BOONE V. CHILES, 35 U. S. 177 (1835) -- US Supreme Court Cases from Justia & Oyez

The complainants filed a bill in the Circuit Court of Kentucky, claiming a conveyance of the legal title and an account of rents and profits of a tract of land the legal title to which was derived in virtue of the law of Virginia, under a settlement and a preemption right held by Reuben Searcy. Searcy gave his bond to Hoy to make a deed of one-half of the land to which he was thus entitled, the other half having been given by him to one Martin to obtain the location and patenting. He afterwards gave the plats and surveys to Hoy, who in 1785 obtained a patent for the land, which he was to have a deed for. Hoy, in 1781, assigned the bond of Searcy to George Boone, and made himself surety for its performance, and George Boone assigned the bond to Thomas Boone, the ancestor of the complainants. Thomas Boone lived in the State of Pennsylvania, and was in Kentucky in 1802, 1810, and 1319, in the neighborhood of the land; but while there he took no measures, personally, to obtain the title or possession of it. In 1787, he gave to George Boone a power of attorney to obtain a conveyance of the land, and in 1802 he made a conditional sale of it to Hezekiah Boone, but the condition was not performed by Hezekiah Boone, so that under the agreement he obtained no right to the land. Possession was taken of parts of the land, and improvements made as early as or before, 1806, and the persons in possession are among the defendants. George Boone exceeded his powers and made agreements to sell the land, and also agreed to give up to one of the heirs of Hoy Searcy's bond, and some of the heirs sold parts of the land to the persons in possession, asserting a right to the legal title, and another of the heirs sold by a quitclaim deed all her rights, as one of the heirs of Hoy, to Green Clay. Afterwards William Chiles, alleging that he had obtained from George Boone and from Hezekiah Boone, the conditional purchaser, the equitable right of Thomas Boone, under Searcy's bond, filed in the name of Thomas George, and Hezekiah Boone and in his own name in the County Court oft Bourbon County a bill against the heirs of Hoy, the persons in possession, and

against Green lay, alleging him to be a purchaser with notice of Thomas Boone's equitable title, under Searcy and Hoy, and obtained from that court a decree for a conveyance to him of the legal title, and afterwards a deed for the

same from a commissioner appointed to execute the same. This decree was afterwards, on appeal, reversed for informality, but before the same was reversed, the complainants filed this bill, asking for a conveyance from Chiles of all the title he held in the land, either under the decree or in any other manner. Chiles, after the bill was filed, purchased from Green Clay the rights he held, and in his answer alleges him to have been an innocent purchaser without notice. The persons in possession, who purchased from Chiles after the decree of the Bourbon court, answered asserting their possession and that they were protected by the statute of limitation, and submit to such rules and regulations, according to law and equity, as the case may require. In 1822, Thomas Boone made an agreement with Boone Engles by which the latter took upon him the institution and conducting of this suit for a portion of the benefit to be derived from it, and this the persons in possession

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allege to be champerty. The court decreed a conveyance by Chiles and by others who held the legal title to be made to the complainants of all the lands unsold and not in the possession of others, and that those who are in possession, who had purchased from Chiles should pay to the complainants the sums which they had agreed to pay respectively, with interest, according to their respective contracts.

A court of equity must be regardless of all its rules before it can recognize Chiles as a purchaser or as having any right whatever in the land; it must also forfeit its character if it sanctions such a course of iniquitous fraud. We deem it wholly useless to contrast the relative equities of the plaintiffs and Chiles in order to affirm their right for a decree for the conveyance of the legal title, obtained in violation of every principle which governs courts of equity, unless he has made out some objections to the relief prayed on grounds unconnected with the justice of the case.

The heirs of Searcy are not parties; they had no interest in the land; their father's bond was satisfied by the performance of the condition, when the patents were obtained by Hoy, who, by purchase from Martin and Searcy, held the legal title to the whole fourteen hundred acres, subject to be divested only by the equity of Boone, derived by this agreement to transfer the one-half. No act therefore remained to be performed by the heirs of Searcy. The title of Boone becomes complete by the union of his equitable with Hoy's legal title without any interposition of the heirs of Searcy, who have no interest to defend or title to convey.

The lapse of time and the staleness of the plaintiffs' equity is also set up as a bar to a decree in their favor, but whatever effect time may have in equity in favor of a possession long and peaceably held, it can have none in favor of Chiles, whose only claim is under the equity of Thomas Boone, and against whom the present suit was brought in six years after he first interfered with it. It cannot be permitted to him to acquire the legal title of Hoy in virtue of Boone's equity and to hold it to his own use on the ground that Boone's right had become extinct by the lapse of time before he acquired it. The means by which the legal title has been conveyed to Chiles have affected his conscience too deeply with fraud for a court of equity to suffer him to enjoy its fruits. As to him, the plaintiffs have established a right to a decree for the conveyance of whatever title he may have derived by any conveyance to himself directly of the legal right of Hoy's heirs.

By the rules of the appellate court, it can act on no evidence which was not before the court below, or receive any paper that was not used at the hearing.

A party is not allowed to state one case in a bill or answer and make out a different one by proof; the allegata and probata must agree, the latter must support the former.

A purchaser with notice may protect himself under a purchaser by deed without notice, but cannot do it by purchase from one who holds or claims by contract only. The cases are wholly distinct. In the former the purchaser with notice is protected; in the latter he has no standing in equity, for an obvious reason -- that the plaintiffs' elder equity shall prevail unless the defendant can shelter himself under the legal title acquired by one whose conscience was not affected with fraud or notice and who can impart his immunity to a guilty purchaser as the representative of his legal rights fairly acquired by deed in such a manner as exempts him from the jurisdiction of a court of equity. Such a purchase affixes no stain on the conscience, and equity cannot disturb the legal title. But as it does not pass by a contract of purchase without deed, the defendant can acquire only an equity, the transfer of which does not absolve him from the consequences of his first fraudulent purchase. His second purchase of an equity will not avail him more than the first,

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for the original notice of the plaintiffs equity taints his conscience so as to make him a mere trustee if he holds the legal title from one who is not an innocent, bona fide purchaser. It is a general principle in courts of equity that where both parties claim by an equitable title, the one who is prior in time is deemed the better in right, and that where the equities are equal in point of merit, the law prevails.

Strong as a plaintiffs equity may be, it can in no case be stronger than that of a purchaser who has put himself in peril by purchasing a title and paying a valuable consideration without notice of any defect in it, and when in addition he shows a legal title from one seized and possessed of the property purchased, he has a right to demand protection and relief, which a court of equity imparts liberally. Such suitors are its most especial favorites. It will not inquire how he may have obtained a statute, mortgage, encumbrance, or even a satisfied legal term, by which he can defend himself at law, if outstanding; equity will not aid his adversary in taking from him the tabula in nonfragio if acquired before a decree. Relief will not be granted against him in favor of the widow or orphan, nor shall the heir see the title papers. It is a bar to a bill to perpetuate testimony, or for discovery, and goes to the jurisdiction of the court over him; his conscience being clear, any adversary must be left to his remedy at law.

But this will not be done on mere averment or allegation; the protection of such bona fide purchase is necessary only when the plaintiff has a prior equity which can be barred or avoided only by the union of the legal title with an equity arising from the payment of the money and receiving the conveyance without notice and a clear conscience.

In setting it up a bona fide purchase without notice by plea or answer, it must state the deed of purchase, the date, parties, and contents briefly; that the vender was seized in fee and in possession; the consideration must be stated with a distinct averment that it was bona fide and truly paid, independently of the recital in the deed. Notice must be denied previous to and down to the time of paying the money and the delivery of the deed, and if notice is specially charged, the denial must be of all circumstances referred to from which notice can be inferred, and the answer or plea must show how the grantor acquired title. The title purchased must be apparently perfect, good at law, a vested estate in fee simple. It must be a regular conveyance, for the purchaser of an equitable title holds it subject to the equities upon it in the hands of the vendor, and has no better standing in a court of equity. Such is the case which must be stated to give the defendant the benefit of an answer or plea of an innocent purchase without notice; the case stated must be made out; evidence will not be permitted to be given of any other matter not set out.

The objections to the plaintiffs recovery on the ground of the contract between Thomas Boone and Boon Engles being within the statutes of champerty and maintenance cannot be sustained for two reasons. 1. The English statutes on this subject, which were adopted in Kentucky, punished the offense and declared the contract for maintenance void between the parties, but did not direct or authorize the dismissal of the suit instituted between other parties in furtherance of such contract. Boon Engles is no party to this suit, and it does not concern the defendants whether it was commenced and is conducted by his agency or by the plaintiffs themselves; the right of plaintiffs is not forfeited by such an agreement, and it may be asserted against the defendants whether the

contract with Boon Engles is valid or void. 2. By the act of Kentucky of 1798, which was in force when this contract was made and suit brought, no person

could be prevented from prosecuting or defending any claim

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to land held under the land laws of Virginia; nor was any suit brought to make

good such claim considered as coming within the provisions of the common law or any statute against champerty or maintenance. These statutes were not revived till 1824.

The time does not bar a direct trust as between trustees and cestui que trust till it is disavowed; yet where a constructive trust is made out in equity, time protects the trustee, though his conduct was originally fraudulent and his purchase would have been repudiated for fraud. So where a party takes possession in his own right and was prima facie owner, and is turned into a trustee by matter of evidence merely. And where one intending to purchase the entire interest in the land, took a conveyance without words of limitation to his heirs passing only an estate for life, the lapse of fourteen years after the expiration of the life estate was a protection to the heirs of the purchaser.

What that reasonable time is within which a constructive trust can be enforced depends on the circumstances of the case, but there can be few cases where it can be done after twenty years' peaceable possession by the person who claims in his own right, but whose acts have made him a trustee by implication. His possession entitles him to at least the same protection as that of a direct trustee who, to the plaintiffs knowledge, disavows the trust and holds adversely, as to whom the time runs from the disavowal because his possession is thence forth adverse. The possession of land is notice of a claim to it by the possessor; if not taken and held by contract or purchase, it is from its inception, adverse to all the world, and in twenty years bars the owner in law and in equity. A purchaser in possession by a contract to sell is in law a trespasser, but in equity, he is the owner of the estate, having taken possession under the contract, and the vendor is in the situation of an equitable mortgagor. If the entry was by purchase, and the purchaser claims the land in fee, he is not a trustee; his title, though derivative from and consistent with the original title of the plaintiffs, is a present claim in exclusion of and adverse to it. A vendee in fee derives his title from the vendor, but his title, though derivative, is adverse to that of the

vendor; he enters and holds for himself. Such was the doctrine of this Court in Blights lessee v. Rochester, 4 Pet. 506-507. In that case, the Court said "The vendee acquires the property for himself, and his faith is not pledged to maintain the title of the vendor."

Equity makes the vendor without deed a trustee to the vendee for the conveyance of the title; the vendee is a trustee for the payment of the purchase money and the performance of the terms of the purchase. But a vendee is in no case a trustee of the vendor as to the possession of the property sold; the vendee claims and holds it in his own right, for his own benefit, subject to no right of the vendor save the terms which the contract imposes; his possession is therefore adverse as to the property but friendly as to the performance of the conditions of the purchase.

