Opinion · Supreme Court of the United States

Rogers v. Jones

214 U.S. 196

Type: Opinion
Court: Supreme Court of the United States
Jurisdiction: Federal
Date: 1909-05-24
Topic: bankruptcy

Mr. Chief Justice Fuller, after making the foregoing statement, delivered the opinion of the court. In entering the decree of December 23, 1905, the Chancellor manifestly proceeded on the decision of the Supreme-Court 'of Mississippi, reported in 85 Mississippi, 802, as did the Supreme Court in affirming, October 22, 1906, the Chancellor’s decree. To this decree the pending writ of error was allowed and issued September 18, 1907. The. contention" is that, in determining the rights of plaintiffs in error, the Mississippi Supreme.

Citator

UpLaw has not yet analyzed Rogers v. Jones. The absence of a flag is not a finding that it is good law.

Cited by: 10 opinions

ROGERSv. JONES,214 U.S. 196(1909)

ROGERSv. JONES.

ERROR TO THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI.

No. 196.

Submitted April 27, 1909.

Decided May 24, 1909.

Where the disposition of a Federal question is not necessary to the determination of the cause and the judgment is based on a distinct non-Federal ground broad enough to sustain it the writ of error cannot be maintained. Where an act of Congress providing for sale of real estate by a marshal does not define a good and valid description, the question of sufficiency of description is one of general law; and so held in regard to § 4 of the act of February 16, 1839, c. 27,5 Stat. 317, referring to time and place for making judicial sales in Mississippi; and further held that even if the time and place of sale were wrong under the statute, this court had no jurisdiction as the judgment rested on plaintiff's failure to deraign a title and other non-Federal questions sufficient to sustain it.

THIS was a bill in equity brought by Rogers and others,

plaintiffs in error, November 11, 1903, in the Chancery Court for

Harrison County, Mississippi, to remove certain alleged clouds

from the title to lands situated in that county, and to be put in

possession of said lands, against J.T. Jones, Harrison County,

and the persons constituting the board of supervisors of the

county, as individuals and as composing that board.

Defendants demurred, and the demurrer was overruled by the

Chancellor. An appeal was taken from this decree to the Supreme

Court of Mississippi, where the decree of the lower court was

reversed and the cause remanded.Jonesv.Rogers,

Page 197

85 Miss. 802. Thereupon plaintiffs in error filed an

amended bill. To the amended bill Jones and the county severally

filed demurrers and also answers denying certain allegations of

fraud. On hearing the Chancellor sustained the demurrers, and

plaintiffs in error, refusing to amend or plead further, the

amended bill was dismissed December 23, 1905. From this decree

plaintiffs in error appealed to the state Supreme Court, where it

was affirmed October 22, 1906, and from this judgment plaintiffs

in error have prosecuted the pending writ of error.

The material averments of the amended bill were that

plaintiffs in error claimed title to certain lands described in

the bill, by virtue of a purchase of said lands by "their

ancestor," John Martin, at a sale of said lands on October 28,

1839, made by the United States marshal under an execution on a

judgment of the United States Circuit Court for the Southern

District of Mississippi, against one James McLaren.

That plaintiffs in error are the "legal descendants and sole

surviving heirs at law of John Martin, deceased, who died

intestate in the city of New Orleans, and State of Louisiana,

during the year 1848." That Martin, at the time of his death, was

seized and possessed of, in fee simple, in addition to other

lands, certain described lands or parcels of land, which include

the lands in controversy, situated in the town of Gulfport,

county of Harrison (Hancock County at the time of the sale), and

State of Mississippi. That plaintiffs in error are tenants in

common, and all derived their title "from their common ancestor,

John Martin, by descent." That James McLaren acquired said lands

by sales from the United States Government, dated December 11,

1834, and a patent dated January 5, 1841.

That at the sale of the land under an execution on the

judgment against McLaren, Martin became the highest and best

bidder at and for the sum of $760, and the same was knocked off

to him by the United States marshal, and the purchase money was

then and there paid by Martin to the marshal, and

Page 198

he was then and there put into possession, and so remained until

his death, in the year 1848.

