adopted the conclusion of Judge Allen, as stated in his opinion and substantially stated in the syllabus as above recited; and this too, notwithstanding the revisers reported to the Legislature the law as held by Judges Bald
The said third section of said chapter 110 of the Code of Va. of 1849, continued in force in this State after its formation without amendment, until the Code of this State of 1868 took effect, which was on the first clay of April, 1869. Our Code of 1868 treats of dower, jointure, and courtesy in chapter 65 thereof; and section 3 of that chapter is as follows :• “Where land is bona fide sold in the lifetime of a husband to satisfy a lien or incumbrance thereon created by deed, in which the wife has united, or for the purchase-money thereof, whether she has united therein or not, or created before the
Sections 10, 11 and 12 of said chapter 65 are as follows:
“10. A widow having a right of dower in any real estate may recover the said dower, and damages for its being withheld, by such remedy at law as would lie on behalf of a tenant for life having aright of entry, or by bill inequity where the case is such that a bill would now lie for such dower.
“11. In every such case a recovery of dower in such real estate in kind shall be of a third of the estate as it is when the recovery is had. Against the heirs or devisees of the husband, or their assigns, the damages shall be for such time after the husband’s death as they have withheld the dower, not exceeding five years before the suit is commenced. Against one claiming under an alienation by the husband, or under a sale made by the judgment or decree of a court in his lifetime, the damages shall be from the commencement of the suit against such claimant. In either case they shall be to the time of the recovery. And if after suit brought, the widow or the tenant die before such recovery of damages, the same may be recovered by her personal representative or against his.
“12. The two preceding sections are subject to this qualification, that any person claiming under an alienation made by the husband or under a sale made in pursuance of the judgment or decree of a court, in his lifetime, may pay to the widow, during her life, lawful interest from the time the demand is made \ipon him by the widow or her agent, for her dower in the lands, on one-third the value thereof at the time of such alienation or sale, or he may pay her a gross sum in lieu thereof, to be computed upon the principle hereinafter provided; and in either case the payment so made shall be a full discharge and satisfaction of the claim of the widow for dower in the real estate so alienated or sold.”
The only changes made in the said third section of chapter
The party purchasing from the husband, whether directly, or indirectly through the intervention of a court of equity or at a judicial sale is bound to take notice of the contingent dower interest of the wife. The decree of sale of the eoxirt in the said case of Maxwell & Isham v. William W. Holden and Hoskinson did not direct the sale of the land out and out including Mrs. Holden’s contingent dower interest — Mrs. TIolden, the plaintiff in this ease, was not a party to the suit, a fact which the purchaser ought to have known, when he purchased the land at the sale by Commissioner Basse! The plaintiff in this case not being a party to the suit, in which the land was sold, the circuit court could not have decreed the land to be sold out and out, including the plaintiff’s said contingent dower interest so as to affect or bind her, and
Entertaining these views I do not think it is necessary to make the wife a jjarty to a suit in equity brought to enforce the payment of an ordinary purchase-money lien-debt against the husband in his lifetime and the land purchased by him. If in such case the land decreed to be sold is sold and the sale is confirmed the purchaser only gets the husband’s right and title to the land, subject to the contingent dower interest of the wife in the surplus purrehase-money, which may remain after paying the purchase-money, for which the land is sold and the costs, which contingent dower-interest in such surplus, if it becomes consummated by the death or
At pages 105 and 106 Judge Lee who delivered the opinion of the court in that ease, says: “The remaining point relates to the contingent dower interest of the wife of the appellant Iaege in the property. It is said that this was not affected by the.mechanics lien, and that the court therefore should not have sold the entire estate, but only the interest of Iaege. That the mechanics lien does not override the dower interest of the wife is very clear, and if any authority to the point were needed, it would be found in Shaeffer v. Weed, 3 Gilm. 511. But Mrs. Iaege had united with her husband in the deed of trust for the benefit of the building company, and if a sale takes place it must be to raise the amount due the company as well as that due to the appellee. It would be proper therefore that the property should be sold out and out, but as the wife has a contingent dower, interest in the equity of redemption and being a party to the cause, is bound by the decree, the court should make a proper provision to compensate that interest out of the surplus proceeds of sale, if any, after satisfying the amounts due