The principal facts of this case were the following:

Reuben Searcy, being entitled to a settlement of four hundred acres of land and a preemption of one thousand acres in Bourbon County, Kentucky, under the laws of Virginia, obtained a certificate

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thereof from the commissioners, and he employed one John Martin to perfect the title to the lands and gave him one-half of the same for so doing. On 24 September, 1781, Searcy sold seven hundred acres, supposed to be one-half of the land, to William Hoy, and executed a bond to Hoy. The bond was in the following words:

"Know all men by these presents that I, Reuben Searcy, of the County of Fayette, am held and firmly bound unto William Hoy, of the County of Lincoln and State of Virginia, in the penal sum of fifty thousand pounds, current money of Virginia, to which payment well and truly to be made I bind myself, my heirs, executors, and administrators unto the said William Hoy, he, his heirs, or assigns, this 24 September, 1781. The condition of the above is such that if the above-bound Reuben Searcy shall well and truly make or cause to be made, as soon as deeds are made to lands in this county in general, a good and sufficient deed for seven hundred acres of first-rate land lying in Fayette County, on Licking Creek, between John Martin's Station and Ruddle's Station, it being part of a settlement and preemption that John Martin cleared out on the halves for said Reuben Searcy, and the said Hoy takes his first choice of the land, then the above obligation to be void, otherwise to remain and be in full force and virtue."

On 15 December, 1781 William Hoy made the following assignment to George Boone of this bond by an endorsement thereon:

"I, William Hoy, assign over the within bond unto George Boone, his heirs, or assigns, and said Hoy obliges himself, his heirs, executors, and administrators, as surety to within bond, and if the within lands cannot be obtained by reason of a prior claim, then and in that case seven hundred acres equal in quality and convenience shall discharge the within bond."

Searcy also assigned the plats and certificates of survey to Hoy, who was thus enabled, in July, 1785, to complete the title by obtaining patents for the land in his own name. On 30 April, 1785, George Boone made the following assignment of the bond to Thomas Boone, the ancestor of the appellants, who are his heirs:

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"I do hereby assign over all my right, title, and claim of the within bond unto Thomas Boone, heirs, or assigns, without recourse to the same; that is to say that I, the said George Boone, am no way obligated if the said William Hoy or his heirs sufficient to make good the within bond; but if the said William Hoy or his heirs should not be good, then I, George Boone, do bind myself, my heirs, to make good the same unto the said Thomas Boone or his heirs or assigns."

On 25 January, 1823, Thomas Boone filed a bill in the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Kentucky stating his equitable right, thus derived, to seven hundred acres of land, part of the settlement and preemption of Searcy, alleging that he had never parted with the same, but admitting that he made a conditional contract with Hezekiah Boone for it which was never complied with by said Hezekiah, and was afterwards expressly abandoned by him.

On 1 October, 1787, Thomas Boone, who resided in the State of Pennsylvania, gave to George Boone a power of attorney in the following terms:

"Know all men by these presents, that I, Thomas Boone, of Oly Township in the County of Berks and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, blacksmith, for divers good causes me hereunto moving, hath constituted and appointed and by these presents do constitute and appoint my trusty friend, George Boone, of Madison County in the settlement of Kentucky and Commonwealth of Virginia, yeoman, my true and lawful attorney, for me and in my name and to my use, to ask, demand, sue for and recover of and from Major William Hoy, of Kentucky settlement, a deed or other lawful conveyance, valid in law, for seven hundred acres of land in or near the waters of Hinkson and Stoner, branches of Licking River, it being one-half or moiety of a settlement and preemption right belonging to a certain Reuben Searcy, and which I purchased from squire Boone, who purchased the same from said George Boone, who purchased the same from said William Hoy, hereby giving and granting my sole power and authority to my said attorney concerning the premises, to do or cause to be done therein as amply as I myself might or could do were I personally present, and on the obtaining said title and

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conveyance for me and in my name, sufficient discharges to sign, seal, and deliver, and one or more attorney or attorneys under him, to substitute and appoint, and at pleasure to revoke, hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever my said attorney shall lawfully do concerning the premises. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 1 October, 1787."

The bill charges that William Chiles instituted a suit in the Bourbon Circuit Court of Kentucky, without the knowledge or consent of Thomas Boone, in the name of Thomas Boone, William Chiles, Hezekiah and George Boone, against the heirs of William Hoy and against others in possession of the land to compel the execution of a conveyance of the seven hundred acres of land: that in the suit, Chiles, alleging the execution of the bond by Searcy and the assignments before stated, pretended that under the conditional contract between Thomas and Hezekiah Boone, the latter had become entitled to the land, and that he had purchased it from said Hezekiah. In the suit a decree was pronounced for a conveyance to be made to Chiles, and on 7 January 1822, a commissioner appointed by the court according to the laws of Kentucky executed a conveyance to Chiles for seven hundred acres of the land in conformity with the decree.

In the proceedings in the Bourbon court, William Chiles made Green Clay a defendant, alleging him to be a purchaser from Newland and wife of two-eighths of the land, he having notice of Thomas Boone's rights. The wife of Newland was one of Hoy's heirs. After the decree, he purchased from Green Clay all he held under Newland and wife, and in this case he relies on the title obtained under that purchase.

Hezekiah Boone, by his answer, asserts a right to the land under the conditional contract, but no proof of a compliance with the same was given in the cause, and it was in evidence that long after the contract, he acknowledged he had no right to the land and that it belonged to Thomas Boone.

Some of the defendants in the circuit court allege that George Boone, as attorney in fact for Thomas Boone, in August. 1792, assigned Searcy's bond to a certain John South and delivered the bond to him. John South was the executor of William Hoy,

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and had married one of his daughters, and South sold to some of the defendants parts of the land, under a pretense that he held Hoy's claim, and they insist that the assignment of Searcy's bond shall enure to their benefit.

It was in evidence that William Chiles, after the death of John South, applied to Benjamin South, who had the custody of Searcy's bond, and by an arrangement with him the assignment to John South was erased and cancelled and the bond was transferred to Chiles. This was prior to the institution of the suit in the Bourbon County Court, and the bond was filed among the proceedings in the cause.

The defendants also set up by way of defense that an agreement in writing, of which a copy is filed, was made between Thomas Boone and Boon Engles in December, 1822, by which Engles undertook at his own expense to prosecute a suit for the 700 acres of land in dispute, and, as a consideration for his trouble, &c., was to have one-half of the land. This suit, they allege, is prosecuted under that agreement, and they charge that it is therefore a case of champerty and maintenance forbidden by law, and in which the court can give no relief. The complainants reply that at the time of the agreement, the law of champerty and maintenance was not in force in Kentucky, and that if it was, this case does not fall within its scope.

During the pendency of this suit in the Circuit Court of Kentucky, the defendants in the suit in the Bourbon Circuit Court instituted as aforesaid in the name of Chiles and the Boones prosecuted a writ of error from the Court of Appeals of Kentucky to reverse the decree obtained in that suit. And the Court of Appeals accordingly did reverse the decree for want of proper parties, and remanded to cause to the Bourbon Circuit Court for further proceedings. The cause is still pending there, Chiles and the heirs of Thomas Boone respectively claiming a right to direct its future prosecution.

By amended pleadings, the complainants allege the reversal of the decree of the Bourbon County Court, and the heirs of George Boone were made defendants. They also allege that the heirs of George Boon assert no claim to the land and that Searcy is dead, having left no heirs known to the complainants.

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During the proceedings in the circuit court and in this situation of the same, a question of jurisdiction arose, and the judges being divided in opinion, the cause was adjourned according to law to the Supreme Court with the following statement of the points respecting which the judges were divided in opinion:

"1. The court being then divided, and the judges opposed in opinion as to the jurisdiction over the case and unable therefore to render a decree on the merits, they resolve to adjourn that question to the Supreme Court, to-wit, under all circumstances appearing as above, can this Court entertain cognizance of the case?"

"2. The judges were also opposed in opinion on the point whether the complainants were entitled to a decree in the absence of any proof that the persons made defendants in the amended bill, as heirs of George Boone, were in fact his heirs."

The cause came on upon this adjournment of it before the Supreme Court at the January term, 1834, and this Court, in its mandate to the Kentucky Circuit Court, certifies its opinion on the questions submitted to it as follows:

"The Court is of opinion,"

"1. That under the circumstances stated in the certificate of the judges, the said circuit court could entertain cognizance of the case."

"2. That the want of proof that the persons made defendants in the amended bill as the heirs of George Boone were in fact his heirs is no obstruction to a decree on the merits of the cause."

It appears on the record that William Chiles, besides the conveyance executed to him by the commissioner appointed by the Bourbon Circuit Court of the interest of all the heirs of Hoy, obtained a special conveyance, prior to the institution of the Bourbon suit, from William Hoy the son, and his wife, and John Sappington and Parthenia, his wife, who were two of the heirs of William Hoy the obligor. And in Chiles' bill filed in the Circuit Court of Bourbon, he charges G. Clay to have obtained the interest of Newland and wife, as one of the heirs of W. Hoy, with full notice of his (Chiles') claim -- in other words, with full notice of the claim of Thomas Boone's heirs, and that he, G. Clay, upon receiving a conveyance from them, bound himself by special contract to make good all the contracts of their ancestor.

Green Clay filed his answer to the bill of Chiles and others

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in the Bourbon Circuit Court, in which answer he does not allege that he has obtained the legal title from Newland and wife, he does not allege that he has obtained any title from them, but refers to a contract by which he acquired their interest and, without producing it, refers to it as being of record.

The heirs of John South, of George Boone, and of Hezekiah Boone were made defendants, and most of them answered, but the complainants allege they are only formal parties.

One object of the suit is to annul the contract between Hezekiah Boone and Thomas Boone, but the main purpose of it is to obtain the legal title to and possession of the 700 acres of land in contest, which is vested in W. Chiles and the heirs of W. Hoy and which Chiles, as is alleged, fraudulently acquired first, by possessing himself of the bond of R. Searcy, the property of Thomas Boone, and secondly by prosecuting the suit in chancery in the Bourbon Circuit Court in the name of Thomas Boone and others, and lastly by obtaining from two of the heirs of Hoy and from Green Clay conveyances.

Upon the return of the cause to the circuit court in May 1834, that court pronounced a final decree, by which the defendant, Chiles, was decreed, by deed of release with special warranty to convey to the complainant all his title and interest in the land in controversy except that which he held under a deed from Green Clay, who the court states was a purchaser for a valuable consideration from Newland and wife (she being one of the heirs or devisees of W. Hoy, in whom the legal title was), and who conveyed to Chiles the title which he (Clay) had so acquired. The court also decreed that Chiles should deliver to the clerk of the court, to be cancelled, the contract between him and Hezekiah Boone and George Boone, attorneys in fact for Thomas Boone, as it appeared to the court that the contract was made without authority and that its terms had never been complied with by Hezekiah Boone. The court further decreed (having previously caused an adjustment to be made of one-half of the rents and profits of the land and one-half of the value of the improvements) the tenants in possession to pay the several balances which appeared to be due from them. As to so much of the land as was claimed by John Evalt, one of the defendants, within the

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bounds of Flournoy's patent and which is described in the decree, the court dismissed the bill, as Evalt, and those under whom he claims, had more than twenty years adverse possession. The court further decreed that the claim of the complainants is not to be prejudiced by the decree in this cause as to any of the heirs of Hoy who are not parties to the suit. The court likewise decreed that Jones Hoy and Fanny, by her guardian ad litem, do convey all their interest, &c., in the land, as heirs or devisees of William Hoy. And finally the court directed the clerk, as commissioner, to convey in default of conveyances being made by the defendants, according to the statute of Kentucky, and possession to be delivered by a fixed day.

