Case Name: Byrne Realty Company, a Corporation Organized and Existing Under the Laws of the State of Florida; The Barnett National Bank, a Corporation Organized and Existing Under the Laws of the United States (Successor to the National Bank of Jacksonville) ; and William T. Abbott, Appellants, v. South Florida Farms Company, a Corporation Organized and Existing Under the Laws of the State of Florida, Appellee
Court: Florida Supreme Court
Jurisdiction: Florida
Decision Date: 1921-06-06
Citations: 81 Fla. 805
Docket Number: 
Parties: Byrne Realty Company, a Corporation Organized and Existing Under the Laws of the State of Florida; The Barnett National Bank, a Corporation Organized and Existing Under the Laws of the United States (Successor to the National Bank of Jacksonville) ; and William T. Abbott, Appellants, v. South Florida Farms Company, a Corporation Organized and Existing Under the Laws of the State of Florida, Appellee.
Judges: 
Reporter: Florida Reports
Volume: 81
Pages: 805–864

Head Matter:
Byrne Realty Company, a Corporation Organized and Existing Under the Laws of the State of Florida; The Barnett National Bank, a Corporation Organized and Existing Under the Laws of the United States (Successor to the National Bank of Jacksonville) ; and William T. Abbott, Appellants, v. South Florida Farms Company, a Corporation Organized and Existing Under the Laws of the State of Florida, Appellee.
Opinions Filed June 6, 1921.
Petition for Rehearing Denied August 3, 1921.
1. A cross-bill must be germane to and auxiliary to the original bill and pray for affirmative relief concerning matters in, litigation under the original ’ bill.
2. Chapter 6907, Acts of 1915, does not-forbid the use of cross-bills in proper eases, though the statute' expressly provides for obtaining affirmative relief upon answers in classes of cases stated in the act.
3. In a cross-bill seeking affirmative relief -new parties may be added, whose presence is essential to a complete determination of the matter.
4. A cross-bill must be as complete and perfect as an original bill.
5. A cross-bill is demurrable where it does not contain- the allegations necessary to show that the cross complainant is entitled to relief, where it is uncertain and indefinite in, its allegations as to- those matters on which counter relief is sought, or where, seeking relief which is of an equitable nature, it does not contain all the -proper allegations which confer an e'quitable title to such relief.
6. A cross-bill is defective when it is uncertain, and indefinite as to those matters on which counter relief is sought.
7. It is incumbent upon a complainant to allege in his cross-bill, clearly and definitely, every fact that is necessary to entitle him to relief; and if he omits essential facts therefrom, or states such facts therein as show that he is not entitled to relief in a court of equity, he must suffer the consequences of his so doing.
8. A demurrer containing appropriate specific grounds does not admit asserted conclusions that are not sustained by proper allegations, or that are contrary to law. Nor does it admit allegations that are contradicted by records of which the court may take judicial notice.
9. It is encumbent upon the complainant in a cross-bill to allege all the ultimate facts that are essential to show the equity upon which he relies for the relief prayed.
10. If an equity is not duly alleged in a cross-bill it is demurrable. If from the facts alleged an equity may be implied, but the allegations show that a once potential equity has been extinguished by laches or otherwise, then there is no existing equity and the bill is subject to appropriate demurrer.
11. A lawful subject-matter and competent parties having appropriate authority in the premises are requisite to the creation of an express trust.
12. In order to create an express trust, the subject, object and terms of the trust must be definitely stated by competent ■ authority; and in order to be enforced by judicial proceedings, the trust must be evidenced as may be required by law.
13. Where the declaration or creation of an express trust in lands is by statute required to “be. manifested' and proved by some writing signed by the' party authorized by law to declare or create such trust,” the subject, object and terms of the trust must he definitely expressed in a writing executed hy an authorized party as the statute provides, or the trust cannot he proved for judicial enforcement.
14. The perfect title of the State to swamp and overflowed lands under the Act of Gongress approved September 28, 1850, does not vest in the State until the patent covering the lands is issued.
15. While the expenses of selecting the lands to he patented to the State may he a prior claim against the lands of the fund, such claim gives no right to select or sell particular lands unless the selection or sale is duly recognized or acquiesced in by the Trustees within their statutory powers, or is adjudged by appropriate judicial proceedings.