The amended bill further averred that the land was in Harrison

County, Mississippi, and that John Martin never sold nor made any

disposition of any kind of the lands; that plaintiffs in error

have been all the while in constructive possession of the lands

since the death of John Martin, in 1848, and that no person or

persons ever went into actual possession of the lands until the

county of Harrison or the board of supervisors thereof took

possession under deed of June 4, 1902, from J.T. Jones.

The bill alleged upon belief that at the sale a deed to the

lands was made by the marshal to John Martin, and in this

connection the bill further alleged that another sale of lands

was made on the same execution, and that deeds were made by the

marshal to the purchasers at said sale.

That McLaren died intestate, leaving no heirs at law, either

lineal or collateral, and that the lands never escheated to the

State of Mississippi.

The bill further alleged that while plaintiffs in error were

minors the administrator of McLaren procured a certified copy of

the judgment and execution and proceedings of the sale, and, with

the purpose of depriving plaintiffs in error of their legal right

and title to the lands, organized a company to take charge of the

lands, concealing the facts of the said sale. That the company

kept the facts of the real ownership from the plaintiffs in

error, and sold some of the lands without knowledge of their

legal rights to said property until the last four or five years.

That as soon as the facts of the purchase and ownership of the

lands by John Martin was made known to them, plaintiffs in error

at once began to take the necessary legal steps to begin suit to

establish the claim.

The bill also alleged that defendants in error had full notice

of the claim to the title of plaintiffs in error, but they

accepted the gift of the land in controversy from J.T. Jones, and

had full knowledge of the fraud that had been practiced upon them

from its beginning to the present time. That on June 4, 1902,

Page 199

Jones conveyed by deed the land in Gulfport, as a gift, to the

board of supervisors of Harrison County, with the condition that

should the county of Harrison at any time cease to use the lands

for the court house they should revert to Jones.

The bill further stated that if the Supreme Court of

Mississippi should decide against the validity of the marshal's

sale under the judgment and execution, plaintiffs in error "claim

the right and benefit of an appeal from the final decree to the

Supreme Court of the United States."

The original bill had averred, "par parenthesis, that they

are claiming their rights and title to this property under a

marshal's sale made under and by virtue of the laws and

Constitution of the United States of America, and they now and

here desire to lay the proper predicate, so that they may have

these proceedings in this case revised and reviewed by the

Supreme Court of the United States, in case the decision of the

Supreme Court of the State of Mississippi is adverse to their

lawful, just, andbona fideclaim, having derived the same from

the patentee of these lands."

The answers of the supervisors and of Jones denied notice or

knowledge of any fraud on complainants, and having answered the

bill for the purposes of that denial prayed the judgment of the

court on the demurrers.

Mr. Frank JohnstonandMr. A.Y. Harperfor plaintiffs in error:

The writ of error will lie in this case as the Supreme Court of Mississippi erroneously held that the judicial sale, made by the United States marshal under which the plaintiffs in error claim title to the lands in controversy was irregular and void and conferred no title.Averyv.Popper,179 U.S. 305,310, citing and reviewing the following cases:Collierv.Stanbrough, 6 How. 14;Erwinv.Lowry, 7 How. 172;Clementsv.Berry, 11 How. 398;Freemanv.Howe, 24 How. 450;Buckv.Colbath, 3 Wall. 334;Etheridgev.Sperry,139 U.S. 266;Bockv.Perkins,139 U.S. 628;Dayv.Gallup, 2 Wall. 97;Dupasseurv.Page 200Rochereau, 21 Wall. 130;McKennav.Simpson,129 U.S. 506;O'Brienv.Weld,92 U.S. 81;Factors Traders' Ins. Co. v.Murphy,111 U.S. 738;Stanleyv.Schwalby,162 U.S. 255;Pitts. Cin. Railroadv.Long Island L. T. Co.,172 U.S. 493;Tullochv.Mulvane,184 U.S. 497,507, citing:Averyv.Popper,179 U.S. 305; andCrescent Live Stock Co. v.Butchers' Union,120 U.S. 141;Meyersv.Block,120 U.S. 206;Commercial Pub. Co. v.Beckwith,188 U.S. 567,569;Sharpev.Doyle,102 U.S. 686,688;McNultav.Lochridge,141 U.S. 327,331; cited in:Nuttv.Knut,200 U.S. 12,19;Ill. Cent. R.R. Co. v.McKendree,203 U.S. 514,526.