From this decree both parties appealed and entered into the requisite bonds for the due prosecution of their respective appeals.

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MR. JUSTICE BALDWIN delivered the opinion of the Court.

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Reuben Searcy was entitled, in virtue of the law of Virginia of May 1779, as an actual settler, to four hundred acres of land in right of settlement and a preemption of one thousand acres adjoining, one-half whereof he gave to John Martin for location and patenting, and by bond dated 24 September, 1781, bound himself to convey seven hundred acres thereof to William Hoy, "as soon as deeds are made to lands in this country in general." Hoy was to have the first choice of the lands -- he bought Martin's share. On 15 December, 1781, Hoy, by an endorsement on the bond, assigned it to George Boone, his heirs and assigns, obliging himself

"as surety to the within bond, and if the within lands cannot be obtained by reason of a prior claim, then and in that case seven hundred acres, equal in quality and convenience, shall discharge the within bond."

On 30 April, 1783, George Boone, by another assignment on the bond, assigned his right to Thomas Boone, his heirs or assigns, without recourse, if Hoy or his heirs are sufficient to make good the bond; if not, George Boone bound himself and heirs to make it good to Thomas Boone, his heirs and assigns.

William Hoy obtained a patent in his own name in 1785 for the whole tract, containing, by actual survey about two thousand acres. Thomas Boone was in Kentucky in 1802, 1810, and 1819, in the neighborhood of the land, but never took possession of any part or instituted any suit to recover them; he resided and died in Pennsylvania. In 1823 he filed a bill in the Circuit Court of Kentucky, against William Chiles, Hezekiah Boone, George Boone, Nicholas Smith, Jr., Nicholas Smith, Sr., Jacob Smeltzer, George H. Baylor, Joseph Smith, John Evalt, and Joseph Cummins, praying for a conveyance of the legal title, and account of rents and profits, and such other and further relief as his case may require. After his death in December, 1817, the bill was duly revived by his heirs. By an amended bill, the heirs of John South were made defendants in 1824. By another amended bill, the heirs of William Hoy were likewise made defendants, in 1827. In 1832, the plaintiffs, by an amendment to their bill, averred that Reuben Searcy was dead intestate and without heirs in Kentucky, and made the heirs of George Boone parties.

The several answers of the defendants present distinct cases

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for our consideration, each depending on its own circumstances, requires a separate view and examination; that of William Chiles will be first considered. The general ground of relief set forth by the plaintiffs against all the defendants is founded on the assignments of Searcy's bond to Thomas Boone, as conveying the equitable title to the seven hundred acres, of which Hoy held the legal title; on this the general equity of the bill depended, which the plaintiffs made out. In the original bill it was charged against William Chiles that Thomas Boone, by the bond and assignments, had a clear equity to the one-half of the land patented to Hoy (but was content to hold the parcels decreed to Chiles, as afterwards explained), of which plaintiff had never been divested. That in 1802 he had made an assurance that he would convey to Hezekiah Boone, provided he would pay him in four years seven hundred pounds, but the purchase was declined, no money paid, and the arrangement given up. That in 1818, Chiles and the other defendants, in their own and complainant's name, filed a bill in the Bourbon Circuit Court of Kentucky against the heirs of Hoy, charging that plaintiff sold the land to Hezekiah Boone, and he to Chiles, and that all the plaintiffs in that suit desired the heirs of Hoy to convey the legal title which was prayed for by the bill; that Chiles obtained a decree for a conveyance, and a deed from a commissioner appointed by the court, to himself, of the interest of Hoy's heirs, Chiles having full notice of Thomas Boone's title, and that the contract with Hezekiah Boone had not been complied with. The bill also charges that the Bourbon suit was fraudulently instituted and prosecuted without the knowledge of Thomas Boone; that he never consented that the deed should be made to Chiles, who had no just claim to the land, but had engaged to maintain Smeltzer, Smiths, Evalt, Cummins, and Baylor in the possession of it. Chiles, in his answer, admits the bond and assignment to Thomas Boone; he then sets up a sale by Thomas to Hezekiah Boone, and that on 30 October, 1817, he, Chiles, purchased from the latter, by a written contract referred to. He admits the suit in Bourbon County was brought by himself, Thomas Boone, the now complainant, George and Hezekiah Boone, on which there was a decree and conveyance made to him as charged, and refers to

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the proceedings in that suit, relying on it as a bar to all claim by Thomas Boone for the purchase money. He admits full knowledge of plaintiffs' interest, coupled with the knowledge that he had parted with it; that the sale was ratified by his agent, by power of attorney, and the agent's signature to the contract of purchase, both of which are made part of his answer. He insists on the sale to Hezekiah, denies fraud in instituting the Bourbon suit, and answers its being done without plaintiffs' knowledge, by averring it was under the power of attorney and contract with Hezekiah Boone, and pleads the record as an estoppel in bar of plaintiffs' assertions, which he denies.

He also further states that he has purchased out and holds the interest of Hoy's heirs, as he can show by title and contracts regularly made out, and sets up the lapse of time and total dereliction of his claim as a bar to plaintiffs' right to any land. The answer concludes by averring payment by Hezekiah to Thomas Boone of the money due on the contract of 1802, if any balance is due, offers to pay it, but insists that plaintiff has no right to the land to which Chiles hold the legal title, and has a right to hold it on doing equity to plaintiff, if not already done.

In the amended bill against Hoy's heirs, the plaintiffs charged Chiles with having fraudulently, and with knowledge of Thomas Boone's equitable interest, obtained a conveyance of the title of three of the children of William Hoy, one of whom was Celia Newland and her husband.

In answer to this bill, Chiles admits the purchase from two of these children directly to himself, and that Newland and wife sold to Green Clay, who conveyed to him; he then alleges Clay to have been an innocent purchaser for a valuable consideration without notice till his purchase was complete, and prays protection as to this part of the land.

This presents the contest between the plaintiffs and Chiles in a double aspect -- first as to his claim generally, and next as to his claim under Green Clay as to the share of Mrs. Newland, which will be distinctly considered. The power of attorney from Thomas to George Boone, dated 1 October, 1787, authorized him to demand and receive a deed from William Hoy for the seven hundred

Page 35 U. S. 203

acres, to act fully for him in the premises, to appoint attorneys under him, and on receiving a title and conveyance in the name of Thomas Boone, to give a discharge of the bond and Hoy's engagement. The agreement between Thomas and Hezekiah Boone, dated 30 November, 1802, was for the conveyance of this land for seven hundred pounds, to be paid in four years, with an option to Hezekiah, within that time, to take the land or not.

The agreement under which Chiles claims to have purchased is in the following words:

"Articles of agreement made and entered into 30 October, 1817, between Hezekiah Boone, of the County of Woodford, and George Boone, of the County of Shelby, of the one part, and William Chiles, of the County of Montgomery, of the other part, and all of the State of Kentucky witnesseth that the said Hezekiah and George has this day delivered up to the said Chiles all the papers they hold relative to the tract of land containing 700 acres, it being a part of a settlement and preemption granted by the commissioners to Reuben Searcy, and the said Hezekiah and George Boone further agrees that the said Chiles shall have the free use of all the said papers for the purpose of coercing the title to said land, if any is to be had, if not to get the amount in cash, and the said Chiles, on his part, is to use diligence in getting the title or the cash for said 700 acres of land, and is hereby authorized to effect the above purposes, either by suit or by compromise, provided the compromise is not for less than three thousand dollars, as he may think the most advantageous to the parties to this article; and the said Chiles further agrees on his part to defray all the expenses of the above-mentioned investigation, and when the above business is finished, the said Chiles agrees further to pay over the one equal half of the proceeds of the above business, if in cash or bonds, and if in land, the one equal half of what may be obtained, to the said Hezekiah Boone, and the other half the said Chiles keeps for himself, and the said George Boone declares himself satisfied with the above contract. For the true performance of the above, the said Chiles and Hezekiah Boone bind themselves each to the other in the

Page 35 U. S. 204

penalty of ten thousand dollars. Given under our hands and seals the date above written."

"HEZEKIAH BOONE [seal]"

"GEORGE BOONE [seal]"

"Attorney in fact for Thomas Boone"

"Teste, &c. WILLIAM CHILES [seal]"

These are the papers referred to in Chiles' answer, on which he relies to make himself a purchaser of the equitable title of Thomas Boone, under which he obtained a decree of the Bourbon court, a deed from the commissioner of the whole legal title of Hoy's heirs, and a deed from two of them to himself.

From the evidence in the record it appears very clearly that Hezekiah Boone never complied with the agreement with Thomas Boone, paid no part of the purchase money, and abandoned the contract many years before the agreement with Chiles, to whom the state of the contract was explained before his agreement with Hezekiah and George Boone. As a matter of law it is equally clear that the power of attorney to George Boone gave him no authority to sell the land or to take a conveyance from the heirs of Hoy to any other person than Thomas Boone or his heirs. Chiles admits that when the agreement was made between him, Hezekiah and George Boone, he knew of the title of Thomas Boone; that he instituted and conducted the suit in the Bourbon court, under the power of attorney to George Boone, who signed the agreement of 1817, as the attorney in fact of Thomas, Chiles does not pretend to have ever paid, or agreed to pay anything for the land; on the contrary, the agreement shows he was to pay nothing from his own pocket in any event except the expenses to be incurred. It does not even purport to be a purchase or contain one clause or word which can be construed as such. The papers are delivered up to him for the purpose of coercing the title or getting the amount in cash, one-half of which, in case of success, he is to give to Hezekiah Boone, and retain the other for his own use. Nothing is to go to Thomas. George Boone, his agent, consents to it, and Chiles procures the legal title to himself in virtue of these papers.

Page 35 U. S. 205

Such is the case between the parties as presented by the pleadings, exhibits, and evidence. A court of equity must be regardless of all its rules before it can recognize Chiles as a purchaser or as having any right whatever in the land; it must also forfeit its character if it sanctions such a course of iniquitous fraud. We deem it wholly useless to contrast the relative equities of the plaintiffs and Chiles in order to affirm their right to a decree for the conveyance of the legal title obtained in violation of every principle which governs courts of equity, unless he has made out some objections to the relief prayed on grounds unconnected with the justice of the case.

It is objected that inasmuch as the condition of Searcy's bond to Hoy was satisfied on the latter's obtaining the patent, the plaintiffs can have no equity by its assignment. This would be a sufficient answer to a suit against Searcy, but is none to a suit against Hoy's heirs to enforce the performance of the terms of the assignment from Hoy to George Boone, which were an agreement to transfer the seven hundred acres or an equivalent in quantity and convenience. As between Hoy and Boone and his assigns, this gave a right to call on Hoy for the legal title, which Chiles has taken to himself, when the equity was in the plaintiffs, whose equity depends not on the bond of Searcy, but the contract of Hoy made by the assignment of his equitable interest in the land.