In this case the proper interpretation and construction of the said third section of chapter 110 of the Code of Virginia does not appear to have been much discussed and considered either by the counsel or the very eminent and able judge, who delivered tire opinion of the court. The counsel for the appellants in their sixth objection to the decree of the court below simply say: “The sale of the property is decreed, without any provision for the widow’s right of dower in the equity of redemption after satisfying the lien of the building fund company, in which she joined. That equity of redemption includes the buildings upon the lot;” and he cites Shaeffer v. Weed, 3 Gilm. R. 511; English v. Foote, 8 Smedes & Marsh, R. 444; Selph v. Howland, 23 Miss. R. 264; Kirby v. Tead, 13 Metc. R. 149; none of which relate to the proposition; they are all about mechanics liens. The counsel for the appellee in the sixth point in his brief in reply to the appellant’s sixth objection to the decree says: “The deed to secure the building fund company, conveyed the dower interest or Mrs. Iaege; and the whole property was therefore properly decreed to be sold. She had but a contingent interest in the equity of redemption and was entitled to have her interest secured out of the balance of the purchase-money; and she is a party to the suit; that could have been and can yet be done.”
Thus the counsel for the appellants simply asserted in effect, that the decree is erroneous, because the sale of the land was decreed without any provision for the widow’s right of dower in the equity of redemption after satisfying the lien of the building company, in which she joined; and the counsel for the appellee admitted, that she had but a contingent interest, and was only entitled to have her interest secured out of the balance of the purchase-money; and that she being a party to the suit, that could have been and can yet be done. There seems to have been no discussion whatever as to the proper interpretation of said third section between the counsel. The counsel on the one side asserted and-the counsel on the other assented. Heither of the counsel mention said third section. Judge Lee does not mention
It is true, that the seventh section of chapter 1-21 of the Code of Virginia of 1849 in substance provides, that when a deed of conveyance of lands has been execcuted by a married woman and her privy examination, acknowledgement and declaration have been, taken, &c., and the deed has been admitted to record, &c., &e., such wxiting shall .operate to convey from the wife her right of dower in the real estate embraced therein, &c. See also Code. of 1868 of this State chapter 78, p. 471. It is also true, that the first clause of the said third section declares, that, where land is bona fide sold in the lifetime of the husband to satisfy a lien or incumbrance thereon created by deed, in which the wife has united,_ or cr.eated before the marriage, or otherwise paramount to. th.e wife, she shall have no right to be endowed in the said land; still, the last clause- of said third section, in effect provides, that if a surplus of proceeds remain after satisfying the. said lien or incumbrance, she shall be entitled to dower in said surplus, -that- is to say, of an amount to the extent of one-third of said surplus, and not in a third of the surplus purchase-money itself; and a court of equity having jurisdiction of the ease may make such order, as may seem to it proper to secure her right — -what case is here meant ? It seems to me that it means a case pending after the wife’s contingent dower-interest has become consummate, in which her right to dower is asserted or claimed or the like, as in the case of Wilson et al. v. Davisson, 2 Rob. 384, and not a case pending during the life- of her husband for the sale of the land,
*. • Suppose in the said case in 15. Gratt, supra, the land had been sold without suit by the trustee in' the deed of trust, in which the wife had united, and it had sold at the trust-sale for a surplus over and above the trust-debt, interest and expenses .of sale, and such surplus had been paid upon the mechanic’s lien-debt in that suit by the purchaser, or in the absence of such mechanic’s lien-debt the surplus had been paid to the husband, which would have been proper according to the opinion of Judge Allen in said case in 2 Rob. at page 399 and also the opinion of Judge Baldwin in that case, and the wife in that event would have had no right of dower in the land or the surplus proceeds prior to the adoption of said third section, the land being converted into personalty by the sale under the deed of trust, how would the wife ' in that case have obtained her dower in the surplus purchase-money ? and how could the court have secured her right of dower in such surplus except by charging it on'the lands in the hands of the purchaser or those claiming under him by proper order, in a suit by the widow for dower under said third section against the purchaser or those claiming under him ? When in such cases the legislature has declared, as in the last clause of said third section, that she stall be entitled to dower in the surplus proceeds of sale, &c., and that a court of equity having jurisdiction of the case may make such order, as may seem to it proper to secure her right, it is but fair to conclude, that the Legislature intended, that the dower so given should not only be conceded but be made secure to her by such orders of the court, as might be right and proper to secure the right and make it available; and I know of no practical or proper way to accomplish that end in the case of a deed of trust, in which the wife has 'united, and a sale has taken place during the life of the husband, or in any case covered by said- third section, than to charge the dower of the surplus by order of the court of
The law iii these cases j>rovides for and secures the wife in her dower, should she survive her husband, against the purchaser and those claiming under him. In these cases it is under the law admittedly a charge on the land; and I see no reason why it should not be so held in the cases embraced by said third section. In the last named cases the purchaser can, if he chooses,- ascertain the amount of the lien or liens, which are paramount to the wife, and hid and purchase accordingly with reference to and subject to the wife’s contingent dower interest, as he bids and purchases subject to -such dower interest in the other cases.
