46 Wash. 137 | Wash. | 1907
The plaintiffs brought this action, alleging that they are the owners in fee of certain described real estate in King county, and that the defendants without right claim to be the owners of the property. The prayer is for a decree quieting title in the plaintiffs. The defendants Carroll and wife answered, disclaiming any interest in or to
There appears to be no substantial dispute upon the facts in the case. The respondent traces her title by mesne conveyances from the United States, under a patent issued January 9, 1882. The appellants trace their title by mesne conveyance, under tax deeds issued on May 19, 1894, by the treasurer of the city of Seattle, for taxes assessed and levied by the city for the year 1891. Appellants also claim ownership under the provisions of Bal. Code, § 5504 (P. C. § 1161), as follows:
“Every person having color of title made in good faith to vacant and unoccupied land, who shall pay all taxes legally assessed thereon for seven successive years, he or she shall be deemed and adjudged the legal owner of said vacant and unoccupied land to the extent and according to the purport of his or her paper title. All'persons holding under such taxpayer, by purchase, devise or descent, before said seven years shall have expired, and who shall continue to pay the taxes as aforesaid, so as to complete the payment of said taxes for the term aforesaid, shall be entitled to the benefit of this section : Provided, however, If any person having a better paper title to said vacant and unoccupied land shall, during the said term of seven years, pay the taxes as assessed on said land for any one or more years of said term of seven years, then and in that case such taxpayer, his heirs or assigns, shall not be entitled to the benefit of this section.”
It is admitted by the pleadings that the lands in question are vacant and unoccupied lots. We shall consider these two
Appellants next contend that, even if the tax deed is void, still it is sufficient with the payment of taxes for seven years to vest the legal title in them under the provisions of § 5504 above quoted. The facts in regard to the payment of. taxes
We find no error in the record, and the judgment is therefore affirmed.
Hadley, C. J., Root, Crow, Fullerton, Dunbar, and Rudkin, JJ., concur.