This view of the case disposes of the objection that the heirs of Searcy are not parties; they had no interest in the land; their father's bond was satisfied by the performance of the condition when the patents were obtained by Hoy, who, by purchase from Martin and Searcy, held the legal title to the whole fourteen hundred acres, subject to be divested only by the equity of Boone derived by this agreement to transfer the one-half. No act, therefore, remained to be performed by the heirs of Searcy; the title of Boone becomes complete by the union of his equitable with Hoy's legal title without any interposition of the heirs of Searcy, who have no interest to defend or title to convey. The purchase from Martin removes another objection arising from Hoy's having the first choice of the land and dying without having made it, whereby, as is alleged, the subject matter of the

Page 35 U. S. 206

bill was too vague to authorize a decree in favor of the plaintiffs. As Hoy held the whole tract, there was no necessity for his making the selection, it being immaterial to him which part he held under Martin or Searcy; his not making the election and holding the whole in fraud of the rights of his assignee could not prejudice him, to whom he had transferred as well the right of selection as the land itself in equity. Independently, however, of this consideration, we think that the identity of the land is ascertained by the terms of the bond and assignment, as well as the parties themselves; it was the one-half of the claim of Searcy, both by preemption and settlement, to be chosen by Hoy, whose assignees had the same right to choose as had been in him. Chiles, under the pretense and claim of being Hoy's assignee, made the choice by selling to the Smiths and Smeltzer the parts of the land on which they resided, and the plaintiffs, by their original bill, agree to take their share of the land according to the decree of the Bourbon court in that place. This selection is therefore binding on both parties, so that Chiles is not at liberty to contest the location, made first by his own act in the sale to the occupants, confirmed by a decree obtained at his own suit and agreed to by the plaintiffs as to the part to be conveyed.

It is further objected that there is a surplus in the survey to which the heirs of Boone are not entitled; if this objection could be sustained by any of the parties to this suit, it could be only by those whose rights by purchase or possession would be disturbed by decreeing to the plaintiffs more than the seven hundred acres. As Chiles has neither any right by purchase or any equity by long possession or improvements, but claims only by the fraudulent assumption of the plaintiffs' equitable title, the land exclusively claimed by him would be the first to be appropriated to them, and any surplus would be reserved for the benefit of those who had some pretensions to an equitable interest in it.

Page 35 U. S. 207

present suit was brought in six years after he first interfered with it. It cannot be permitted to him to acquire the legal title of Hoy in virtue of Boone's equity and to hold it to his own use on the ground that Boone's right had become extinct by the lapse of time before he acquired it. The means by which the legal title has been conveyed to Chiles have affected his conscience too deeply with fraud for a court of equity to suffer him to enjoy its fruits. As to him, the plaintiffs have established a right to a decree for the conveyance of whatever title he may have derived by any conveyance to himself directly of the legal right of Hoy's heirs.

The next aspect of the case between the plaintiffs and Chiles is presented by the interposition of Green Clay as an innocent purchaser from Newland and wife for a valuable consideration without notice, under whom he claims protection.

In the amended bill, the plaintiffs charge the purchase from Newland and wife to have been made fraudulently and with notice of their title, in answer to which Chiles states that Green Clay bought and received the title from John Newland and wife, knowing which he made him a defendant in the Bourbon suit, charging him to be a guilty purchaser, with notice of the equity arising from the bond of Hoy; but, Clay denying notice and not being able to prove it, Chiles bought his share, paid for it, and obtained a conveyance. He then refers to Clay's answer in the Bourbon court and insists that Clay was an innocent purchaser for a valuable consideration, without notice till his purchase was complete.

In that suit, Chiles had charged Clay not only with notice, but that he purchased from Newland and wife, binding himself to make good all the contracts of William Hoy. In his answer, Clay states that the contract he made with Newland and wife was bona fide, in good faith, for a valuable consideration paid them without notice or knowledge of any claim by Chiles, which he believes is founded in fraud and imposition;

"as to the contract between this respondent and Newland and wife, it is committed to record, and will speak for itself, and this respondent believes the complainant Chiles has misrepresented the true meaning thereof,"

but does not deny the averment that he was

Page 35 U. S. 208

bound to perform Hoy's contracts. The answer of Newland and wife to this part of the amended bill states that if they ever had any interest in the land, they have transferred their interest by a writing, amounting to a quitclaim, to Green Clay, but they never conveyed their title by deed to him or anyone else. This is the substance of all the pleadings on this part of the case. In 1821, the Bourbon County Court made a final decree in favor of Chiles, as well against the heirs of Hoy, as Green Clay, which was reversed by the Court of Appeals in 1827 for the want of proper parties, without any examination of the merits.

In March, 1825, Green Clay, by his indenture, granted to Chiles all the right, title, and interest which he holds by a deed from Newland and wife dated 23 May, 1814, to the tract of Searcy and a preemption and settlement right of one Townsend in consideration of two hundred and sixteen dollars, with warranty against himself and heirs, but against no other person.

The deed from Newland and wife to Green Clay was not referred to in the pleading, made an exhibit in the cause, or so far as appears, used in the circuit court; it was no part of the record before us at the argument of this cause at the last term, and no suggestion of diminution was then made. At the May sessions of the circuit court, on a suggestion of the defendant that this deed was on file and had been used at the hearing, the court ordered it to be certified to this Court, and the counsel for plaintiffs having agreed to consider it as returned on a certiorari, it has been read and we have taken it into our consideration as an exhibit in the cause. In doing this, however, we must be distinctly understood as clearly of opinion that it is not admissible by the rules of appellate courts, who can act on no evidence which was not before the court below or receive any paper that was not used at the hearing. 34 U. S. 9 Pet. 731. Nor would it have been a proper subject for that Court to have considered had it been offered to make out the case of the defendant; the deed was not set up or relied on in the answer of Chiles or of Clay, which was referred to and made a part of it; the existence of such a deed was no part of their allegations. Clay asserted merely a contract; Chiles alleged only that Clay bought and received the title of Newland and wife, without stating what the

Page 35 U. S. 209

title was or how purchased, whether by deed or otherwise. There was, therefore, no allegation in the answer of either which referred to the deed; it was not made a part of their case, which was put on a contract of purchase, and not a deed consummating it by a conveyance. A party is not allowed to state one case in a bill or answer and make out a different one by proof; the allegata and probata must agree; the latter must support the former, 4 Mad. 21, 29; 16 U. S. 3 Wheat. 527; 19 U. S. 6 Wheat. 468; 15 U. S. 2 Wheat. 380; 27 U. S. 2 Pet. 612; 24 U. S. 11 Wheat. 103; 6 J.R. 559, 63; 32 U. S. 7 Pet. 274, and there is no one subject of equity cognizance on which there is a wider difference between a deed and a contract of purchase than in the one now under consideration. A purchaser with notice may protect himself under a purchaser by deed without notice, but cannot do it by purchase from one who holds or claims by contract only.

The cases are wholly distinct. In the former, the purchaser with notice is protected; in the latter, he has no standing in equity for an obvious reason -- that the plaintiffs' elder equity shall prevail unless the defendant can shelter himself under the legal title acquired by one whose conscience was not affected with fraud or notice, and who can impart his immunity to a guilty purchaser as the representative of his legal rights fairly acquired by deed in such a manner as exempts him from the jurisdiction of a court of equity. Such a purchase affixes no stain on the conscience, and equity cannot disturb the legal title. But as it does not pass by a contract of purchase without deed, the defendant can acquire only an equity the transfer of which does not absolve him from the consequences of his first fraudulent purchase. His second purchase of an equity will not avail him more than the first, for the original notice of the plaintiff's equity taints his conscience so as to make him a mere trustee if he holds the legal title from one who is not an innocent bona fide purchaser.

If then Green Clay purchased only by contract from Newland and wife, they held the legal title; such was the case presented by the answer on which Chiles must stand at the hearing, but if permitted to rely on a deed, the court would render a decree on a case not before them or one which the plaintiff would be prepared to meet. 6 J.C. 349. For these reasons, we should have omitted any notice of this deed, but as it has been commented

Page 35 U. S. 210

on in the argument and it is for the interest of all parties that the merits of the case be finally adjudicated, we have for this purpose considered it as evidence in the cause. It is an indenture for the consideration of one hundred dollars, granting to Green Clay, his heirs and assigns, all the right, title, claim, and interest of Newland and wife in the real and personal estate of William Hoy; all debts, dues, demands, rents, and profits, in law or equity, to which she was entitled as one of his heirs and legatees, with warranty against themselves and all claiming under them, but against no other person whatever, and with also an agreement for further assurance, but in such a way as not to make themselves liable further than to convey such title as descended to them from William Hoy.

This is the case set up in the answer and made out by the proofs in the cause to make out Green Clay to be such a purchaser that his deed to Chiles will absolve the latter from the consequences of his fraudulent purchase, with full notice of the plaintiffs' equity; whether this is such a case as will give to Chiles the protection he claims depends on the rules which courts of equity have adopted as to bona fide purchasers for a valuable consideration without notice.

It is a general principle in courts of equity that where both parties claim by an equitable title, the one who is prior in time is deemed the better in right. 11 U. S. 7 Cranch 18; 18 J.R. 532; 20 U. S. 7 Wheat. 46, and that where the equities are equal in point of merit, the law prevails.

This leads to the reason for protecting an innocent purchaser holding the legal title against one who has the prior equity; a court of equity can act only on the conscience of a party; if he has done nothing that taints it, no demand can attach upon it so as to give any jurisdiction. Sugden on Vend. 722. Strong as a plaintiff's equity may be, it can in no case be stronger than that of a purchaser who has put himself in peril by purchasing a title and paying a valuable consideration without notice of any defect in it or adverse claim to it, and when, in addition, he shows a legal title from one seized and possessed of the property purchased, he has a right to demand protection and relief, 9 Ves. 30-34, which a court of equity imparts liberally. Such suitors

Page 35 U. S. 211

are its most especial favorites. It will not inquire how he may have obtained a statute, mortgage, encumbrance, or even a satisfied legal term by which he can defend himself at law, if outstanding; equity will not aid his adversary in taking from him the tabula in naufragio if acquired before a decree. Shower P.C. 69; 4 B.P.C. 328; 1 D. & E. 767; P.C. 65; 7 V. 576; 10 V. 268, 70; 11 V. 619: 2 Ch.Cas. 135, 6; 2 Vin. 161; 1 Vent. 198. Relief will not be granted against him in favor of the widow or orphan. P.C. 249; 2 V.Jr. 457, 8; 5 B.P.C. 292, nor shall the heir see the title papers. 18 Vin. 115; 1 Ch.Cas. 34, 69; 2 Freem. 24, 43, 175; it is a bar to a bill to perpetuate testimony or for discovery. 1 Harrison's Ch. 261-263; Sugden 723-724, 1 Virnon 354, and goes to the jurisdiction of the court over him, his conscience being clear, any adversary must be left to his remedy at law, 2 V.Jr. 457, 3 V.Jr. 170, 183; 9 V. 30, and 18 J.R. 532, 11 U. S. 7 Cranch 18.