10. The allegations here considered do not show that the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund authorized the issuance of a certificate made hy the Commissioner of Agriculture that lands therein described would hy the Trustees be conveyed' to a named person or to his ordér when the patents to the lands ' may he received hy the Státe. Nor does the certificate create a trust in the lands under the showing made.
17. Where it is alleged that pursuant to a contract to sell all the lands ’ the vendor may receive ’ ffom á certain source, the vendor endorsed in blank and delivered to the vendees a certificate made by another person in which certain - lands were described, and the vendor received an “initial payment” “as provided in the contract,” and also another payment “on said contract” under and in pursuance of the provision of a contract that certificates should he delivered in proportion as payments áre made thereon,” and the price to he paid per acre hy the contract'and other terms of the contract are not. given, .such allegations as they • appear with others .in .this case, do not,show á completed equitable title in the vendees to the particular lands.
IS. Where particular allegations 'show that' a possible potential equity once existed in lands, hut other allegations of the pleading show the loss of such right by laches, if any éxisted, a. demurrer to the bill of complaint is properly sustained.
19. Where a certificate describing lands is in 1S92 endorsed in blank and delivered to alleged vendees upon the payment of money under a contract of sale, but it does- not appear that the entire contract price was paid, and deeds were not applied for when patents were issued in 1903 as contemplated by the certificate in which the lands were described, and no assertion of rights by virtue of the certificate and the payments, made thereon pursuant to the previous contract are made till 1917, thirteen years after .the death of the alleged vendor and after the lands were held by the heirs of the vendor for years under a recorded title and then conveyed by them to other parties, the equity, if any, was acquired by the vendees, in the -particular lands, is extinguished by laches.
An Appeal from an Order of the Circuit Court for De Soto County; John S. Edwards, Judge.
Decree affirmed.
N. B .K. Pettingill and Arthur F. Odlin, for Appellants ;
Alex. St. Clair-Abrams, Gramling & Clarkson, John W. Henderson and S. D. Clarke, for Appellees.

Opinion:
STATEMENT.
On May 16, 1917, the. South Florida Farms Company, a corporation, filed its bill of complaint- against Byrne Realty Company, a corporation, The Barnett' National Bank, a corporation (successor to the National Bank of Jacksonville), and William T. Abbott, alleging in sub stance that on or about October 20,' 1914, complainant purchased described lands from named persons who obtained title t'o the lands from the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida as the heirs of John A. Henderson; that complainant "did then and there go into and now remains in actual possession of said lands, paying taxes thereon and exercising acts of ownership thereof;" that complainant further "says that it is alleged and claimed that in the year 1890 one James M. Kreamer and J. J. Dunne entered into a contract of purchase with John A. Henderson, now deceased (father of your orator's grantors) for the purchase of the lands described above, your orator is. informed and believes and so alleges that if any such contract was entered into the said Kreamer and Dunne utterly failed and neglected to comply with the contract of purchase or to pay the amount agreed upon; and, by reason of their default in such payments, have forfeited all rights to a performance of the contract and ceased utterly to have any right, title or interest in said lands; that at the time of the contract of purchase the said John A. Henderson had no right, title or interest in said property, but only an equitable claim for lands on account of services rendered by him to the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida; that the lands described above had not been patented to the State of Florida by the .Government of the United States; that, notwithstanding this, L. B. Wombwell, Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Florida, as your orator is informed, executed a certificate (covering the lands), a copy of which is hereto annexed and marked Exhibit "A," which your orator prays may be taken as part of this bill; that the said Wombwell was without authority of law, by virtue of his office or by apy authority from the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, to execute said Certificate; that the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund never authorized the said Wombwell to execute said certificate and that said certificate was and is absolutely void and could not convey, either to the said John A. Henderson -or to any of his heirs or assigns, any right, title--or interest, either at law or in equity, in . and to the lands therein described."
There are other allegations not necessary to be stated here, that relate to. claims through or by the defendants to rights in the lands under the certificate referred to as "Exhibit A," with prayers for appropriate relief against the said certificate and the. uses made of it, as a cloud upon complainant's title to the lands. Exhibit "A" referred to is as follows: ,
' " 'EXHIBIT A.'*
'I, Lucius B. Wombwell, Commissioner of Agriculture of the State of Florida, in whose custody as such Commissioner of Agriculture aforesaid are all the maps, plats and records of the public lands of the' State of Florida, do hereby certify that Jno. A. Henderson has applied to enter on his account as State Selecting Agent all the following described lands, to-wit:
(Description omitted)
making a total of 15,961 acres.' "
" 'I further certify that the said land will be conveyed to the said Jno. A. Henderson or to his order as soon as the same has been patented to the State of Florida.
