Muller v. Naumann

.Partition—action in ejectment against the purchaser, thereat—the judgment rolls in actions unsuccessfully brought to set aside the judgment in partition are not competent—jurisdictional defects—notice to the purchaser that the title was defective—parties receiving portions of the purchase price estopped. "Where persons, to whom a parcel of real «property passed by virtue of a will, after the premises have been sold in a partition suit, to which they had all been made parties, bring an action in ejectment to recover possession of the premises from a person who had purchased them at the partition sale, such purchaser is not entitled to introduce in evidence the judgment rolls in actions which some of the plaintiffs.had brought to set aside the judgment in the partition suit and which had resulted in the dismissal, of their respective complaints, where it appears that, although such actions contained allegations that the judgment in the partition suit was obtained without jurisdiction and was void, the real issue tendered, litigated and decided therein was as to-whether such judgment had been obtained by fraud. In the ejectment action the validity of the judgment rendered in the partition suit may not be attacked because of mere irregularities in the proceeding, but. may be attacked for jurisdictional defects. The fact that after the sale in the partition suit additional findings of fact and law were made and the decree amended in accordance therewith, and that the-plaintiff in the partition suit, who brought it in his individual capacity and as guardian of his three infant children, neglected to obtain the right to sue on the infants’ behalf and to give the security required by the statute, constitute jurisdictional defects. Evidence that, prior to the time when the purchaser took title to the premises, he was notified that he had better not buy the property as the title was defective, and that he replied that he had a good bargain and was going to keep it, is. admissible in the ejectment action as it has a direct bearing upon the question whether the purchaser purchased in good faith and without notice. The adult parties to the partition suit, who received portions of the proceeds-of the partition sale and appropriated them to their own use, are estopped frem prosecuting the action of ejectment. . Semble, that the payment to the general guardian of the infant parties to the partition suit of the latter’s share of the moneys realized on the sale would, operate as an estoppel upon the infants.

Motion by the defendants, Henry Haumann and others, for a new trial upon a case containing exceptions, ordered to be heard at the General Term, in the first instance, upon the verdict of a ¡jury,, rendered by direction of the court after a trial at the New York Circuit Court. . The action is brought in ejectment to recover the possession of property and damages for its alleged unlawful retention by the defendant Haumann since 1876, the plaintiffs claiming title thereto by virtue of the will- of Adam Muller, who died February 6, 1873. The testator left him surviving his widow, Matilda Muller, who-died August 20,1874, and four children, a daughter Bertha who on July 31, 1873, had married Thomas H. Young-; a daughter Marie who was also married at the testator’s death to Charles Struppmann and had three children, Augusta Struppmann, Matilda Struppmann. and Charles Struppmann, Jr.; a daughter Augusta Muller, a minor .thirteen years of age, and a son Louis C. Muller eight years of age. For these minor children, Augusta Muller and Louis C. Muller, J. C. J, Langbein was subsequently appointed guardian. On February 7,1874, Bertha Young died intestate, but prior thereto had issue born alive, thus forming a basis for a claim to curtesy by her husband, Thomas Young. On June 22, 1875, Marie Struppmann died intestate, and in that year Charles Struppmann, individually under claim, of curtesy and as guardian of his three children, brought a suit in the Superior Court of the city of Few York against the infants Louis C. Muller and Augusta Muller and J. 0. J. Langbein, asserting rights of himself and of his children in property left by Adam Muller which rights he claimed were not recognized by the infants and their guardian, and asking for an adjudication of the various interests in the property and a partition thereof. At the same time Thomas Young, claiming an interest in the property by curtesy, commenced an action against the various persons therein interested in the Supreme Court for the purpose of establishing his claim. In that action there was. a dispute of fact as to whether or not there was issue born alive, and although it was held on appeal that he had an interest in the property under the will, provided his child was born alive, a new trial was ordered to determine that question. (Young v. Langbein, 7 Hun, 151.) Thereafter in the Strujppmcmn action an order was entered consolidating with that suit the Young v. Langbevn action, and finally there was directed a sale of the Muller property by a referee and in pursuance thereof the referee sold property of the estate to various persons, among whom was Henry Faumann, who purchased the premises here in dispute for $8,200 as the highest bidder and received a deed of conveyance thereof from the referee. This money was distributed'yw rata among all those having an interest in the property, namely, Charles Struppmann by right of curtesy, and his three children as heirs; Thomas Young by right of curtesy, and to the general guardian of the two infant children of the testator, Augusta and Louis C. Muller. After the sale by the referee some of the purchasers became distrustful of the title to be given by the referee and refused to accept their deeds, while others demanded a return of the moneys which they had advanced. Motions were accordingly made, one to compel certain purchasers to accept title and the other to bé relieved of the purchase made. Both these motions at Special Terna of the Superior Court and Supreme Court resulted in favor of the purchasers, the courts holding that the proceedings in the Bi/ruppmomn action had been entirely irregular, and that the referee was without power to give title not only because of irregularities, but because the sale was in conflict with the plain provisions of the will that the property should not be sold till the youngest child was of age. (Stricppmann v. Muller, 82 How. Pr. 211; Muller v. Btrúppm'ann, 55 id. 521.) In the former it was said: “ It is obvious from an inspection of the record that in the conduct of this suit in behalf of the infant plaintiffs the statute has been wholly disregarded', and that none of its requirements have been- observed. Proceedings for the partition and sale of the real property of' the infant plaintiffs were never authorized by the court prior "to the commencement of the- suit, nor does the record show that it was made to appear satisfactorily to the court that the -interest, of the infants required such partition or sale. Ho next friend to conduct the proceedings on the part of the infant plaintiffs was ever appointed,, nor was the' security Over given or required which the statute exacts. These irregularities and defects have in'numerous cases been held fatal , to the jurisdiction and purchasers under judicial sales have frequently been discharged on these grounds. * * * Only parties who are united in interest may be joined as plaintiffs or defendants. (Codé, señ 119.)