But this will not be done on mere averment or allegation; the protection of such bona fide purchase is necessary only when the plaintiff has a prior equity, which can be barred or avoided only by the union of the legal title with an equity, arising from the payment of the money and receiving the conveyance without notice, and a clear conscience. It is setting up matter not in the bill; a new case is presented, not responsive to the bill, but one founded on a right and title operating, if made out, to bar and avoid the plaintiffs equity, which must otherwise prevail, 9 V. 33-34. The answer setting it up is no evidence against the plaintiff, who is not bound to contradict or rebut it, 14 J.R. 63, 74. 1 Mumf. 396-397. 10 J.R. 544-548; 15 U. S. 2 Wheat. 383; 16 U. S. 3 Wheat. 527; 19 U. S. 6 Wheat. 468; 1 J.C. 461. It must be established affirmatively by the defendant independently of his oath, 6 J.R. 559; 1 J.R. 590; 17 J.R. 367; 18 J.R. 532; 2 J.C. 87, 90; 4 B.C. 75; Amb. 589; 4 V. 404, 587; 3 J.C. 583. In setting it up by plea or answer, it must state the deed of purchase, the date, parties, and contents briefly; that the vendor was seized in fee and in possession; the consideration must be stated, with a distinct averment that it was bona fide and truly paid, independently of the recital in the deed. Notice must be denied previous to and down to the time of paying the money and the delivery of the deed, and if notice is

Page 35 U. S. 212

specially charged, the denial must be of all circumstances referred to from which notice can be inferred, and the answer or plea show how the grantor acquired title, Sugden 766-770. 1 Ath. 384; 3 P.W. 2801, 243, 307; Amb. 421; 2 Atk. 230; 21 U. S. 8 Wheat. 449; 25 U. S. 12 Wheat. 502; 30 U. S. 5 Pet. 718; 7 J.C. 67. The title purchased must be apparently perfect, good at law, a vested estate in fee simple, 5 U. S. 1 Cranch 100; 7 U. S. 3 Cranch 133-135; 1 Wash.C.C. 75. It must be by a regular conveyance, for the purchaser of an equitable title holds it subject to the equities upon it in the hands of the vendor, and has no better standing in a court of equity, 11 U. S. 7 Cranch 48; 32 U. S. 7 Pet. 271; Sugden 722. Such is the case which must be stated to give a defendant the benefit of an answer or plea of an innocent purchase without notice; the case stated must be made out; evidence will not be permitted to be given of any other matter not set out, 32 U. S. 7 Pet. 271.

Such are the privileges of innocent purchasers, and such the guards against those who may assume their character in courts of equity; we have only to apply their law to the answers of Chiles and Clay, together with the exhibits and proofs in the case, to ascertain whether Clay filled that character when he conveyed to Chiles or at any other time. The answers are as barren of the averments necessary to make a case of such a purchase as would be protected against the prior equity of the plaintiffs, as the record is of the proof of any fact to support it. Nor does the consideration of the deed from Newland and wife to Clay, bring the case any nearer to the established rules and principles of equity.

Though in form a grant by indenture, it is in effect a mere release and quitclaim, as stated by Newland and wife in their answer; it does not purport or profess to convey the land in controversy; nor does it assert any title to, or seizin of it; the consideration expressed does not apply to this land more than to a legacy or personal property. The grant is definite only in one respect -- that it is of whatever descended to the grantors from William Hoy, but does not specify what it was, and the words of the grant are fully satisfied if anything so descended, whether realty or personalty. As to this land, Hoy was a trustee by his own contract; nothing did or could descend to his heirs but the dry, barren

Page 35 U. S. 213

legal title, without a shadow of beneficial interest, which was all that Newland and wife intended to convey or Clay to receive by the deed. The covenants of warranty and for further assurance are expressly limited to their right, such as it was, and to their own acts only; they gave no covenant against the acts of Hoy, and by conveying only such interest as they held by descent, it passed to Clay with the same encumbrances of Boone's equity, as if it had remained in Newland and wife, who, neither in their answer or by their deed pretend to any title or right. These circumstances make the deed suspicious on its face, and in the absence of affirmative proof to support the recital of the payment of the consideration or any evidence of seizin or even a claim of title by the grantors, rather weakens than sustain the answer. When we find the distinct admission and full proof of the prior equity of the plaintiffs, with full notice to Chiles, who claimed not as a purchaser but by a special contract with Hezekiah Boone for the division between themselves of whatever, either of land or money, they could recover in right of Thomas Boone's known equity and with the plain intent to defraud him, the purchase from Clay and the setting him up as innocent purchaser for a valuable consideration without notice, under all the circumstances of this case, so far from purging the conscience of Chiles of its original taint or imparting to him any protection as the representative of Green Clay, stamps the conduct of both with bad faith. Chiles appears on this record a mere pretender to a purchase; by his agreement with Hezekiah Boone and George Boone as the attorney in fact of Thomas Boone, he purchased the title of neither; his only claim under it was to the one-half of whatever he could acquire. He did not, therefore, even fill the character of a purchaser with notice, who by the rules of equity may purge his guilty conscience by purchasing from one whose clear conscience and legal title place him beyond the jurisdiction of equity; the immunity of an innocent purchaser cannot be imparted to the fraudulent usurper of another's rights without purchase.

But there is one circumstance, which saves us the necessity of considering the defects in the averments of the answers or proofs of the deed from Newland and wife to Clay, or from him to Chiles.

Page 35 U. S. 214

Chiles states in his answer that being unable to prove notice to Green Clay before his purchase from Newland and wife, the purchased from Clay, yet he did so establish the fact of Clay's guilty purchase; that he obtained a decree against him in the Bourbon court. He purchased from Clay while that decree was in full force, and now appears on the record claiming to be protected under this purchase by the equity of Clay as an innocent purchaser, when Clay, after being an adjudged mala fide purchaser, by the final decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, clothed Chiles with his own character by his deed in 1825. It would present the administration of equity jurisprudence in different courts on very different principles, if Clay, who could not protect himself in a state court at the suit of Chiles, could protect Chiles here, at the suit of Boone, or that Chiles, after procuring the decree against Clay in a suit to which he made Thomas Boone a plaintiff on the ground that he purchased with notice, should now obtain a decree against Boone on the ground that Clay was an innocent purchaser for a valuable consideration fully paid, without notice of any defect in his title, till it was complete at law by a conveyance in fee and in equity by the actual payment of the money. Neither the pleadings the exhibits nor the evidence on this record affords us any warrant for such a proceeding; on the contrary, they make it our duty to decree a conveyance from Chiles to the plaintiffs of whatever right or title he may have acquired by the deed from Green Clay.

We are next to consider the case of the plaintiffs as to the other defendants. The heirs of South, by their answer, disclaim any interest in the land; nor does it appear that the heirs of Hezekiah or George Boone have any interest in the land or at any time have been in possession or held any title under Hoy's patent. As to these defendants, therefore, there is no subject matter for any decree except for the dismission of the bill.

As to the heirs of Hoy, the plaintiffs have made out an undoubted right to a conveyance of the legal title. Those who have answered set up no title or claim to the land, and they must execute the trust which has descended to them by conveying their legal title to plaintiffs.

Page 35 U. S. 215

John Evalt is admitted to have been in possession for more than twenty years under an adverse title by patent to Flournoy. The plaintiffs have therefore no right to the land thus held.

Nicholas Smith states in his answer that he holds fifty acres of the land claimed by the plaintiffs by purchase from John Jones by deed, which he makes an exhibit in the cause; that this fifty acres is a part of Flournoy's patent, which he holds adversely to the claim of Searcy. The deed is dated in December, 1797, conveying, in consideration of one hundred and twenty-five pounds, fifty acres of land with general warranty. Independently of the deed from Jones, it is clearly proved by several witnesses that Smith made the purchase from him, settled on the land in 1798, where he lived till his death, and that there was a continued possession and residence on the land by him and those claiming under him to the present time, and valuable improvements made. The plaintiffs do not controvert this purchase or residence; they do not charge Smith with any act affecting his conscience or show that he ever purchased or made claim under them or any person asserting any right under their title. The title of Flournoy appears to be by an equity older than Searcy's, though his patent is later than Hoy's. We can perceive no ground of equity to entitle the plaintiffs to a conveyance of the title thus acquired by Smith. He and those under him have had an adverse possession of twenty-five years before the bringing of this suit; and his possession of the fifty acres cannot be disturbed either at law or in equity.

The only charge in the bill against the remaining defendants is their combining to institute the suit in the Bourbon court, of which there is not only no proof, but the contrary appears by the record of that suit; they were not parties, and took no part in the prosecution of it. The bill, however, alleges that Chiles

"had made some engagement to maintain Smeltzer, Smiths, Cummins, and Baylor, in detaining possession and enjoying the profits for a long time past, still refusing to surrender."

The prayer against them was

"to compel the defendant Chiles, or such of the defendants as now hold the title, to convey the tract described by the deed under the decree to Chiles, to account for rents and profits and such other and further relief as his case may require. "

Page 35 U. S. 216

The answer of Nicholas Smith, Jr., Nicholas Smith, Sr., Jacob Smith, and George H. Baylor, was joint and several; jointly they denied being parties to the Bourbon suit, or being bound by the decree. They admit that Searcy claimed the land; that it was located by Martin and patented to Hoy; allege a surplus of five or six hundred acres in the survey and that plaintiff could be satisfied without disturbing them; plead the lapse of time, and staleness of the demand as a bar, and deny the right of the plaintiffs to recover. They state that they have been informed that Hoy assigned Searcy's bond to George Boone; call for proof of the assignment to Thomas Boone; charge that if the bond was assigned to him, it has long since been cancelled between Thomas and George Boone; that George Boone assigned the land to John South, investing him with all the title to the land, which George Boone derived from William Hoy, by the agency, consent, and authority of Thomas Boone, if the bond was ever assigned to him.

They also charge that South, by virtue of such assignment, held the bond till his death, and that his executor held it till Chiles obtained it by fraud, and that they are entitled to certain parcels of land by purchase for a valuable consideration from John South. They then aver that Peter Smeltzer purchased four hundred acres and took South's bond, with surety, for the title; took possession of the same in 1791, settled upon, improved, and resided on it till his death. That George H. Baylor claims under Smeltzer by purchase from his heirs, for a valuable consideration; now resides upon it, and that a continued residence has been kept upon the land, on which there are large and valuable improvements. That Nicholas Smith holds two hundred acres, by purchase from Jacob Swope in 1797, who purchased from George Pope in 1795, who purchased from South in 1794. That Smith resided on this land from 1798, and made valuable improvements thereon, which residence has been continued by him, and those under him to the present time. These defendants, then charge that Thomas Boone was in Kentucky in 1802, 1810, and 1819; knew of the sales by South of the land they occupied, but gave them no notice of his title, and, on the contrary, disclaimed it in conversation, and then proceed to give an account of their connection

Page 35 U. S. 217

with Chiles in substance as follows.

He came to the Smiths and Smeltzer, stating that he held Hoy's legal title to the land; that South's bonds were worth nothing, and they would lose the land and improvements, whereupon they, ignorant of their rights and the title to the land, compromised with Chiles, agreed to give him up South's bonds and to pay him ten dollars an acre in three annual installments for six hundred acres, each to pay for his own share. Chiles was to make them Hoy's title, but having received South's bonds, he obtained from his executor the bond of Searcy; struck out the assignment to South; gave up his bonds to his executor, shortly after which he commenced the suit in the Bourbon court and obtained the decree referred to in the bill. They charge Chiles with fraud in the whole transaction; pray that their answer may be taken as a cross-bill against Chiles; that he be compelled to restore the bonds of South, or that they may have such decree against him as their case may require, and their contract with him cancelled.

They deny the plaintiffs' rights to rents and profits in case of recovery, but if they lose the land, pray a just compensation for their lasting and valuable improvements, and then set up a contract between Thomas Boone and a certain Boone Engles in 1822 in pursuance of which the present suit was brought by him in their names, which they allege to be within the statutes of champerty and maintenance, on which they rely as well as on the common law, the rules and principles of equity, and the statute of limitation. Cummins claimed by purchase from Smeltzer, which his heirs, in their answer, aver to be fraudulent, but if it is valid, they set up thirty years' possession of part of the land before suit brought as a bar.