In the case of Wilson et. als. v. Davisson, 2 Rob. 384 we have seen, what was Judge Allen’s conclusion in his opinion; and if the Legislature by adopting the last clause of said third section intended to adopt as the law the conclusion of Judge Allen In that ease, which seems to be generally admitted, and all similar cases subsequent to its adoption by charging the dower of the wife, in case she survived her husband, upon the land in the hands of the purchaser and all persons claiming under him, which, as before stated, it seems to me, it did, then I can see no reason, why the same interpretation
In the case of Iaege &c., v. Bossieux, 15 Gratt., Judge’Lee says, as we have seen, “that the court should- make a--proper provision to compensate the contingent dower-interest of the wife who was a party, out of the-surplus proceeds of sale,” if any-; but he does not indicate, how and by what rule that compensation could or should be made. In the decree entered by the court in that case atp. 107 the court declares, that it is “of opinion, that it was proper the said property should have been decreed to be sold out and out, but that inasmuch as the wife of the said Iaege is entitled to a dower-interest in the equity of redemption after satisfying the purposes of the deed of trust, and as she is a party to the cause, .the, court should make suitable provision for the preservation of such dower-interest out of the surplus proceeds of sale after satisfying the demands of the building fund company, before any part thereof should be paid over to the appellee:” By what means could provision be made by the court for the preservation of the dower-interest ? How could it be done except by the Court seizing upon a third of each surplus and .withholding it from the husband or his creditor? Bpon this point Judge Baldwin in his opinion in the case of Wilson et. al. v. Davisson, 2 Rob. at page 411 thus forcibly expresses himself:
“Bpon the supposition of an inchoate, and contingent*86 interest of the wife in the surplus proceeds, requiring the protection of the court by what means was such protection to be afforded? I can conceive of none other than a sequestration of the surplus, or a sufficient portion thereof, during the coverture, to await the title of the wife, if a title on her part should ever accrue. The coverture might continue for a half century. . In the meantime the fund would be locked up, to the prejudice of the. husband’s interest and of the wife’s too as connected with his. And when the coverture is determined, if by the death of the wife, the precaution will have been merely mischievious, and if by the death of the husband, the value of the wife’s interest, to be ascertained in reference to that period may not exceed a single dollar. It seems to me an anomalous idea to set apart and withhold from the husband a portion of his estate, for the dower or the wife, if she should ever become entitled to it.”
