BROWN V. CRANBERRY IROl( I: COAL CO.
351
part of the property of the Cape Fear & Yadkin Valley Railroad Company, and the decree must be modified to meet this result. It has been suggested that the provision that any purchaser at the sale ordered, when the property is stmck off to him, shall at once pay to the master commissioners, on account of his purchase, a sufficient sum to make up, together with the amount already deposited by him as aforesaid, "twenty per cent. of his accepted bid," may be too onerous. Let the decree in this particular be 80 amended as to strike out the words "twenty per cent. of his accepted bid," and to insert in lieu thereof the words "the Bum of two hundred thousand dollars." Let the decree also be amended so as to require that the cash portions of the moneys arising from the sale be deposited in solvent national banks in the state of North Carolina, in such amounts, as to each bank, as will render the deposit perfectly safe. In all other respects the decree of March 31, 1897, is hereby reatllrmed and decreed.
BROWN et aI. v. CRANBERRY mON & COAL CO. CRANBERRY mON & COAL CO. v. BROWN et aL
(CIrcuit Court, W. D. North CarolIna. August 2, 1897.) Ib:lI'OllMATION Oll' DEED-MUTUAL MISTAKE.
The owners of a tract or mineral land negotiated an advantageous Mle of the same, but, before It was concluded, the negotiations were SUSpended, In consequence of notice given the purchasers by two other persons that they claimed an Interest In the mineral. The vendors, In order to clear their title and consummate the sale, procured deeds from the claimants, paying therefor a sum approximating $40,000. Formerly the two claimants had held their Interests In common, but prIor to the execution of such deeds they had partltloned the same by agreement, and then held In severalty. The deed of one of the claimants described the entlre tract, purporting to convey an undivided one-half of the mIneral therein, with a warranty ot title. Twenty years afterwards such grantor brought suIt for partition, claiming to still be the owner ot an undivIded halt Interest In the mineral , in the portion held by him In severalty when the deed was made. Held, that the circumstances inducing the purchase, and under whIch it was made, clearly evidence that It was the Intention of the parties to purchase and to Bell the entire Interest of the claimants, and that the holders under such deed were entitled to Its reformation on the ground of mutual mistake.
Moore & Moore, for Brown. R. H. Battle and Merrimon & Merrimon, for Cranberry Iron & Coal Co. SIMONTON, Circuit Judge. The original bill in this case was tiled on August 16, 1887, seeking partition of certain undivided mineral interests in a tract of land in Mitchell county, N. C. The defendant denied the title of the complainants. Thereupon this court ordered an action at law to establish title. After a trial by jury, in which the denial of title was not pressed by the defendant, and the issues rested only on estoppel by pais and by deed, a verdict was rendered for the defendant. The judgment on this verdict was set aside by the circuit court of appeals,. and the case remanded, with
352
82 FEDERAL REPORTER.
leave to the defendant, if so advised, to file a cross bill, with the view of establishing a mistake in the deeds under which the defendant held, and correcting it if established. 18 O. O. A. 444, 72 Fed. 96. The cross bill has been filed, testimony taken, and the cause is now at issue. The defendant holds by intermediate mesne conveyance under Hoke, Sumner, and Hutchinson. In the year 1867, these gentlemen, holding lands in North Oarolina, commonly known as the "Cranberry Lands," negotiated the sale of them to parties in New York, for the sum of $200,000. Just before the sale was consummated, Han. A. C. Avery heard of it, and at once notified the proposed purchasers that he and Brown had claims on the minerals in the land proposed to be sold by Hoke and his associates. 'rhis at once interrupted the negotiations. Hoke and his associates, hearing of this claim, conclud· ed that it was shorter and better to purchase the adverse interests, and so remove the cloud on their title. They reached this con· clusion notwithstanding that they were advised that the claim was not valid. Negotiations to this end were opened with A. C. Avery, as executor of his father, I. T. Avery, and with tbe attorneys in fact of John Evans Brown, the other claimant. Brown himself resided in Australia. The negotiations with Avery were concluded first, and his interest in the minerals in the land was purchased for the sum of $17,000. Some days afterwards the negotiations with Brown's attorneys in fact were concluded, after long haggling over the price to be paid. This seemed to occupy their attention, and it was fixed, finally at $22,000. The purchasers, in this negotiation with Brown, were represented by Col. Gaither, a lawyer of reputation and experience, and he drew the deed conveying the 1nterest of Brown; both the deed Qf Avery, dated May 27,1867, and that of Brown, dated June 7, 1867, conveyed an interest in precisely the same tract of land. This tract is delineated on a plat in the record, and is contained within the lines A, B, 0, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, and L. Avery , conveys "ail the right, title and interest belonging to the estate of I. T. Avery, and which said Avery has power to convey as executor, and to that tract or parcel of land lying in the county of Mitchell, state of North Carolina." Then comes a full description by courses, distances, and metes, and continuing: "The said interest hereby conveyed being one-haIf the mineral interest in said land conveyed by agreement by William Drigger to William J. Brown, and conveyed by said Brown to said 1. T. Avery, and also all the tracts of land held by conveyance from T. D. Garter and William Drigger, said lands containing about 4,000 underacres, and known as the 'Cranberry Ore Lands,' "-with warranty of title as against the heirs of Avery. The Brown deed, executed by Z. B. Vance and William J. Brown, attorneys in fact of John Evans Brown, conveys "the following tract of land, situated and being in the county of Mitchell, in the state of North Carolina; that is, the one-half of the mineral interest in said lands." Then follows a full description of the same tract as in the Avery deed, and ending: "Containing some 3,000 acres, and being the same lands condemned for the use of the Cranberry Iron Works, known as the 'Bounty Lands.''' The habendum is: "To have and
BROWN V. CRANBERRY IRON & COAL CO.
