Case ID: ark_66/html/0361-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "Riddick, J.,", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

Brown v. Toler.
    Opinion delivered April 15, 1899.
    1. School Land—Sale—When Payment Immediate.—Under Sand, & H. Dig. \ 7119, providing thatif any bidder at a sale of sixteenth seetionland “shall fail to perfect his bid by paying the cash, the collector shall immediately resell the land,” a finding that payment was made immediately after the sale will be supported by proof that the highest bidder, with the collector’s consent, went oft and procured the money, and, within an hour after the land was struck off to him, paid it to the collector before he had finished preparing the certificate of sale. (Page 362.)
    2. Same—Who May Object to Sale.—One who is not an inhabitant of the township -or county in which sixteenth section school lands are situated cannot object to the regularity of a sale of such lands. (Page 3'63.) '
    Appeal from Grant Circuit Court.
    Alexander M. Duefie, Judge.
    STATEMENT BY THE COURT.
    The appellee, B. B. Toler, sheriff and collector of Grant county, sold at public sale a portion of the sixteenth section or school land in said county. The only bidders at the sale were appellant, Brown, and one Gates, who bid for the Haywood Lumber Company. The lands were struck off and sold to Gates, as agent for such company, for the sum of $1,780, that being the highest bid offered. Gates did not pay for the land so soon as it was struck off to him, but while the collector was preparing the certificate of purchase he went off and procured the money, and in about one hour returned, and paid it to the collector before the collector had finished preparing such certificate. During Gates’ absence Brown tendered the amount of his first bid $840 to the collector, and insisted that he be declared the purchaser, but the collector refused to accept it. When the collector reported the sale to the county court, Brown appeared, was made a party to the proceedings, filed objections and exceptions to the report, and asked that he be declared the purchaser, and that the collector be required to deliver him certificates of purchase for the land. His exceptions were overruled, and he appealed to the circuit court. He did not amend his exceptions in any way, but introduced evidence, and endeavored to show to the circuit court that there had been no petition filed for the sale of the land, and that the collector had no authority to sell. The circuit court gave judgment against him, and he appealed.
    
      Wood <& Henderson, for appellant.
    There was no lawful petition for the sale of school lands, because: (1) Said petition was signed by a majority only of the “voters” of the township, whereas the statute says it shall be signed by “a majority of the male inhabitants,” which would include minors. Webst. Diet. “Inhabitants;” 132 Mass. 89, S. C. 42 Am. St. Rep. 424; 103 U. S. 694; 36 Ark. 178; 40 Ai’k. 290; 56 Ark. 110. (2) Said petition was presented to the “sheriff,” and not to the “collector.” 37 Ark., 381; 33 Ark. 396; 31 Ark. 571, 574. Since appellee did not pay cash on his bid, it should have been set .aside, and the land re-sold. Sand. & H. Dig. § 7119.
    
      Hill <& Auten, for appellee.
    Appellant had no interest in this proceeding of the court, and cannot urge any objection thereto. 22 Ark. 191; 44 ib. 225; 8 Am. St. Rep. 544; 40 La. Ann. 474. The burden is on him who attacks an official act. 1 Jones, Ev. §§ 38-40; 116 Cal. 56; 92 Am. Dec. 526; 64 ib. 680; 85 ib. 428. The petition, signed by a majority of the adult male inhabitants, was sufficient.
   Riddick, J.,

(after stating the facts.) The petition and exceptions filed by Brown in the county court raised the question whether he was entitled to be declared the purchaser of the lands, instead of Gates. His exception to the report on this point was based on the fact that Gates did not at once pay for the land so soon as it was struck off to him, but was allowed by the collector about án hour to procure the money, and make the payment. We see nothing in this exception. It is true that the statute provides that sale shall be made for cash, and that if any bidder fails to perfect.his bid by paying the cash. the collector shall immediately resell. Sand. & H. Dig. § 7119. But whether the payment was made “immediately” was a question of fact to be determined by the circuit court in connection with the circumstances in proof. The facts in this case are not such that we can say that the court erred in finding that the payment was made immediately, within the meaning of the statute. Within an hour after the sale, and before the collector had finished preparing his certificate of purchase, the purchaser paid the money. The meaning of the statute is that the payment shall be made promptly and without delay, and we think the court was justified in holding that it was so made in this case. Queen v. Justices of Berkshire, 4 Q. B. Div. 469.

While Brown did not amend his petition and exceptions filed in the county court, he jundertook on the trial in the circuit court to raise a question as to the authority of the collector to make the sale. His exceptions not only do not raise such question, but he neither alleged nor proved that he was an inhabitant of the township or county in which the lands were situated. So far as the record discloses, he had no intei’est in these, lands, and no right to object’to the sale by the collector.

We are therefore of opinion that the judgment of the court was right, and should be affirmed. It is so ordered.