'In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the Department of Agriculture at Tallahassee, the Capitol, this the 13th day of June, A. D. 1892.
(SEAL) £L. B. Wombwell, Commissioner of
'Agriculture of the State of Florida.
'Endorsed " 'John A. Henderson.' "
The Byrne Realty Company and William T. Abbott answered, but not under oath, the oath being expressly waived by the bill of complaint.
On July 10, 1917, the defendant, William T. Abbott, filed a cross-bill against the defendant, South Florida Farms, Company, and the heirs of John A. Henderson, in which it is alleged in substance that "John A. Henderson in his lifetime, to-wit: in the year 1884 made and entered into a contract with the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida whereby he was employed by said Trustees to obtain from the United States selections and patents of such swamp and overflowed lands within the boundaries of said State as it was entitled to under the Act of Congress in that behalf, but which the State had up to that time failed to receive, and under the terms of which contract he was entitled to compensation at the rate of two cents for each acre of swamp and overflowed land so selected as a result of his labors and to be patented to the State, payable out of such of said lands as might be thereafter selected and specified by him at the sale price fixed from time to time by said Trustees. That said right of selection on the part of the said Henderson was recognized by said Trustees as an expense of the administration of their trust and, as such, prior in right to any other disposition to be made of ' said lands; and that, upon written request made by said Henderson to the Commission er of Agriculture, who was the member of said Board of Trustees having custody and control of all the records of said swamp and overflowed lands and of the preparation of all transfers thereof, said Commissioner of Agriculture was authorized, and it was his custom, to issue to said Henderson (in case the lands selected and specified had not yet been patented to the State) certificates in the form and to the effect exemplified by said 'Exhibit A' attached to the original bill of complaint herein.
That the employment of said Henderson under the contract aforesaid continued until and after the year 1892, and on the 13th day of June, 1892, said Henderson was entitled, as compensation already earned under said contract, to have deeds or certificates (according as the lands selected had or had not been patented to the State) to many thousand of acres more than the total of all lands which had heretofore been so deeded or certificated together with the number of acres included in. said certificate so as aforesaid attached to the original bill as 'Exhibit A.' That being so entitled, said Henderson did on or before said 13th day of June, 1892, request the Commissioner of Agriculture to issue to him, on account of his compensation aforesaid, the certificate so attached as 'Exhibit A,' and said certificate was issued in compliance with said request pursuant to the authority delegated to him by said Trustees as aforesaid. That said Henderson was at that time entitled to select the lands-described in said certificate, and did so select them, on account of his compensation under said contract, that the only reason why conveyance of the legal title to said lands was not made to said Henderson at that time was because such legal title had not been transferred by patent from the United States to the State; and that from the date of the selection of said lands by said Hender son and Ms notification thereof to said. Commissioner of Agriculture the said Trustees held the equitable title-r- and, after the issuance ,of patent by the United States to the State, the legal title — to the same in trust for the benefit of the said John A. Henderson, his heirs and assigns.
II
"That in and by said certificate 'Exhibit A,' it was provided, and said Trustees through said Commissioner of Agriculture thereby represented and promised that a deed to the lands described therein should be executed and delivered to said Henderson, or his order, upon the return of said certificate endorsed by him, as soon as said lands should be patented to the State of Florida by -the United States; that said original Certificate is now in the possession of this cross-complainant, ready to be produced as this Court may diréct; and that the copy thereof attached to the original bill herein as 'Exhibit A' is a true copy thereof. And it is prayed that said copy may, for the purpose of convenience, be deemed to be a part of this, cross-bill.
Ill
"That on the 15th day of July, 1890, said John A. Henderson entered into a contract with J. M. Kreamer and J. J. Dunne, whereby it was agreed, after reciting the substance of the above contract between said Henderson and said Trustees and the right of the former to a conveyance thereunder of some fifty to seventy-five thousand acres of land, that said Henderson should sell to said Kreamer & Dunne all the land to be received by him un der said contract (after providing for certain contingencies specified) at certain price per acre therein expressed; and that the 5th and final paragraph of said contract read literally as follows, to-wit:
" £5th. The said Henderson agrees that for all the lands that the said Kreamer & Dunne may designate he will have the State of Florida issue 'Certificates' whenever they shall desire and the same shall be delivered to the said Kreamer & Dunne in proportion as they may make payments on this contract, or the whole may be deposited in escrow, subject to the payment of the balance of the purchase money.'