These views, I think, clearly show, that to attempt to provide for and protect the dower interest of the wife during the life of her husband is impracticable and against public policy and was not contemplated by the Legislature. So far as I know, no case has occurred in practice in tiffs State or in Virginia, where the wife has been a party to a suit against the husband to enforce against his land a purchase-money lien thereon. These views of Judge Baldwin, I think, are substantially correct; and the case should have been dismissed as to the wife of Iaege in my opinion. It is true, as we have seen, that Judge Allen in his opinion in said case in 2 Rob. 384 says, that the purchaser becomes a party to the cause and may protect himself, &c.; but this is evidently thrown into his opinion argumentatively and not as an ascertained settled principle of law. The judge evidently thought, that the wife was not a necessary party to the suit to sell the land, and that it was not necessary, that she should be a party to such suit for the protection of her contingent dower interest in the land. Judge Allen does not in his opinion take issue with Judge Baldwin as to his views, which I have just quoted, nor does he in fact in any way controvert them; for he nowhere intimates, that in such a case is the wire a necessary or indispensable party.
Suppose in the said case in 15 Gratt., that the wife, who
In the case of Robinson v. Shacklet, 29 Gratt. 107, Judge Staples in delivering the opinion of the court at pp. 107-8, in speaking of the said third section says: “The object of the statute seems to be to provide for a case in which the land is sold in the lifetime of the husband when the wife has a mere .contingent right of dower. Whether the wife ought not to b.e a party to the suit brought to-enforce the lien or incumbrance, and if so whether she is concluded by the decree; whether the courtis bound to make an order at all events for the protection of her rights, or whether it has a discretion on the subject; and whether, if the court fails to make such order and directs the surplus to be paid to the husband .'or distributed among his creditors, the wife has after the death of the husband any remedy, and if so, what it is, are difficult questions which do not arise in the present aspect of the case, and ought not now to be passed upon. One thing would seem, however, to be very clear, that the land is not liable in the hands of the purchaser, nor is he bound to see to the áp-plication of the purchase-money, or that an order is entered for the protection of the rights of the wife.” And the judge
•The.principles decided in the cases,, to which Judge Staples refers, are perhaps correct;.but-in tire case of Daniel & als. v. Leitch referred to by him in 13 Gratt. Judge Moncure, who delivered the opinion of the court, at-p. 210 says : “It is the business of a purchaser at a judicial- sale to see, that all .the person's; who are necessary to convey the title, are before .the coúrt$ and that the sale .is made, according to the decree.” As we have seen'Rorer on Judicial Sales says in section 476.: “The rule caveat-emptor applies in all its rigor to judicial sales,” and in section 477 he says, “He (the purchaser) buys at his own risk both as to title and as to quality. . The rule does not apply however in case there be fraud, &c.” Ho reference whatever, is made in this case .by Judge Staples to said case in 15 Gratt. -I cannot agree with Judge Staples altogether in his Hews as above expressed, especially in the latter part-thereof;' and with due deference I am of opinion, .that the authorities cited by him do not apply .properly to such a ease. The views of Judge Staples'establishes the fact, .that-as late as September, 1877; he did not consider the subject, which I have considered, under said third section by any means-settled.
In the ease of Wilson et al. v Davisson 2 Rob. 384, it was held by the court, that the principles laid down in Herbert, et als. v. Wren et als. 7 Cranch 380, that when land, in .which there’was a right of dower, is. sold in. a suit, to .which the tenant in dower is a party, the-other parties interested “have a right to insist, that instead of a sum in gross one-third of the purchase-money shall be set apart, and the interest thereof paid annually, to -the tenant in dower during her life.” In this Judge Allen concurred.- See his opinion at pp. 402r3. There does not appear-to have-been any extraordinary costs put-upon the case of Maxwell & Isham v. Holden et al., in which the land in question was sold, and the vendor united in''the prayer of the plaintiffs for the sale of the land to pay his'purchase-money lien-debt.
■I am therefore of opinion, that the plaintiff in the case at bar is entitled to be endowed to the extent and in the amount of one-third of the surplus proceeds of the sale of the land in
For the foregoing reasons I am of opinion, that the decree of the circuit court of the county of Harrison rendered in this cause on the 11th day of May, 1881, is erroneous and must be reversed, and that the appellee pay to the appellant her costs about the prosecution of her appeal in this Court expended. And this cause must be remanded to the circuit court of the said county of Harrison for further proceedings therein to be had according to the principles settled in this opinion and further according to the rules and principles governing courts of equity.
DECREE Beversed. Cause BeMANDED.