353
to hold the one-half of the mines and minerals and mineral interests in said lands,"-with a general warranty of the title "to the one-half of the mines, minerals, ore bank and mineraI interests within the boundaries of said lands." It seeIllil that there had been a dispute between I. T. Avery.and William J. Brown as to the ownership of these lands, and others, perhaps. In 1853 these differences were adjusted by articles of agreement entered into 8th March, 1853, and carried out by deeds. That by Isaac T. Avery to William J. Brown is dated 18th June, 1853, recorded 25th December, 1866. That by Brown to Avery· was recorded 6th August, 1873. These deeds divided the lands between these two parties by a compromise line, which appears in the plat. AIl the lands on the east side of this line were conveyed to Brown; all on the west side to Avery. On 22d August, 1860, I. T. Avery executed a deed to John Evans Brown (to whom, in the meantime, William J. Brown had to convey his interests), by which gave Brown the one-half interest in "my mineral interest in the iron ore bank known as the 'Cranberry Ore Bank'" (this was on the west of the compromise line), and the entire interest in all the lands outside of the compromise line. This deed is recorded in the same book as the deed from Avery to Brown, above spoken of. These deeds relate to the same land covered by the deeds to Hoke and his associates. It thus appears that when Avery (executor) and Brown's attorneys in fact made these deeds the land conveyed was not held in common by these parties, but that Avery's estate and Brown each owned an undivided half of the Oranberry ore bed, and that Brown owned the entire mineral interest in so much of the land as was east of the compromise line. The deed of Brown in terms conveys the one-half interest in the minerals, and by these terms he conveys to Hoke his one-half in the Cranberry ore bed, and the one· half of the minerals in the land east of the compromise line. It is this interest of which he seeks the partition. The defendant says that Hoke and his associates desired and intended to purchase the whole of the mineral interest of Brown in the whole tract; that they negotiated for, and in fact purchased and paid for, the whole of this interest; that both parties intended it to be con· veyed; that, if the deed did not convey it, it was a mistake,-a mutual mistake,-an error of the draftsman who drew the deed. This is the question to be decided: Did the deed carry out the intent of both parties? Did it convey all that Brown had agreed to convey, and all that Hoke and his associates had contracted and expected that he would convey? Unhappily, we are without the testimony of all the actors in this transaction. We have full testimony of Hoke and his associates. We have the testimony of Z. B. Vance, but William J. Brown's evidence is not in the record. Perhaps he was not alive when the testimony was taken. A declaration of his appears. This, perhaps, under strict rules of evidence, cannot be taken into account. Looking at the case a priori, the conclusion is almost irresistible that both parties supposed that the entire interest of Brown was being purchased. Hoke and his associates had made a most advan82F.-23
354
tag-eons sale of these same lands. The sale was interrupted by notice of the claim of Avery's estate and of Brown. The proposed purchasers, about to invest a very large sum of money, would be satisfied with nothing but a clean title. The lands to be purchased were mining lands. Their only use was in working them. Every day's work diminished their value. Every care, therefore, had to be taken, that no outstanding interest should exist to which at some future time they might be called upon to account, and which could share the benefits of their expenditure of capital, labor, and time. . Hoke and his associates had to furnish them such a title. Avery and Brown knew of their situation and its requirements. ·When they were approached for the purchase of their interests, they knew what Hoke and his associates were obliged to get. - We are not left to conjecture on this point. Judge Avery, the executor of I. T. Avery, who made the deed, swears that he knew that a clean title was needed. The answer of Sumner and Hutchinson to the suit of Vance and Brown on one of the notes given for this same purchase, put in evidence for one purpose, and so in evidence for all purposes, distinctly declares that the negotiations were for the purchase of the whole of the mineral interests of Brown. This being the case, it is clear that the purchasers negotiated for, and supposed that they were purchasing, the entire mineral interest of Brown, and that the vendors knew this, and consented and agreed to such purchase. Gov. Vance, one of Brown's attorneys in fact, says that the impression on his mind is that they were conveying the entire interest of Brown, although he adds