A Federal question is sufficiently set up or claimed when it appears that the contentions involving it were raised by the pleadings or called to the attention of the court in some proper way.Tullochv.Mulvane,184 U.S. 497,503;Saywardv.Denny,158 U.S. 180;Chouteauv.Gibson,111 U.S. 200;Yatesv.Jones National Bank,206 U.S. 158,167.

The non-Federal question of the statute of limitations, which was decided by the Supreme Court of Mississippi on the first appeal, has been eliminated from the case by the amended bill and the answer of the defendants in error thereto; and also by a subsequent decision in another case overruling that part of the opinion.

The decision of the Supreme Court of Mississippi on the first appeal,Rogersv.Jones,85 Miss. 802, has been expressly overruled in the subsequent case ofKennedyv.Sanders,90 Miss. 524, which held that the real ground of the decision was the question of the validity of the title of plaintiffs in error, and that that part of the opinion in respect to the statute of limitations was a mere dictum, and, furthermore, was incorrectly decided.

If, therefore, the question of the statute of limitations were in this case (which we deny) the decision of it by the Supreme Court on the first appeal would have to be held by this court to be palpably erroneous.Johnsonv.Risk,137 U.S. 300,307;Murdockv.Memphis, 20 Wall. 590;MaguirePage 201v.Tyler, 8 Wall. 650, 664, 665;Berea Collegev.Kentucky,211 U.S. 45,53.

A certificate of a court of last resort may serve to elucidate the determination whether a Federal question exists.Ill. Cent.R.R. Co. v.McKendree,203 U.S. 514,525.

Where on error to the Supreme Court of the State, the record shows a decision of the state court on a Federal question properly presented, and of which this court could take jurisdiction, and shows also the decision of the local question, the writ of error will not be dismissed on motion in advance of the hearing. The parties are entitled to be heard on the soundness of the decision below on the Federal question, on the sufficiency of that question to control the judgment in the whole case, and on the sufficiency of any other point decided to affirm the judgment, even if the Federal question was erroneously decided.Railroad Co. v.Maryland, 20 Wall. 643.

It is the duty of the state courts to decide Federal questions; if errors supervene, the remedy is open to the aggrieved party.Arkansasv.Kansas c. Coal Co.,183 U.S. 185,190;Water Co. v.Defiance,191 U.S. 184,193;Robbv.Connolly,111 U.S. 624.Mr. James H. NevilleandMr. W.A. Whitefor defendants in error:

The bare averment of a Federal question is not sufficient; there must at least be color or ground for such averment.Hamlinv.Western Land Co.,147 U.S. 531.

The only color, or reasons for the averment in the instant case are, first, that plaintiffs claimed under a sale by a United States marshal — a Federal officer. Secondly, that they derived their rights from the patentee of the United States.

The fact that a party to a suit is a receiver of a United States court does not necessarily create a Federal question authorizing a review of the case by the Supreme Court of the United States.Bausmanv.Dixon,173 U.S. 113;Lincoln Bankv.First Nat. Bank,172 U.S. 425.Page 202

Nor does the fact that plaintiffs in error claim lands under a patentee of the United States create such Federal question.Blackburnv.Mining Co.,175 U.S. 571;McStayv.Friedman,92 U.S. 723;Little York Gold Co. v.Keys,96 U.S. 199;Shoshone Mining Co. v.Rutler,177 U.S. 505.

There was no question before the Supreme Court of Mississippi in this case as to the validity of the patent from the United States to James McLaren, nor as to the nature or extent of the estate it conveyed. All parties to the suit concede that the patent vested a fee simple title in McLaren. The controversy is who now holds that title. Therefore the pleadings in this case wholly failed to state any question of a Federal nature which the Mississippi courts could have determined adversely to plaintiffs in error.

The determination by a state court of a Federal question adversely to the plaintiff in error will not sustain the jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the United States, if another question not Federal was also raised and decided against him and the decision thereof is sufficient, notwithstanding the Federal question to sustain the judgment.Harrisonv.Morton,171 U.S. 38;Baconv.Texas,163 U.S. 207;Eganv.Hart,165 U.S. 188;Castillov.McConnico,168 U.S. 674;Piercev.Somerset R.R. Co.,171 U.S. 641;Chappell Chemical Co. v.Sulphur Mines Co.,172 U.S. 465;Brooksv.Missouri,124 U.S. 394;Union Nat. Bankv.Louisville R.R. Co.,163 U.S. 325.

