29 Iowa 65 | Iowa | 1870
It is then stated, that in May, 1865, the treasurer executed to the purchaser a deed, purporting to convey the undivided half of each of said quarter sections, which deed is void in this : ■ “ That it shows on its face that several distinct tracts or parcels of land were sold together for a gross sum, and the said deed purports to convey the said several distinct tracts or parcels for the gross sum of, etc., being the whole amount of tax, interest and costs then remaining due and unpaid on all of said several distinct tracts or legal subdivisions of land together.” By the deed, a copy of which is attached tó and made a part of the petition, it is made to appear that the treasurer did sell about six hundred acres of land located in different sections and townships, for, etc., “ being the whole amount of taxes, interest and costs then due and remaining Unpaid on said property.”
This judgment must of course be affirmed, so far as it directs the tax deed to be set aside. It was clearly irregularly and improperly issued, is void, is a cloud upon plaintiff’s title, and should be so declared. This conclusion we rest upon the authority of Boardman v. Bourne, 20 Iowa, 134, and the many cases following, which hold that a tax deed is void which shows upon its face that several tracts of land were sold togther for a gross sum — this being a clear violation of the statute. See Ackley v. Sexton, 24 id. 320; Ferguson v. Heath, 21 id. 438, and cases there cited.
The pleader in the case before us fails to state whether the owner of this land was “known” or “unknown.” Nor is it stated that these quarter sections were assessed or advertised in forty or eighty acre tracts ; nor that they were thus subdivided. In fact, so far as appears from the petition, the land was sold in a body, just as it was subdivided in the assessment, and not otherwise.
The attempt to connect with this part of the petition-what is said in a subsequent clause, in relation to the tax deed, is equally without warrant. The- averments there made are for the purpose of showing that the deed is void, and this, not because these tracts were sold together, but because they, with more than four hundred other acres, were sold in “a lump,” or in gross. It is not alleged that the sale was made as in said deed recited. The conveyance itself might be void upon.its face, because of these
To this extent, therefore, the demurrer was improperly overruled. It by no means follows, however, that defendants are entitled, as counsel claim, to final judgment in this court. Plaintiffs have the right to amend, if they so desire. It is defendants, not plaintiffs, who stand by their demurrer. If this had been sustained, plaintiffs could have amended in the court below, and this they may still do. If it had been sustained and plaintiffs had refused to amend, an affirmance of that order here might have justified the order which defendants now ask. Not so, however, under the circumstances of this case.
The practice upon this subject was indicated as long ago as 1855. Pierson v. David, 1 Iowa, 35. And from it there has been no departure. The case of Cowles v. Gray, 14 id. 1, cited by appellants, is far from favoring their position.
Reversed, and remanded with leave to plead anew, if the parties shall be so advised.
Reversed.