Berry v. Tennessee & Coosa Railroad , 134 Ala. 618 ( 1902 )

TYSON, J.

The original bill Avas filed by the Tennessee & Coosa Railroad Company against Fannie M. Berry, alleging that each oAvned an undivided one-half interest in certain lands described; tbat said lands could not be equitably, divided by metes and bounds, and prayed that the same be sold and proceeds divided. Upon a demurrer being sustained to it, the complainant was allowed to file a substituted bill by way of amendment. This amended bill is filed by tbe same complainant “who sues on behalf of Anna J. Henderson” and is exhibited against Anna J. Henderson a.nd Fannie M. Berry. After setting forth the manner by which the complainant railroad company acquired its title to a half interest in the lands described and sought to be partitioned, it is averred that the railroad company executed a. deed conveying its said one-half undivided interest in said land's to one Carlisle who afterwards died leaving Anna J. Henderson, his sole heir at law; that at the date of the execution of said deed, the respondent Mrs. Berry, having previously ousted the said railroad company from the possession and enjoyment of .its interest in said lands, was in the adverse possession of the same claiming’ to he the owner of that interest under color of title.

The prayer is for a. partition of said lands by metes and- hounds ,otc. and not for a sale.

It is objected by Mrs. Berry that this amendment was improper for three reasons: First, that it is a departure from the original cause of action; second, that it wrought an entii*e change of parties, and third, that the railroad company has parted with its title. These objections were raised in the court below by demurrer and constitute tbe main contention here.

The: purpose of both the original and amended hill was a partition of the lauds — to separate the respective shares, either by having the lands partitioned im kind or to- have the tract sold and its proceeds divided. It is true that in order to- have them sold the averment must he made that they cannot be equitably divided — -an averment not necessary, for a partition in kind. But this fact does not alter the general purpose sought to he accomplished, to-wit: a partition of the lands either in kind or of the proceeds arising from the sale of them. The difference is in the relief rather than in. the purposes of the bill as amended. In order to condemn an amendmeut oil the ground of inconsistency or repugnancy, the inconsistency oir repugnancy must relate to tlie purposes of the bill as contradistinguished from a mere modification of the relief sought. — Caine v. Gimon, 36 Ala. 168; Ingram v. Foster, 31 Ala. 123; 1 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 477. Indeed we can perceive no good reason why a bill in equity for partition may not be framed ini the alternative —to have the land partitioned, but in the event it cannot be equitably divided, to be sold, The authority for so training a bill may be found in 15 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 802, where it. is said: “A bill for partition is not multifarious because it prays- that im-case the premises cannot be divided, they shall be sold and the proceeds divided.” See also- Claude v. Handy, 83 Md. 225; Watson v. Godwin, 4 Md. Chan. 25.

The present suit is in the nature of a.n equitable ejectment and it is necessary that the complainant should by averment, show title — Ormond v. Martin, 37 Ala. 598; Horton v. Sledge, 29 Ala. 478. Indeed it is required of complainant that it should show a clear title to- an undivided interest in the lands sought to be partitioned.— Arnett v. Bailey, 60 Ala. 435; Russell v. Beasley, 72 Ala. 190. The fact that when the complainant railroad company undertook to part with its title to Carlisle, Mrs. Berry was in the: adverse possession of the lands, rendered the conveyance, as against her, void and inoperative. And a® between the railroad and her, the title to the lands attempted to he conveyed never passed and is still in the company. The conveyance, at best being merely a transfer of a right of action, did not confer upon Carlisle as- against the respondent, Mrs. Berry, any title to the lands, although valid inter partes. This being true the railroad company is the proper party to maintain the suit and not Mrs. Henderson. — Rust v. The Electric Lighting Co., 124 Ala. 202. And the statement in the amended bill that the suit is brought by the railroad company “in behalf of Anna J. Henderson”. does not change the s-ui'tl into¡ one by Mrs. Henderson. The railroad company is still the complainant and the sole party complaining. The words “who sues in behalf” etc. are mere surplusage. — Dane v. Glennon, 72 Ala. 160; Caldwell v. Smith, 77 Ala. 157.

The demurrer to the amended bill was properly overruled.

Affirmed.