Mills v. Pettigrew

1. Dismissal op Action — Adjudication, Not Final. The dismissal of an action in the nature of a bill in equity for want of prosecution only, is not a final and conclusive adjudication on the merits. (Smith v. Auld, 31 Kas. 262.) 2. Judicial Sale — Motion to Set Aside — Ultimate Bights. The final decision of the district court overruling a motion to set aside a judicial sale, is not conclusive as to the ultimate rights of the party making the motion. (White-Grow v. White-Wing, 3 Kas. 276; Harrison v. Andrews, 18 id. 536; Capital Bank v. Huntoon, 35 id. 577, 587, 588.)

Error from Allen District Court. This was an action brought by D. E. Pettigrew against C. Iv. Mills, James Mills, and others, to obtain possession of certain real estate situate in Allen county. All of the defendants answered and disclaimed any interest in the premises, except"' James Mills. Judgment was rendered in favor of the plaintiff for the possession of the premises, and for $120 for rents and profits. James Mills excepted, and brings the case here. It is conceded by the parties that the title of the premises passed from the United States to the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad Company; that D. E. Pettigrew obtained a good and sufficient title to the premises by warranty deeds from the railroad company to Henry Tidman and from Tidman and wife to himself. James Mills contends that he has the superior title to the premises, which he claims that he derived as follows: While the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad Company was the owner of the premises in controversy, and while the company was operating its railroad, an action was brought against it by W. J. Richards in the district court of Allen county; that a petition was filed July 21,1875; that on the 5th of July, 1876, a verdict and judgment were rendered in said cause against the railroad company for $7,000 damages; that subsequently execution was issued on the judgment, and the premises were levied upon by the sheriff by virtue of the execution; that at this time Charles Aldrich and ninety-seven other persons, among whom were D. E. Pettigrew and Henry Tidman, his immediate grantor, as plaintiffs, commenced an action against W. J. Richards and John H. Walters, the then sheriff of Allen county; that this action was commenced September 3,1881, and attempted to enjoin the sale of the premises on the judgment; that an application was made to the .judge for a temporary injunction in the cause, which was denied September 7, 1881; that in the said action, plaintiffs, on November 11,1881, obtained leave to file an amended petition, but the action was finally dismissed by the court for want of prosecution. The sheriff having made a sale of the premises, as well as others, on execution issued in the action of W. J. Richards v. The Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston Railroad Company, a motion was filed by plaintiff in the judgment to confirm the sale, and at the same time a cross-motion was filed by D. E. Pettigrew and Henry Tidman, his immediate grantor, to set aside the sale; the motion to confirm the sale was sustained and the sheriff ordered to make a deed to the purchaser, W. J. Richards; the court overruled the motion to set aside the sale, and Pettigrew and others, resisting confirmation of the sale, duly excepted and took time to make a cáse for this court; that subsequently a deed was made by the sheriff to W. J. Richards for the premises sold at sheriff’s sale, among which were the premises in control versy; that said W. J. Richards and wife by deed conveyed the lands in controversy to James Mills.