It is not enough to give the Supreme Court of the United States jurisdiction over the judgment of a state court, for the record to show that a Federal question was argued or presented to that court for decision. It must appear that such Federal question was necessary to the determination of the cause and that it was actually decided, or that the judgment could not have been given without deciding it.Moorev.Mississippi, 21 Wall. 636;Bollingv.Lersner,91 U.S. 594;Brownv.Atwell,92 U.S. 327;Citizens' Bankv.Board of Liquidation,98 U.S. 140;Endowment Assn. v.Kansas,120 U.S. 103;Marrowv.Brinkley,129 U.S. 178;Churchv.Kelsey,Page 203121 U.S. 282;DeSaussurev.Gaillard,127 U.S. 216;Blountv.Walker,134 U.S. 607;Johnsonv.Risk,137 U.S. 300;CookCountyv.Calumet Canal Co.,138 U.S. 635;Wood Mach. Co. v.Skinner,139 U.S. 293.

Where one of the points decided in the Supreme Court of a State against the plaintiff in error would be a sufficient ground for the exercise of jurisdiction by the Supreme Court of the United States, yet if the decree is also based on another and distinct ground over which the National Court has no jurisdiction — as the statute of limitations of the State — the decree is beyond the revisory power of the Supreme Court of the United States.Rectorv.Ashley, 6 Wall. 142.

MR. CHIEF JUSTICE FULLER, after making the foregoing statement, delivered the opinion of the court.

In entering the decree of December 23, 1905, the Chancellor manifestly proceeded on the decision of the Supreme Court of Mississippi, reported in85 Miss. 802, as did the Supreme Court in affirming, October 22, 1906, the Chancellor's decree. To this decree the pending writ of error was allowed and issued September 18, 1907.

The contention is that, in determining the rights of plaintiffs in error, the Mississippi Supreme Court put a wrong construction upon the special act of Congress of February 16, 1838, referring to the time and place for the making of judicial sales in Mississippi, in that it held that the marshal's sale relied on as the foundation of title was made at the wrong place. But the Supreme Court made other and decisive rulings, as well as that in reference to the place of the alleged sale.

In the first place, that court held that the alleged return on the writ offieri faciasdid not describe the lands in controversy, and therefore could not confer title, even though regular and valid. The act of Congress of February 16, 1839, did not attempt to define what is and what is not a good and valid description of real estate, or to make any rule by which a purchaser at a marshal's sale could take possession of lands otherPage 204than those specifically described in the process. The question of a sufficient description was a question of general law.

In the second place, the court held that under the Mississippi statute authorizing suits of the character then before the court, plaintiffs in error had not deraigned a title to the lands in controversy, which, under the Mississippi statute under which the suit was instituted, was a fatal objection to the bill.

In the third place, the court held that the claim of plaintiffs in error was barred by the Mississippi statute of limitations, in that it failed to show possession by the plaintiffs, or their ancestor, during the sixty-four years that intervened between the marshal's sale and the bringing of the suit, and did not, as required by the rules of practice in courts of equity in Mississippi, show that it was the defendants or those in privity with them who had fraudulently concealed from plaintiffs the evidence of their claim.

It is true that the Supreme Court of Mississippi in the subsequent case ofKennedyv.Sanders,90 Miss. 524, decided May 20, 1907, overruled the ruling inJonesv.Rogers, applying the ten-year statute of limitations, and quoting what the court then observed in that regard, said that "this announcement was not necessary to the decision inJonesv.Rogers, for the court had already held that the complainants in that case had deraigned no title." And it will have been perceived that this writ of error runs to the judgment of the Supreme Court of October 22, 1906.

The result is, therefore, that this writ of error comes within the rule that where the disposition of a Federal question was not necessary to the determination of the cause and the judgment is based on a distinct ground or grounds broad enough to sustain it, over which this court has no jurisdiction, the writ of error cannot be maintained.Writ of error dismissed.

MR. JUSTICE WHITE took no part in the consideration and disposition of this case.Page 205