* In this case the. infant plaintiffs' had no interest in obtaining the relief demanded by their father; They were in. no respect profited by the establishment of his tenancy by the curtesy or in the enforcement of an equitable lien for his benefit. Their interests in these respécts were rather adverse to his. * * * It is worthy of remark that many of the orders and proceedings- in the suit appear to have been made upon the consent; of the' parties and it is well ' settled that no consent on behalf of infant's can warrant or impart validity to judicial action.” And in the latter (55 How. Pr: 521) it was said:' “ This court, as a court of equity, has no- inherent original authority to order the sale of the real -estate Of infants. It proceeds on the other hand by virtue aloné of statutory power, and consequently when a departure is made from that authority the court proceeds without jurisdiction and the acts performed are necessarily void. * * * One of these restraints has been imposed upon the sale of infants’ lands by a general provision of the statutes declaring that ‘ Fo real estate or term for years shall be sold, leased or disposed of in any manner against the provisions of any last will or of any conveyance by which such estate or term was devised or granted to such infant.’ ■* * * And all proceedings terminating in such a result must consequently be void, otherwise the courts could practically repeal the statute. * * * The will under which the point arises was before the General Term of this court for consideration in the case of Young agt. iLangbein (14 F. T. Sup. Court, 151),* and, so far as'its terms become important in the decision of this application, they will be found to be there reported. * * * The testator by his will made no direct devise of his real estate, but he gave to his widow one-half of its net rents, and the other half of such rents he gave to his children ‘ until the youngest child shall attain the age of twenty-one years, when said estate is to be divided equally among my said children absolutely in fee forever.’ * * * As to this one-half of his real estate his intent very evidently was that no division of it should be made while his youngest child remained a minor. * * * The sale made as to this one-half of the estate was unauthorized, and for that reason, without considering the other objections, the motion made to compel the purchasers to accept the title must be denied.” After the sale a motion was made to correct errors in the judgment roll and resettle the judgment, which was granted, the judgment record being, as stated by an affiant, “ in a terrible mixed-up confused state, so that one not familiar with the suits would not • know what it was about,” and new findings of facts and conclusions of law were filed, and decree resettled in accordance therewith. In 1880 an action was brought by Augusta "Wiedersum (nee Muller), Louis G. Muller, by his guardian ad litem, Charles Struppmann, Augusta and Charles Struppmann, Jr., by their guardian ad litem, against Henry Faumann and others,- to set aside the judgment in Struppmann v. Muller, a conspiracy to cheat and defraud plaintiffs in the obtainment of the judgment and want of jurisdiction being alleged, but the court found that no fraud was shown and ordered judgment for defendants, with costs. Another action was brought by Louis G. Muller by his guardian ad litem against Augusta Wiedersum, Augusta Struppmann, Matilda and Charles Struppmann, Jr.,, and Charles Struppmann, Sr., Thomas H. Young and others, to set aside the judgment in Struppmcmny. Muller so far as it adjudged any benefits to Young because the result of a conspiracy and obtained fraudulently and without jurisdiction; but this complaint also was dismissed, with costs. • Thereafter, in 1887, Louis C. Muller having meanwhile attained majority, this action was brought by him and all others claiming title to the property by virtue of the express provisions of the will of Adam Muller, the claim of Thomas H. Young being, represented by his assignee, Bertha Kilblock. Upon the trial the plaintiffs offered the will in evidence and proved their relationship, and the situs, value and rentals of the property, and that it had belonged to ’ Adam Muller at his death. It was alleged and admitted in the pleadings that the defendants are in possession thereof and assert title thereto, and Mr. Young on cross-examination testified that there has been erected upon the lot a valuable four-story brick building. . ■ The plaintiffs having rested, the defendants offered in evidence the judgment roll in the Struppmcmn v. Muller action, brought in the Superior Court, showing the various proceedings to which we have; alluded, and the sale to Henry Naumann of the property in question by the referee therein appointed. .Thereafter the defendants offered in evidence the judgment roll in the action brought in 1880 to set aside the judgment entered in the Struppmann action on the ground of conspiracy and want of jurisdiction and the roll in the action also brought to set aside that judgment so far as it awarded moneys to Thomas Young-on the ground of conspiracy and want of jurisdiction. Both these judgment rolls were excluded by the trial judge as irrelevant, immaterial and incompetent and. exceptions were duly taken by the defendants.. The plaintiffs then called Thomas Young, who testified under objection and. .exception- that on the day of: the sale by the referee and subsequently he told Henry Haumann that he 'had better not buy the property, as he would get no title and was merely buying a lawsuit, and Uaumann replied that he had a good bargain and was going to keep it. The court directed the jury to find a verdict that the plaintiffs are entitled to the possession of the property and to six cents damages. To this direction the defendants excepted. The exceptions were ordered to be heard in the first instance at the G-eneral Term and after an interim of some fourteen years are now brought ■ before this court.