Nicholas Smith, by an amended answer, refers to a copy of Searcy's bond, with all the assignments thereon, previous to the erasure of the assignment by George Boone to South,

"under whom all the tenants in possession, including this defendant, claim their several portions of said seven hundred acres of land; which assignment bears date August 6, 1792. . . . And if said South, as executor of William Hoy, had ever sold any portion of said one thousand four hundred acres, or the moiety seven hundred acres claimed by complainants herein, (for this seven hundred

Page 35 U. S. 218

acres was never defined to any of the original purchasers previous to said assignment, which is not admitted), this defendant relies confidently that said assignment last mentioned of said bond to him, said South, would enure in equity to confirm their claim; nor could its subsequent cancellation, or the surrender of said bond, with the consent of the executor or administrator of South, affect or impair their claims. He reexhibits the copy of said bond, with the several assignments thereon, and relies on time and circumstances to show that the one from George Boone to South was done by proper authority from Thomas Boone."

The cause was at issue on the general replication. At the hearing, all the material facts alleged by the defendants in relation to their purchase from and under South, their agreement with Chiles, the surrender of South's bonds to his executor, and the delivery by him to Chiles of Searcy's bond, with the assignments thereon, were fully established by the exhibits and proofs in the cause, as also their possession, residence, and improvements on the land as stated in their answer. But they wholly failed in proving that the assignment of Searcy's bond by George Boone to John South, was made with the knowledge, consent, or authority of Thomas Boone.

South married a daughter of William Hoy, to whom he was executor; the agreement between Chiles, the Smiths, and Smeltzer was made in 1817; South's bonds were given up in the winter of 1817-1818, when Childs received the bond of Searcy; the suit in the Bourbon court was commenced in January, 1818, and is yet pending.

This suit was commenced in 1823, while the decree of the Bourbon court was in force and before any appeal to the Court of Appeals of Kentucky; it was before this Court in 1834 on a certificate of division from the Circuit Court of Kentucky on the question whether it had jurisdiction of the cause. It was then decided that it had jurisdiction; that the heirs of Hoy were not necessary parties, except for the purpose of obtaining the legal title if it remained in them; that a decree might be made without them, as to parties properly before the court; that the heirs of

Page 35 U. S. 219

George Boone were not necessarily defendants, and no proof need be made respecting them. 33 U. S. 8 Pet. 535-537. All questions of jurisdiction of parties are therefore closed.

The objections to the plaintiffs' recovery on the ground of the contract between Thomas Boone and Boon Engles being within the statutes of champerty and maintenance cannot be sustained for two reasons:

1. The English statutes on this subject, which were adopted in Kentucky, punished the offense and declared the contract for maintenance void between the parties, but did not direct or authorize the dismission of the suit instituted between other parties in furtherance of such contract. Boon Engles is no party to this suit, and it does not concern the defendants whether it was commenced and is conducted by his agency or by the plaintiffs themselves. The right of plaintiffs is not forfeited by such an agreement, and it may be asserted against the defendants whether the contract with Boon Engles is valid or void. S.P. Litt.Select Cas. 522.

2. By the act of 1798, which was in force when this contract was made and suit brought, no person could be prevented from prosecuting or defending any claim to land held under the land laws of Virginia, nor shall any suit brought to make good such claim be considered as coming within the provisions of the common law or any statute against champerty or maintenance. 1 Mor. & Brown, Kent Stat. 282-2855. These statute were not revived till 1824.

The first question of fact which arises is in what right the Smiths and Smeltzer first entered upon the land purchased from South. The amended answer of Nicholas Smith, Jr., is explicit on this point, stating that all the tenants in possession, including himself, claim under South by the assignment of George Boone to him. Though this answer is not evidence against the other defendants, yet as they do not deny notice of the assignment to Thomas Boone before their purchase, and in their answer pray for a restitution of South's bonds, there is good reason to believe the statements of Smith, especially in connection with the proofs in the cause.

Page 35 U. S. 220

Barbara Smeltzer, the widow of Peter, testifies that he settled on the land in 1791; South came down and marked out the four hundred acres; that it was held under South, who claimed under the bond from Searcy, assigned by Hoy to George Boone. That at the time they first settled, South represented to Smeltzer that he had traded for that bond; they were soon after informed that he had not got the bond, but soon after obtained it from George Boone; that Smeltzer soon afterwards informed George Boone of what had been done, who appeared well pleased.

William Johnson testifies that Smeltzer purchased from South, and began to improve in 1786. L. Eastin states that he took possession in 1789. It is also testified by William Boone that South had sold before he got the bond from George Boone, and the evidence of Mrs. Smeltzer is strongly corroborated by Benjamin Mills, Esq., to whom some of the Smiths and Smeltzers made a professional application relative to the chain of title between South and Hoy. He found no authority to George Boone to assign the bond to South, which was the only claim or color of claim he had to the land; hence and from his knowledge of South's character he concluded he had sold without claim, and brought no suit for them. Joseph Steele testified to the declaration of George Boone, that South was in treaty with him for the bond for some time before the assignment was made, and that Smeltzer was informed previous to his purchase that the land belonged to Thomas Boone. No objection having been made on the hearing to the deposition of Steele in relation to the declarations of Boone, they are competent evidence, and in connection with that of the other witnesses fully support the testimony of Mrs. Smeltzer and the amended answer of Smith. We must therefore consider Smeltzer as having purchased from South his right under the bond of Searcy and the several assignments down to South, with notice thereof. Smith's amended answer is conclusive that he so purchased the two hundred acres in 1797 by the assignment of South's bond. In his deposition he also states that he soon afterwards purchased from South sixty or seventy acres in addition, of which he took possession and

Page 35 U. S. 221

has ever since held under the same claim; that he lent South three hundred dollars, which was to go in part payment of the land, but finding South had no title, he recovered it back by suit.

In 1817, the parties stood thus: Smeltzer had been in possession under a claim of title by Searcy's bond and assignments for twenty-six years of four hundred acres. Smith had held possession of the two hundred acres nineteen years, which, added to the possession of Pope and Swope from 1794, made twenty-three, and of the sixty or seventy acres for about eighteen years, when they gave up South's bonds and agreed to purchase from Chiles, who claimed the legal title of Hoy. During this time, Thomas Boone had neither affirmed or disaffirmed the sale by South, made no entry on the land, gave any notice to Smith or Smeltzer, instituted no suit, or made any effort to obtain the legal title from Hoy's heirs, though his right was then the same as now made out, and had been vested in him for thirty-six years. He made George Boone his agent in 1787, yet for thirty years he appears to have been wholly inactive in asserting or endeavoring to complete the title. The agreement with Hezekiah Boone in 1802, seems to have been the only positive assertion of a right in the land made by Thomas Boone. When the present suit was commenced, Smeltzer and those under him had been in possession thirty-two years; Smith twenty-five years of the two hundred acres and twenty-one of the sixty or seventy acres, and the equity of Boone arose forty-two years before.

From this state of facts it is perfectly clear that if Smiths and Smeltzer can be considered as claimants in their own right, adverse to the title of Thomas Boone, the lapse of time alone is a complete bar to any equitable relief; the rules of equity as to the effect of time in favor of possession, are too well settled to be stated or doubted. 2 Jac. & Walker 138, 22 U. S. 9 Wheat. 497; 23 U. S. 10 Wheat. 168; 28 U. S. 3 Pet. 52; 31 U. S. 6 Pet. 66; 30 U. S. 5 Pet. 491; 7 J.C. 122; 23 U. S. 10 Wheat. 150, 23 U. S. 174; 34 U. S. 9 Pet. 416.

Thomas Boone's only standing in a court of equity is by considering these defendants as his trustees, by their purchase under South or Chiles, or both. As neither of them sold by any lawful authority from him, he is not bound by, and may

Page 35 U. S. 222

repudiate their acts, the consequence of which, would be a bar of his claim on these defendants holding adversely. But as South assumed the right to sell the interest of Thomas Boone, in virtue of the assignment from George Boone, as his attorney in fact, and Chiles acted throughout all his proceedings, under the agreement signed by George Boone in the same capacity, which was an express recognition of the original right of Thomas Boone; he may waive the defect in the power of attorney, ratify the acts of his agent, and elect to consider the purchasers from South and Chiles as holding through and under him. When the purchasers from them discovered that neither South or Chiles had any right in the land, they too had a right of election to hold under the title which they intended to purchase, under which they had taken possession of the land, and held it till the discovery of the fraud, or to disclaim the purchase, renounce all rights consequent upon it, and remain in possession as claimants adverse to the title under which they entered.

It is unnecessary to decide on the effect of such disclaimer had it been made before the purchase from Chiles or the filing the bill. We cannot find in the evidence or pleadings that Thomas Boone ever made any election, as to considering these defendants holding under or adverse to him, but it is very clear that they originally purchased, entered, and held under his title, and it does not appear that they ever assumed an attitude of direct hostility to it. We have come to the conclusion, that we must now consider them, as holding by their original claim, so far as to authorize the plaintiffs to make them their trustees, in virtue of their purchase from South, and ratify the agreement of Chiles. There is no other way in which the plaintiff can escape from the consequences of the staleness of his equity, coupled with the long possession of the defendants, than by considering them as friendly purchasers and possessors under them. The plaintiffs put themselves out of court by setting up the purchase and possession of defendants as adverse to their equity, for they then would have no protection against the lapse of time, which they have neither explained or accounted for; 17 V. 88-89, 96; 1 J. & W. 62-63, and note; 1 J.C. 47-48; 3 J.C. 586; 1 J.C.

Page 35 U. S. 223

354; 5 J.C. 187-188; 3 J.C. 218, and all bills in equity which seek to disturb long possessions deserve the utmost discouragement; 1 Atk. 467, 1 J. & W. 62.

The plaintiffs must therefore make their claim on the defendants as their trustees by direct contract or by implication from the purchase under their title; in either case the lapse of time effects them. They cannot enforce the execution of an express voluntary trust after its known disavowal for such time, and under such circumstances as would make an adverse possession a bar; 28 U. S. 3 Pet. 52; 7 J.C. 122; 2 Sch. & Lef. 607, 636-638. If a purchaser is made by implication an involuntary trustee for the vendor, so as to be affected by his equity, it must be pursued in a reasonable time; 4 J.C. 316; 3 J.C. 216-217; 4 B.C. 136-138; 1 Cox 28; 17 V. 96, 160.

Though time does not bar a direct trust as between trustee and cestui que trust, till it is disavowed; yet where a constructive trust is made out in equity, time protects the trustee though his conduct was originally fraudulent and his purchase would have been repudiated for fraud. 4 B.C. 136; 17 V. 97; 1 B.C. 554. So where a party takes possession in his own right, and was prima facie the owner, and is turned into a trustee by matter of evidence merely, 3 J.C. 216. And where one intending to purchase the entire interest in the land, took a conveyance without words of limitation to his heirs, passing only an estate for life, the lapse of fourteen years, after the expiration of the life estate, was a protection to the heirs of the purchaser; 5 J.C. 185-186.

