Case Name: Alaxander vs. Perry
Court: Tennessee Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Tennessee
Decision Date: 1843-12
Citations: 4 Hum. 391
Docket Number: 
Parties: Alaxander vs. Perry.
Judges: 
Reporter: Tennessee Reports
Volume: 23
Pages: 391–392

Head Matter:
Alaxander vs. Perry.
The widow and heirs of Alexander sold a tract of land belonging* to deceased in his lifetime to Perry, and gave him a bond to convey title on payment of the purchase money. The notes were taken payable to the widow; and this bill was filed by her alone, to enforce the payment of the purchase money: Held, that the heirs were necessary parties, and that a sale of the land under a decree, would not convey the title to the purchaser.
Laughlin, for the complainant.
S. Turney, for the defendant.

Opinion:
Green, J.
delivered the opinion of the court.
Martha Alexander, the widow of William Alexander, deceased, and her children, Silas, Samuel, James H. and Calvin H. Alexander, and her son-in-law Henry Powell, sold to the defendants the land of which their ancestor, W. Alexander, died seized and possessed of, and executed a title bond, dated 1st June, 1839, conditioned, to convey the said land to the defendants by the 25th December, 1840.
In consideration of said purchase, the defendants paid $1000, and executed their note to Martha Alexander, due 25th December, 1840, for $1000. This note has not been paid, and Martha Alexander, alone,, filed her bill against the Perrys, to enforce the contract, and to obtain a decree for the sale of the land. Such decree was made, and the land was sold by the Clerk and Master, and purchased by Samuel Alexander for forty dol lars. This sale was confirmed by the Chancellor, and the interest of the defendants was by a final decree vested in the purchaser. From this decree the defendants appealed.
This decree is erroneous, and must be reversed. The legal title is in the heirs of William Alexander, and they are not parties to this suit. The consequence was, that the purchaser of the land could not be substituted to the equitable -rights of the defendants, and must pay up the balance of the purchase money, and file a bill against those heirs before be can get the legal title. Hence the interest of the defendants was sacrificed for forty dollars.
The case must be reversed; the sale by the Clerk and Master set aside, and proper parties brought before the court.