Case Name: Latimer and Randall v. Lovett
Court: Michigan Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Michigan
Decision Date: 1846-01
Citations: 2 Doug. 204
Docket Number: 
Parties: Latimer and Randall v. Lovett.
Judges: 
Reporter: Reports of cases argued and determined in the Supreme Court of the state of Michigan
Volume: 2
Pages: 204–206

Head Matter:
Latimer and Randall v. Lovett.
A treasurer’s deed in consummation of a sale of land for taxes, under the act of 1827, (R. L. 1838. p. 96,) is evidence of the regularity of the sale only; and a parly claiming title under it, must show affirmatively that all the proceedings, anterior to the sale, in the assessment and return of the taxes, have been had in conformity to the statute. This point decided in Scott v. Detroit Young Men's Society, 1 Dougl. Mich. R. 121, re-affirmed.
Error to Lenawee Circuit Court. Ejectment by Latimer and Randall against Lovelt. The plaintiffs claimed as the grantees of one Hoeg. The only evidence of Hoeg’s title which they adduced on the trial, was a deed of the premises, executed to him by the treasurer of Lenawee county, in consummation of a sale of the same for taxes. It appeared from the recitals in the deed, that the sale was made March 3, 1836, for taxes assessed for the year 1832. The plaintiffs did not offer any evidence to show that the taxes for which the premises were sold, were legally assessed and returned, or that the proceedings anterior to the sale had been in conformity to the statute.
On the submission of the cause to the jury the court charged, “that, under the statute, applicable to the case, (R. L. 1827, p. 378, and R. L. 1833, p. 96 §15 ) the plaintiffs, in order to have established a good title in Hoeg unthe treasurers deed, should have proved to the jury the existence and regular assessment of the tax for the nonpayment of which the premises were sold, and that the same had been returned as uncollected by the officer to whom the tax list was committed for collection ; that without the assessment of such tax, and the non-payment of the same, the treasurer would have had no power to make the sale ; that the onus was on the plaintiffs claiming title through such treasurer’s deed, to prove all those facts upon which the power of the treasurer to make the deed depended ; that under the statute the treasurer’s deed was not even prima facie evidence of such proceedings anteri- or to the action of the treasurer in advertising and selling the land, as authorized him to sell the same; but was evidence of the regularity of the sale only; and that without evidence of such proceedings, the jury would not be authorized to find a verdict for the plaintiffs.” Under this charge, to which the plaintiffs excepted, the jury found a verdict for the defendant, on which judgment was rendered. The plaintiffs now claim a reversal of the judgment on the ground that the charge was erroneous.
A. Backus for the plaintiffs.
A. H. Tiffany for the defendant,
cited Sharp v. Spier, 4 Hill, 78, 84, 86; Williams v. Peyton, 4 Wheat. 77; Rankendorf v. Taylor, 4 Peters, 349; Jackson v. Shepherd, 7 Cowen, 88; 8 Wheat., 682; Jackson v. Morse, 18 Johns., 441; Rowland v. Doty, Harr. Ch. R. 1, 10; R. L. 1833, p. 96, §15, 16.
This statute provided that the county treasurer’s deed should vest in the person to whom it was given, an absolute estate in fee simple, subject to all the claims vvhichtho territory of Michigan should have thereon, and should be conclusive evidence that the sale was regular according to the provisions of the act. For subsequent statutes on this subject, see R. S. 1838, p. 98, §20; S. L. 1842, p. 98,§53 ; S. L. 1843, p. 58, and B. S. 1846, p. 114, §82. See, also, 1 Dougl, Mich. R., 121 note.
YVhen this causo came on for argument Scott v. Detroit Young Men's Society had not been reported, and counsel were, therefore, ignorant of it, until attention was called to it by the court after the argument had commenced.

Opinion:
Wing, J.
delivered the opinion of the court. We think that the decision of this court in Scott v. The Detroit Young Men's Society, 1 Dough Mich. R., 121, fully sustains the charge given by the court below ; and wre are satisfied with the doctrine laid down in that case. The whole scope also of the decision in Rowland v. Doty, Harr. Ch. R. 1, and the authorities cited by the Chancellor in delivering his opin ion, tend to establish the same doctrine ; although, as remarked by the Chancellor, it was not necessary in that case to decide whether it was incumbent on the party claiming title under the treasurer's deed, to show affirmatively the regularity of all the proceedings, and that all the prerequisites to the sale had been complied with.
Thejudgment below must, therefore, be affirmed.
Judgment affirmed.