the lapse of time has been sO great that he cannot give the grounds for that impres· sion. It is not difficult to see these grounds. He knew that Hoke and his associates were bound to get an absolutely clear title; that they could negotiate for nothing less; that they were paying for nothing less; and as an honorable man, with this knowledge, he was bound to convey them nothing less than an absolutely clear title. This being the understanding, intent, and purpose of both parties, 001. Gaither was instructed to draw the deed carrying out this intent. He drew the deed in question. He had been Brown's counsel when the compromise between him and Avery was made and concluded. Professionally, he knew of this compromise. But, notwithstanding this knowledge, he drew this Brown deed precisely as if no partition had been made between Avery and Brown. This must have wholly escaped his memory. Here was the mistake, and into that mistake the attorneys in fact of Brown also fell, because, under their hands and seals, they acted upon and confirmed it. It cannot be supposed for a moment that, with the knowledge they had of the necessity imposed upon Hoke and his associates of getting a clean title, they could believe that the latter could take less. Fraud will not be presumed, nor will it be lightly charged. It seems clear that this deed was executed by both parties under a mistake of facts, and that it should be reformed. It is so orderRd.
VANDERVEER V. ASBURY PARK & B. ST. RY. CO.
355 a1.
VANDE,RVEER v. ASBURY
PARK & B.
ST. RY,
CO. et
(Circuit Court, D. New Jersey. July 16, 1897.)
1.
STREET RAU,ROADS-NEW JERSEY STATUTES HOLDER-CLAIM FILED WITH RECEIVER.
ILLEGAL BONDS -
INNOCENT
Under the New Jersey statute providing for the Incorporation and regulation of street-railway companies, approved April 6, 1886, which provides, among other things, that no company incorporated under the act can begin to build its road until the whole amount of Its capItal stock has been subscribed for by responsible parties, and 50 per cent. of each share hl;LS been paid in cash, that bonds secured by mortgage can only be issued to the amount of the capital stock, and for the purpose of aiding in the construction of the road, such bonds issued before the whole amount of the capItal stock of the company has been paid In cash, and expended In the construction of the road, are illegal, and are voId, except so far as they are held by bona fide purchasers for value wIthout notice, but, where so held, constitute a valid claim against the property, In the hands of a receIver, for the amount actually received therefor by the company. A contract by which certain dIrectors of a street·railway company, acting In the name of a thIrd person, who is a mere dummy, are to construct the road, and divide between them the balance of the stock and bonds not required therefor, is fraudulent, and bonds Issued pursuant thereto are voId. A contract by which a street-raHway company, in order to procure a right of way over streets running through lands owned by a land company, guarantIed that certain lots of the land company would become worth a certain price, and agreed to pay the difference between such price and whnt the lots would bring at auctIon, is not ultra vires. General creditors of an Insolvent corporation, who have proved their claims, have an equitable lien'on the assets in the hands of a receiver, and, on the refusal of the receIver to enforce the llen, they have the same right as the receIver to requIre an accounting ot the amount due on the mortgage bonds. GENERAL Cm:DITOR.
2. SAME-ILLEGAJ, COKSTRUCTION CONTRACT.
8.
SAME-ULTRA VIRES CONTRAC'l·S.
"
INSOLVENT CORPORAnON-RIGHT TO AN ACCOUNTING -
Arthur D. Vinton and William B. Guild, for complainant. Charles L. Corbin and Acton C. Hartshorne, for Avon by the Sea Land & Imp. Co. G. D. W. Vroom, for receiver. Samuel A. Patterson, for Asbury Park & Belmar St. Ry. Co. KIRKPATRICK, District Judge. The Asbury Park & Belmar Street-Railway Company was organized uuder an act of the legislature of the state of New Jersey entitled "An act to protide for the incorporation of street-railway companies, and to regulate the same," approved April 6, 1886, which provided, among other things, that "seven or more persons may associate themselves together by articles in writing for the purpose of forming a corporation to construct, maintain and operate a street railway for the transportation of passengers," with a capital stock of not less than $10,000 per mile, and that, when at least $2,000 of stock of each mile of railroad, and a proportionate sum for every fraction of a mile thereof, proposed to be constructed, shall have been subscribed and paid for in good faith and in cash to the directors named in said articles of association, and by them deposited with the treasurer of New Jersey, the Qrticles of association might be filed with the secretary of state, and