85 Kan. 401 | Kan. | 1911
The opinion of the court was delivered by
This was an action by F. G. Jones to recover a lot in the city of Liberal, Kan., the possession of which, it was alleged, was wrongfully held by William Lampe. Lampe in his answer alleged that he was in possession of the lot and that he had acquired title to the same through a transfer from Vessels, to whom a tax deed had been issued. The tax deed was issued and recorded in January, 1897, and it is alleged that it is fair on its face, and having been of record more than five years it is protected by the five-year
Appellant complains of the holding that appellee was entitled to the land by virtue of his adverse possession, and appellee insists that there was error in the holding that the tax deed was void on its face. It appears that the only defect in the instrument is the absence of a formal recital that a tax-sale certificate was assigned by the county clerk to the purchaser. It recites that the property was bid in by the treasurer for the county, that Mary Vessels paid into the county treasury an amount equal to the cost of redemption, and that she paid the taxes for the subsequent years. The case falls within the rule of Neiswanger v. Ord, 81 Kan. 63, where it was decided that a tax deed is not rendered void by the omission of the recital that the tax-sale certificate was assigned to the- purchaser. The trial court did not have the benefit of that decision, as it was not made until after the trial in this case. This determination disposes of the case if the necessary steps to secure a review of the ruling have been taken by the appellee. A formal cross-appeal is no longer essential to a review of a ruling adverse to the appellee. In section 578 of the code of 1909 it is provided:
“It shall not be necessary for the appellee, in order to have a review of rulings and decisions of which he complains, to give notice by way of cross-appeal, but if at any time before the case is assigned for hearing in the appellate court he serves upon the appellant a notice stating in what respect he asks a consideration and review of any part of the judgment, or of any order of the trial court, the same shall be had. Such notice, with proof of service, shall be filed with the clerk of the appellate court.”
“Any notice of appeal may be amended at any time,, by bringing in additional parties or otherwise, before-the hearing, as to the appellate court may seem fit, and in case such court shall deem it necessary that it have-papers or entries that have not been transmitted to it, it may require their immediate certification and transmission.”
Delay in service of notice might require a postponement of the hearing so as to give appellant more time to answer the contentions of appellee, but it would not; deprive the court of the power to review.
The tax deed being valid, the appellee was entitled' to recover, regardless of whether he had held adverse possession of the lot the requisite time to give him title. There appears to be testimony to support the ruling of the court on that question, but in view of our determination that the deed was valid it is unnecessary to-
• The judgment is affirmed.