Smith v. Richardson ( 1911 )

FLY, J.

Appellant sued T. L. Richardson, sheriff of Atascosa county, and P. B. Winn, alleging that he owned lot 16, block 216, in Jourdanton, that he purchased the land from the Central Townsite Company in San Antonio, through C. S. Young, the deed being made to Young by mistake and afterwards conveyed by Young to appellant, that on September 21, 1909, P. B. Winn bad sued Young and bad obtained and levied a writ of attachment on tbe land aforementioned, that afterwards a judgment was obtained by Winn against Young for $60.62 and tbe attachment lien foreclosed, and an order of sale had been issued by tbe justice of the peace directing tbe sheriff aforesaid to sell the land in question, and tbat the same would be sold if tbe sheriff was not restrained by injunction. A temporary writ of injunction was issued by tbe district judge, and be not being present when tbe case was called for trial a special judge was elected who tried tbe cause and dissolved tbe injunction and decreed that appellant take nothing by bis action and pay all costs of tbe suit.

It was admitted tbat tbe attachment was levied on tbe land on September 21, 1909, that judgment was afterward obtained by Winn against Young for his debt, tbat the attachment lien was foreclosed, and the lot ordered sold by tbe justice of tbe peace. Jourdan Campbell, president of tbe Central Townsite Company, swore tbat be sold tbe lot to C. S. Young on July 22, 1909, for $100, which was paid by Young. He said: “I am under tbe impression that something was said at some time as to plaintiff R. R. Smith as to this lot. * * * My mind is not clear as to what was said in relation to this lot— about it being Smith’s lot. There was something said at some time about it, but I do not remember whether it was at tbat time or not.” Tbe deed was sent to James A. Waltom to be delivered to C. S. Young, and be mailed it to Young, care of appellant, and tbe letter was received and opened by appellant. Young testified tbat he bought tbe lot for Smith and tbat be instructed Campbell to make tbe deed to Smith, but it was not done, but witness did not know of tbat fact until August 12, 1909, when be was requested by Smith to execute a deed to him which be did, but .did not acknowledge it because there was no notary public present and afterwards be was not in Jourdanton. He afterwards, on September 20, 1909, acknowledged tbe deed at tbe request of Smith. Appellant and Young both swore tbat they knew nothing about tbe suit when tbe deed was acknowledged. Appellant testified to practically the same things tbat Young testified to, and both of them stated tbat tbe $100 paid by Young to Campbell was repaid to Young by Smith on same day that tbe land was bought, and Young returned it to Smith and requested him to place it to the credit of Young in a bank at Pleasanton, which be did on tbe same day. The bank books showed the deposit was made by appellant for C. S. Young on tbe date named. The evidence of Young and appellant was not contradicted, and there is nothing unreasonable or suspicious about tbe matters narrated by them.

Tbe testimony shows that tbe land was .bought for Smith, that his money paid for it, and that he had $1,000 worth of improvements on it when the attachment was levied upon it. The property belonged to Smith, no matter in whose name the deed was taken, and a creditor of Young cannot take the property from him because the two deeds were not on record. There is no innocent purchaser to protect, and the registration laws cannot be invoked in order to take appellant’s property to pay Young’s debt to Winn. Appellant was in the possession of the land when the attachment was levied, and his improvements were almost completed, and Winn was put upon notice of his claim. The evidence indicates that Winn had notice of Smith’s claim and was inquiring of Waltom about it before the attachment was levied.

Because the judgment is contrary to the uncontroverted evidence it is reversed, and judgment here rendered that the temporary injunction be perpetuated, and that appellant recover all costs in this behalf expended.