What that reasonable time is, within which a constructive trust can be enforced, depends on the circumstances of the case; but there can be few cases where it can be done, after twenty years' peaceable possession, by the person who claims in his own right, but whose acts have made him a trustee by implication. His possession entitles him to at least the same protection as that of a direct trustee, who, to the plaintiffs' knowledge, disavows the trust, and holds adversely; as to whom the time runs from the disavowal, 28 U. S. 3 Pet. 52, because his possession is thenceforth adverse. The possession of land is notice of a claim to it by the possessor, Sugden Vend. 753-754; if not taken and held by contract

Page 35 U. S. 224

or purchase, it is from its inception, adverse to all the world, and in twenty years, bars the owner in law and equity; 12 U. S. 8 Cranch 250; 17 U. S. 4 Wheat. 221; 30 U. S. 5 Pet. 354. A purchaser in possession by a contract to sell is in law a trespasser, but in equity he is the owner of the estate, having taken possession under the contract, and the vendor is in the situation of an equitable mortgagor, 15 V. 138. If the entry was by purchase and the purchaser claims the land in fee, he is not a trustee; his title, though derivative from and consistent with the original title of the plaintiffs, is a present claim in exclusion of and adverse to it. A vendee in fee derives his title from the vendor, but his title, though derivative, is adverse to that of the vendor; he enters and holds for himself. Such was the doctrine of this Court in Blight's Lessee v. Rochester, 4 Pet. 506-507. In that case, the Court said

"The vendee acquires the property for himself, and his faith is not pledged to maintain the title of the vendor."

"The only controversy which ought to arise respects the payment of the purchase money, how far the vendee is bound to this by law or by the obligations of good faith is a question depending on all the circumstances of the case."

"If the vendor has actually made a conveyance, his title is extinguished in law as well as equity; if he has sold, but has not conveyed, his contract of sale binds him to convey, unless it be conditional; if, after such a contract, he brings an ejectment, he violates his own contract unless the condition be broken by the vendee, and if it be, the vendor ought to show it. . . . If defendant claims under a sale from plaintiff, and plaintiff himself is compelled to assert that he does, then the plaintiffs themselves assert a title against this contract. Unless they show that it was conditional and that the condition is broken, they cannot, in the very act of disregarding it themselves, insist that it binds the defendant in good faith, to acknowledge a title which had no real existence. Upon reason, then, we should think that the defendant in this case, under all the circumstances, is at liberty to controvert the title of the plaintiff."

20 U. S. 7 Wheat. 548-550.

In applying these principles to the case before us, it is very clear that neither the purchase from South or Chiles is any

Page 35 U. S. 225

equitable estoppel to the defendant's, controverting the title of Boone, when he disaffirms and violates the contract of purchase by seeking to turn them out of possession. He cannot make them constructive trustees by their purchase, and then be permitted to disavow the purchase without subjecting himself to the consequences of delaying the prosecution of his right. As trustees by implication, in equity they may claim the benefit of the lapse of time; if he considers them as purchasers from him or by a title derived from him, he can have no hold upon their conscience to surrender him the possession if they are willing to pay the purchase money. Whether they purchased from him or from another who assumed to sell by his authority and in his right matters not; if they claim by his title, and thus become his trustees by his affirmance of the sale, the law of equity compels him to assert his rights in a reasonable time. When he does so, the execution of the trust will be enforced, but it will be enforced on both parties according to the terms of the purchase, and the trust which equity raises on it by implication. Equity makes the vendor without deed a trustee to the vendee for the conveyance of the title; the vendee is a trustee for the payment of the purchase money and the performance of the terms of the purchase. But a vendee is in no sense the trustee of the vendor as to the possession of the property sold; the vendee claims and holds it in his own right, for his own benefit, subject to no right of the vendor, save the terms which the contract imposes; his possession is therefore adverse as to the property, but friendly as to the performance of the conditions of purchase.

In virtue of his legal title, the vendor has a legal right of possession, but equity will not permit him to assert it unless the vendee has violated the contract; he will be enjoined if the vendee performs it. It is very certain that a sale of the legal title by deed creates no legal estoppel by which a purchaser is prevented from contesting the title of the vendor or the title of any person from whom the vendor derived title, 20 U. S. 7 Wheat. 547. It is equally certain that the sale of an equitable title by bond or other contract cannot have a contrary effect in equity, which

Page 35 U. S. 226

decides according to the aequam et bonum of each case. In this case, Boone comes into court to obtain possession under an equitable title only; he is barred by time unless he can make the defendants his trustees at the institution of the suit; he charges them with no fraud, and nothing is averred or proved against them to so affect their conscience as to give a court of equity jurisdiction. He is thus compelled to rest on their purchase of his title from South and Chiles, making them constructive trustees, which, on the pleadings and evidence, we are of opinion he may do. There is, then, a trust between them, but it is that trust which, in equity, results from the contract of purchase. Boone is a trustee for such title as the defendants purchased, and were entitled to receive; they are trustees for the purchase money they agreed to pay for it. Boone avers they bought his title, which we think is made out. He then is the cestui que trust as to the money, and they for his title.

To divest this trust of all mutuality would be subversive of every rule of equity; it will never award a surrender of the possession of land by a purchaser of an equitable title, but on a clear violation of the condition of purchase, clearly proved by the plaintiff. He is without remedy at law in this case; compelled to come into equity, he must do it; he sets up a trust in the defendants for his use; all he can ask is its execution by payment of the purchase money; if he has a decree for that, justice is done to him, and nothing can be more just than to decree that he shall perform the act in consideration of which he obtains relief. If he comes into court to turn them out on the ground that defendants have purchased a title which must be traced up to him in virtue of the contract of purchase; he asserts a title against this contract when he denies them the benefit of the purchase, and in the language of this Court in Blight v. Rochester, the plaintiffs cannot, in the very act of disregarding it themselves, insist that it binds the defendants in good faith to acknowledge the title. The defendants may contest it when set up to defeat the purchase in this case in equity, as it was done in that at law. This Court did not then think their decision to be

Page 35 U. S. 227

at variance with the decisions of the courts of Kentucky, nor do we think that we now in any way interfere with them.

They have held that the possession of the purchaser from the plaintiff without deed is friendly to the plaintiff, and stops the running of the statute of limitations, 2 Bibb 506. But that a vendee by deed may at law contest the title of the person under whom he bought, though a vendee by executory contract cannot, if he is in possession under and looks to the vendor for the completion of his title; in the first case, he holds adversely, in the second not. 3 Littell 135-136. So if he purchases from the patentee and holds his bond for the title, 5 Litt. 318, a defendant cannot, in ejectment, set up an outstanding title in a third person, if he purchased from plaintiff without deed, 6 Litt. 444, nor can a tenant or one who purchases from him contest the title of the landlord. 4 Bibb 33; 2 Marshall 243.

These decisions are unquestionably correct, but the principle on which they are founded is very different from that which the plaintiffs' counsel deduce from them; they admit that possession, under a deed conveying a legal title, is adverse, and that a defendant so holding may deny the title of his vendor in a suit at law. The contract of purchase, then, is no estoppel, though by the most solemn instrument known to the law. The same principle seems closely applicable by analogy to a suit in equity, in which the plaintiff rests on an equitable title only, which has been sold to the defendant, as the foundation of a decree awarding possession of the land purchased; the proceeding is analogous to an ejectment; the process of executing such a decree is the same in Kentucky, by an habere facias. It is difficult to perceive any sound reason why the same analogy should not be observed in the proceedings previous to the decree; if the defendant, a vendee of the legal title by deed, can, at law, contest the title of his vendor, who is plaintiff, why may not the vendee of an equitable title, by bond or other executory contract, enjoy the same right in a court of equity? We are clearly of opinion that the defendants in this case had such right, and that there is nothing in the evidence before us which could have deprived them of it had they rested their case upon their adverse possession alone, but

Page 35 U. S. 228

the admissions of Smith in his amended answer, the proofs of the cause as to Smeltzer, together with the joint answer of themselves and Baylor, place them in a different position.

As to them, we are perfectly satisfied that their possession was a perfect protection against the equity of Thomas Boone when this suit was instituted; but we think that his equitable right to the purchase money agreed to be paid to Chiles, has been saved by their answer and the evidence in the case; our only difficulty has been whether we can, on the pleadings, make such a decree as, in our opinion, comports with the justice and equity of the case. The specific prayers of the bill are that such of the defendants as hold the title, convey to the plaintiff the tract described by the deed under the decree to Chiles; neither Smiths, Smeltzer, or Baylor hold this title, or claim under the decree or deed from the commissioner to Chiles; this part of the prayer cannot, therefore, be granted. The next is an account for rents and profits; this can be done as to Chiles, but cannot as to the others on our views of the case. The general prayer is such other and further relief as the plaintiffs' case may require. This is a broad prayer, on which such relief may be granted as is not inconsistent with the bill or the specific prayers. 33 U. S. 8 Pet. 536. This case is one of an undoubted equitable title to the 700 acres of land, had it been pursued in time; but under the circumstances of the case it is narrowed down to a claim for the purchase money of the land, held by the defendants under the purchases from South and Chiles, at the price stipulated in their agreement with the latter. This we think is required by the case of the plaintiffs, as it appears on the whole record, without placing the defendants in any position more injurious to themselves than their answer would authorize. They pray for a restoration of South's bonds and the rescission of the contract made with Chiles, as the means of enabling them to obtain a decree in their favor.

"But should, under all the circumstances of the case, it be their misfortune to lose the land, they claim a just compensation for their lasting and valuable improvements under such rules and regulations, according to law and equity, as their case may require and justice demand."

To restore South's bonds and annul the

Page 35 U. S. 229

contract with Chiles would not release them from their trust to Boone for the purchase money agreed to be paid to South. The record does not inform us what was the price at which South sold the 600 acres, but if sold at the rate at which Smith bought the 60 or 70 acres, it would, with the interest, exceed the price agreed to be paid to Chiles. Besides, the restoration of South's bond at the time of their answer, and by a decree of the circuit court, would have bound them to pay the purchase money with interest. In such case the lapse of time would be no bar. If, by our decree, these defendants hold the lands on the terms stipulated with Chiles, they have the same benefit of their contract with him as if it had been consummated by a conveyance of the legal title of Hoy and the equitable title of Thomas Boone -- a position much more favorable to them than they would be placed in by their prayer for the restoration of South's bonds or for mere compensation for improvements. It is not to be doubted that they would have been content with the quieting of their possession on paying for the land on the terms agreed on with Chiles in 1817, on which they can now hold them consistently with the law of the case.

Though neither of the parties has prayed for the specific relief which we think they are entitled to, we are of opinion that all have, in substance, submitted their case to our consideration according to the rules and principles of equity, willing to abide such decree as we shall think will do justice between them. This, in our opinion, will be done by giving to both the benefits of the contract with Chiles, which, under all the circumstances of the case, created by construction and implication in equity a mutual trust which is executed by one party conveying his title and the other by paying the purchase money.

It remains only to consider the case of Cummins, who purchased from Smeltzer part of the 400 acres purchased by him from South. We can perceive no equitable ground of discrimination between this and the other tenants; the answer of the heir of Cummins admits the purchase from Smeltzer, but makes the same allegation of fraud against him as he did against Chiles. Yet, like the others, Cummins continued to hold, and his heir still holds the land so purchased, without, as appears by the

Page 35 U. S. 230

record, having paid anything for it; like them, too, the heir prays for a dismission of the bill, but in these words: "And hence to be dismissed with her costs, &c., and such other orders as the court shall deem necessary to the equity of her case." This could not have been intended, nor can it be considered as a peremptory prayer for dismission, as she would, in such case, hold the land without paying for it; there would be no remaining equity in her case, on which the court could make an order; it must therefore be considered as a submission to such decree as the court should deem conformable to the equity of the case. This, in our opinion, requires that this defendant should be placed in the same situation as the other defendants, who claim under or by the purchase from South; they all purchased only an equitable title, and must stand in the place of those from whom they purchased; each is a trustee by implication affected by the same mutual trust in equity.

