Valdez Bank v. Von Gunther , 3 Alaska 657 ( 1909 )

OVERFIELD, District Judge.

We are thus confronted with the question of considering parol evidence to explain or modify a deed, in which the alleged streets are not mentioned in express terms.

The object in construing a deed is to ascertain the intention of the parties, and especially that of the grantor, and it is a well-settled rule of law, I apprehend, that deeds must be so., construed as to effectuate, if possible, the intention of the parties, unless such intention be inconsistent with settled rules of law regarding the subject-matter in the case, or unless the terms of the deed itself — the expressions used therein — posi-... tively forbid or make it impossible to effectuate the real intentions of the parties.

Courts of law have no power, we agree, to reform a deed. It must be construed according to its legal construction, effect, and operation apparent on its face, or with the aid of any such evidence as is admissible by the rules of law to explain it.. Courts of equity will, however, reform deeds made to carry into effect contracts and agreements, according to their original intentions, notwithstanding any defect in the execution of the instrument adopted. Yet where a deed has been deliberately executed by the parties únder a mistaken opinion of both as to its legal effect, a court of equity will not reform it, though it fails to effectuate their intention.

However, it is well said that a court of equity acts upon the conscience of a party by compelling him to execute a contract in good faith, according to the intention with which it was made; but such a court of equity does not assume the power of altering or reforming original deeds differently from the intention of the parties. The extent of the power of a court of equity is to correct any deed which has been so executed as to make its effect contrary to the true meaning and intention of the parties.

For the sole purpose of finding and executing the real intention of the parties, the court will place itself, as nearly as possible, in the position of the parties when the deed was executed, and consider all the surrounding circumstances, the situation of the parties and the property, and in fact all sources of information naturally suggested by the description of the property in the conveyance, or which may have acted upon the minds of the parties. It is well settled that, in construing a deed where two descriptions appear, the one most favorable to the grantee will prevail.

That there was a dedication of the three streets, at the time of the sale by the Von Gunthers to Swan, there is no doubt. In fact, the answer admits the public ownership of the 22Y> feet constituting a part of Reservation avenue. On the opposite side of the tract, and running its entire length, 650 feet, parallel to Reservation avenue, is the disputed strip of land, 50 feet in width.

At the time of the execution of the Swan deed, the evidence shows that this street was cleared in part, allowing travel, though a fence did exist on the southerly part of the street fqr some time, and the street became generally used by the public after 1907. The intersecting street, being in fact an extension of Fourth street of the town of Valdez, was cleared, previous to 1907, by removing large trees and underbrush for its entire length, 350 feet, and has been open for travel at all times since the conveyance to Swan, until boarded up by the defendants Von Gunther in September, 1909. The physical condition of the property leaves no doubt but that the land cleared was meant for a continuation of Fourth street and has been so used to no little extent. On either side of the street large trees still stand, and the underbrush is uncut, and a similar condition exists on the southerly side of Nazina street.

The deed does not, in express terms, exclude the 22y2 feet on the southerly side as a part of Reservation avenue, but admittedly it was the intention of the defendants Von Gunther to so exclude it at the time of the execution of the deed to Swan. This, with the other circumstances above referred to as to physical condition, etc., gives us some reason to believe that a similar failure in the deed to mention Nazina street and the intersecting street, might well have been with the same view of dedication as that of the tract on the southerly side, dedicated to the town of Valdez to be used as Reservation avenue. Again, evidence admitted of a deed from the Von Gunthers to third parties shows that he did recognize Nazina street, and bounded the property conveyed by said street on the northerly side. The very outlines of the property in contention preclude the idea of the defendant’s claim, but, on the other hand, seems to sustain the plaintiff’s assertions.

From all the evidence presented to the court, it is plain that the said streets in contention were not only dedicated to the public use at the time of the Swan deed, but that title to them was represented to said Swan as being in the town of Valdez. The intention is clear on the part of the grantors, the Von Gunthers, to sell what they represented as 18 lots, each 50 by 140 feet, to Swan, all Of said lots touching on these streets, and that they parted with all their right, title, and interest in the lots, and the streets as well, if they had not already done so to the town of Valdez. A different intention on the part of the defendants Von Gunther as to the streets would sustain the allegation of fraud and misrepresentation, as alleged by the olaintiff in its complaint.

The clear interpretation of the deed, with the surrounding circumstances existing between the parties at the time of the sale of the property, leads this court to the conclusion that the grantors of Swan intended to pass and did pass title to the streets abutting the tracts conveyed to Swan, and that sufficient reference was made in the deed itself to lead to this conclusion. It would therefore appear inequitable not to hold the defendants estopped from claiming any title to the said streets, or in any way using or obstructing the same.

L,et findings of fact and conclusions of law be drawn and Hecree be prepared accordingly.