Case ID: nc_62/html/0323-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "\n      Reade, J.\n     Per Curiax", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

R. O. LEDBETTER v. JOHN ANDERSON and others.
    The interest of one who holds lands under a bond for title the price not having been fully paid, is not subject to sale under execution; therefore, a purchaser at such a sale has no equity to file a bill against the parties to the bond, proffering to pay the money due thereon and asking that upon such payment he may have a title.
    Bill filed to Fall Term 1862 of the Court of Equity for Rutherford, and at Fall Term 1866 set for hearing upon the pleadings and proofs, and transmitted to this court.
    The complainant alleged that he had purchased at execution sale the interest of the defendant Anderson in a certain tract of land, and had received a sheriff’s deed therefor; that Anderson’s interest was by virtue of a bond for title from the defendant Frazer; that he had offered to pay Frazer the balance due to him upon such bond, and now brings the same into court for the same purpose; that Frazer and Anderson had conspired to defraud him, &c.
    The prayer was that Frazer be compelled to take the money and make a title, or that the land be sold for the plaintiff’s indemnity, and for other relief.
    The answers admitted that Anderson’s title was under a bond from Frazer, and that a large portion of the purchase money was still due. After other statements which are immaterial here, they denied the charge of conspiracy, and submitted to the court whether the bill disclosed any equity, &c.
    No counsel for the complainant.
    
      Merrimon, contra.
    
   Reade, J.

From the bill, as well as from the answers, it appears that the defendant Anderson had only a-bond for title to the land levied upon by the sheriff under whose sale the plaintiff purchased, and that Anderson had paid only a part of the purchase money. .

It is well settled that a purchaser of land holding only a bond for title, without having paid the whole of the purchase money, has no such interest in the land as is subject to execution. The plaintiff therefore obtained no-title by his purchase.

The case is not altered by his offering to pay the balance due, nor by his bringing the money into court. Having acquired no interest in the land, his offering to pay for it is no more than if he were to offer a certain price for any other tract of land and then file a bill to obtain a title.

The bill must be dismissed, with costs.

Per Curiax

Decree accordingly.