Having thus disposed of all the contending claims between the plaintiffs and the defendants in this very complicated case, according to their respective equities between them as contending parties; we are to consider of the decree to be made between the defendants. It is within the undoubted powers of a court of equity to decree between co-defendants on evidence between plaintiffs and defendants, 2 Sch. & Lef. 712. Its exercise is also within the general prayer of the defendants in their respective answers, and is called for by every consideration that requires some termination to long, inveterate, and entangled litigation. With the whole case before us and on the fullest investigation of the rights of all the parties, we do order, adjudge, and decree therein as follows:

That so much of the decree of the circuit court as directs the defendant Chiles to convey to the complainants all his right, title, and interest to and in the premises named in the bill and to deliver up to the clerk of said court, to be cancelled, the contract between said Chiles, Hezekiah, and George Boone, therein referred to; also so much thereof as orders Jones and Fanny Hoy to convey all their interest in the premises, derived from William Hoy, and so much of said decree as directs that if the

Page 35 U. S. 231

conveyances so directed shall not be made as ordered, the clerk of said circuit court shall convey to the complainants the interest of the said parties, as by said court decreed and so much of said decree as orders the defendant Chiles to pay the costs of the suit, with the exception there stated; also so much of said decree as declares that the claim of the complainants is not to be prejudiced by the decree aforesaid as against any of the heirs of William Hoy who are not parties to this suit, and so much of said decree as directs the bill of complainants to be dismissed as to the land held by John Evalt within the bounds of Flournoy's patent be and the same is hereby affirmed in all things excepting that part of said decree which excepts from the deed to be executed by William Chiles the interest which he holds under a deed from Green Clay, as to which the said decree is reversed and annulled.

And as to the rest and residue of said decree of the circuit court, the same is hereby reversed and annulled and this Court, proceeding to render such decree as the said circuit court ought to have rendered, doth further order, adjudge, and decree:

That the said William do and shall, within six months from this time, convey to the complainants (in the manner specified in said decree as to the land therein directed to be conveyed by him) all his right, title, and interest held or claimed under the deed or conveyance from Green Clay to said Chiles.

That the said Chiles do, and shall, within the same time, assign, transfer, and make over any contract or agreement made between him and any other persons in relation to the land in controversy in this suit, whereby any right accrued to, or was promised or agreed to be in him, to any part of said land, or any money arising or to arise from any sale or sales thereof, and in like manner to transfer, assign, and make over all such rights to said complainants.

That the said William Chiles do also account to and with the complainants for any money he may at any time have received from any person or persons on or by virtue of the sale of any part or parts thereof; also that he account to and with the complainants for any rents or profits which he may have enjoyed or

Page 35 U. S. 232

received in or from said land embraced in the patent to Hoy under the direction of said court.

That a surveyor, to be appointed by said court, do, under their directions, ascertain the quantity of land claimed by the several defendants in this suit (except William Chiles) on the western side of the survey in Searcy's right, designated on the plat of the surveyor, dated 2 October, 1831, by the letters A, D, T, U, J, K, M, E, and A, excluding therefrom all the lands within the lines of Flournoy's patent, and return a plat thereof to said court.

That the bill of the complainants be dismissed as to all the land claimed by any defendant, east of the lines on said plat, designated by letters E, M, K, J, U, T; that their bill be dismissed as to all the land purchased by Nicholas Smith from Jones lying within the line of Flournoy's patent, marked on the surveyor's plat in page 66 of the printed record by the letters L, M, N, O.

That possession be awarded to the complainants by the several defendants of the land claimed or held by them respectively within the lines first herein referred to as marked in the plat dated 2 October, 1831, and without Flournoy's line, which has not been purchased from or held under South or Chiles or by any person or persons claiming or holding under them or either of them in virtue of any contract or agreement with them or either by or under whose right, claim, or possession any of said defendants claim or hold any part or parts of said land.

That the surveyor so to be appointed do and shall ascertain the quantity of land now claimed or held by any of the defendants, mediately or immediately, by, from, through, or under South or Chiles or in virtue of any right asserted or claimed by them or either, as aforesaid; designating especially the quantity claimed or held by each defendant, or each class of claimants, under any one person, accordingly as they may hold or claim in severalty or in common between themselves, and return separate plats thereof to said circuit court. Whereupon such of the complainants as are under no legal disability shall, within such time as the said court shall direct, make, execute, and in due

Page 35 U. S. 233

form of law acknowledge and deliver to the said defendants respectively deeds of general warranty in fee for the land described in such plats on said defendants complying with this decree as hereinafter mentioned, and that such of the complainants as may at such time be under any legal disability to make such deeds shall, within six months from the removal of such disability, make, execute, acknowledge, and deliver such deeds to the defendants, their heirs and assigns, or that the said circuit court, as so authorized by law, may order and direct that such deed or deeds shall be made by such commissioner as they may appoint to execute the same for and on behalf of the complainants last mentioned.

That the said defendants severally, or each class thereof as aforesaid for themselves jointly, as they may claim or hold, do pay to the complainants for the land conveyed by them at the rate and on the terms stated in the joint answer of the defendants, to-wit, ten dollars for each and every of the four hundred acres purchased by Peter Smeltzer and the two hundred acres purchased by Nicholas Smith from John South, to be paid in three equal annual installments, counting from the agreement with Chiles, assumed to be 1 December, 1817.

That the heirs of Nicholas Smith or the defendants who claim or hold under him or his heirs do pay to the complainants at the same rate and on the same terms for the sixty or seventy acres afterwards purchased by said Smith from South, which said complainants shall convey as aforesaid to the defendant or defendants in possession thereof under Nicholas Smith.

That the amount so to be paid by each defendant or class of defendants bear interest from the time the installments were payable respectively till the time directed by the circuit court at which the complainants are to make the deeds as aforesaid, each defendant or class to be liable only for the sum due by themselves, and not for any sum due by other defendants.

That when the said deeds shall be executed and delivered, the sum due by each defendant or class, principal and interest, shall be paid as follows: one-third whereof to be paid in one year from the delivery of the deed, one-third in two years, and

Page 35 U. S. 234

one-third in three years, with interest from the time they are payable.

That the several sums so payable be paid into said court or to such person or persons as said court by their decree shall order and direct, and on such terms and conditions as to them shall seem just and equitable.

That the defendants severally and respectively do, under the direction of said court, account to and with each other for any moneys received by one from the other, or any person or persons under whom they claim or have claimed, for or on account of any purchase money of any part or parts of the land now or at any time held or claimed by them or any of them under or in virtue of any purchase under the title of Searcy.

That such of the heirs of William Hoy as have answered the bill of complainants do convey to them, in the manner directed in the decree of the circuit court as to Jones and Fanny Hoy, all their right, title, and interest in the land contained within the line of the plat first herein referred to, being the western part of the survey aforesaid, in right of Searcy. In default of making such conveyance as is herein directed to be made by any of the defendants in this case, then this Court doth further order and direct that a conveyance of the right and title, interest, and claim in and to the land in controversy held or claimed by such defendants be conveyed to the complainants by a commissioner to be by the said circuit court appointed to make such conveyance according to law.

That the bill of complainants be dismissed as to the heirs of George Boone, Hezekiah Boone, and the heirs of South, with costs.

And it is further ordered, adjudged, and decreed that all the equity of the complainants as to any person or persons not parties to this suit or as to any matter or thing not herein decreed on shall be and is hereby reserved to the said complainants, anything contained in this decree notwithstanding, and that this cause be remanded to the Circuit Court for the District of Kentucky with instructions to proceed therein according to this decree and as to justice and equity shall appertain.

Page 35 U. S. 235

MR. JUSTICE McLEAN.

Under the peculiar circumstances of this case, I am constrained to state as succinctly as I can the reasons why I dissent from the opinion just delivered.

The facts out of which this controversy arose are as follows:

Reuben Searcy being entitled to a settlement and preemption of fourteen hundred acres of land in the settlement of Kentucky on the waters of Licking, employed John Martin for one-half the land to perfect the title. On 24 September, 1781, for a valuable consideration, Searcy sold seven hundred acres of this land to William Hoy, executed his bond for a title, and at the same time assigned to Hoy the plat and certificate of survey, which enabled him, in 1785, to obtain a patent for the whole tract in his own name.

But before the emanation of the patent in the month of December 1781, William Hoy assigned Searcy's bond to George Boone and bound himself, his heirs, &c., as sureties, &c. And on 30 April, 1783, George Boone assigned the bond to Thomas Boone, whose heirs prosecute this suit.

Thomas Boone, being a citizen of Pennsylvania, gave a power of attorney to George Boone, of Kentucky, dated 1 October, 1787, which authorized him, in the name of Thomas Boone and for his use,

"to ask, demand, sue for, and recover of and from Major William Hoy, of Kentucky settlement, a deed or other lawful conveyance valid in law, for seven hundred acres of land in or near the waters of Hinkson and Stoner, &c., and the attorney was authorized to appoint, &c., and to do everything necessary in the premises,"

&c.

On 6 August, 1792, George Boone, as the attorney in fact of Thomas Boone, assigned Searcy's bond to John South, the executor of William Hoy, who bound himself to cause Hoy's heirs to convey, so soon as they should become of age, the seven hundred acres to Boone. But on 23 December, 1791, before this assignment, South sold four hundred acres of the land to Peter Smeltzer, and bound himself with Walter Carr and John Glover in the penalty of a thousand pounds to make a deed for the same so soon as the heirs of William Hoy, who was then deceased, should become of age. And on 26

Page 35 U. S. 236

August, 1794, South sold two hundred acres of the same tract to George Pope, and bound himself in the penalty of five hundred pounds, to make a deed when Hoy's heirs should all arrive at full age. This last bond, in the spring of 1798, was purchased by, and assigned to Nicholas Smith, who shortly afterwards purchased from South the residue of the tract, supposed to contain sixty or seventy acres.

On 30 November, 1802, Thomas Boone made an agreement with his uncle, Hezekiah Boone, of the State of Tennessee, to sell to him the whole of this tract of land for seven hundred pounds. But Hezekiah Boone and his heirs had the option of taking the land or not, within four years from the time of the contract, and the contract was to be binding if he should make known his determination to take the land and pay for it within the four years. But there is no evidence that Hezekiah Boone made known his determination, within the time limited, to take the land, or that he has at any time paid the whole or any part of the consideration.

On 30 October, 1817, Hezekiah Boone and George Boone as attorney for Thomas entered into an agreement with William Chiles and delivered to him the papers they held respecting the above land, and Chiles was to have the free use of them for the purpose of coercing the title to the land if it could be recovered, and if not he was to obtain the value. And Chiles was to use diligence in recovering the money or obtaining the title, and the proceeds of the suit, whether land or money, were to be divided between Chiles and Hezekiah Boone.

Shortly after this contract was entered into, Chiles, having obtained from George Boone the bond given him by South which bound him to convey the land to Thomas Boone so soon as Hoy's heirs could be compelled to make a deed, called on Peter Smeltzer's heirs, who held the bond of South, Carr, and Glover, and representing to them that he was the rightful owner of the land, obtained the bond, and also he obtained the bond for the two hundred acres given by South to Pope and by him assigned to Smith, which bonds he delivered to Benjamin South, the executor of John South, who was deceased, together

Page 35 U. S. 237

with the bond given

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BOONE V. CHILES, 35 U. S. 177 (1835)

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Boone v. Chiles, 35 U.S. 10 Pet. 177 177 (1835)