"That thereafter the said Kreamer & Dunne paid to the said Henderson the initial payment of six thousand dollars, as provided in said contract, and elected the option given in the paragraph thereof above quoted that land Certificates should be obtained by said Henderson and delivered to said Dunne & Kreamer in proportion as they might make payments thereon; that subsequently and on or about the 11th day of August, 1892, the said Kreamer & Dunne, through the National Bank of Jacksonville, Florida, paid to said Henderson on said contract the additional sum of Five Thousand Dollars, that said land certificate attached to the original bill herein as 'Exhibit 'A,' together with another land Certificate for 9,840 acres attached to said original bill as 'Exhibit B,' was delivered to said Dunne & Kreamer by said Henderson, in consideration of said.two payments amounting to the sum of $11,000 under and in pursuance of the provision of said contract above quoted that Certificates should be delivered to them in proportion as they might make payments thereon; that, although said Certificate 'Exhibit A' is dated, and was probably issued to said Henderson on the 13th day'of June, 1892, the same was not endorsed on the back by said Henderson and delivered- by him to said Kreámer and Dunne on or about the date of the payment of said five .thousand dollars as aforesaid, and that by such endorsement, transfer and delivery all the right, title and interest acquired by said Henderson under said certificate in and to the lands therein described passed to and became vested in the said Kreámer & -Dunne.
IV.
"That, as above alleged, from the time of the issuance and delivery of said Certificate 'Exhibit A' the said Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund held the equitable title to the land in the same described in trust for the benefit of said John A. Henderson or his assigns until the legal title to the same, together with some millions of acres of other swamp and overflowed land was conveyed by the United States to the State of Florida, which was done by patent dated the 29th day of April, 1903; that thereafter the Trustees held the legal title to said lands under a like trust until the death of said Henderson, which occurred in the month of August, 1904; that soon after the said death of John A. Henderson, his heirs above named applied for and obtained from said Trustees, in full compliance as they alleged with the amount due him for services as agent of said Trustees as aforesaid, a deed which covered a large area of land and included the same 15,961 acres described in 'Exhibit A' and involved in this cross-bill, which deed was dated the 28th day of December, 1904, was filed for record in the office of the Clerk of this Court on the 4th day of April, 1905, and is found recorded in Deed Book 52 at page 41; that the said trust which had attached to said land described in 'Exhibit A' from the time of its issuance and delivery to said Henderson- in 1892 to his death in August, 1904, passed at once upon his death to his said heirs with respect to the equitable title and attached to the legal title when said heirs received the same by virtue of the deed aforesaid dated December 28, 1994; and that said heirs received said legal title charged with and-subject to the same obligation to convey said lands to the holder or holders of said certificate 'Exhibit A' as their ancestor,the said John A. Henderson, had held his equitable right while living and would have held the legal title had he lived to acquire the same.
V.
"That the defendant heirs aforesaid of said John A. Henderson continued to hold the legal title to the land described in said certificate 'Exhibit A,' as well as the other lands included in said deed from said Trustees dated December 28, 1905, subject to said obligation to convey the same to the holders of said certificate until the conveyance of the same by said heirs to their co-defendant, said South Florida Farms Company, which conveyance (although dated the 20th day - of October, 1914) was not delivered and made effective, as this cross-complainant is informed and believes, until sometime in the month of December, 1915, and which was-filed for record in the' office of the Clerk of this Court on the 27th day of December, 1915, and is found recorded in Deed Rook 123, on page 185; that, although it is admitted that said certificate 'Exhibit A' was not filed for record in the office of said Clerk until the 14th day of July, 1916, at the time said defendant South Florida Farms Company closed said purchase from their co-defendants, heirs of John A. Henderson, of lands including those described in said 'Exhibit A' by accepting the deed aforesaid from said heirs, said company, through its proper officers who acted for it in making such purchase, had full notice and knowledge of the existence of said certificate 'Exhibit A' and of the trust obligation in favor of the holders of said certificate, which had existed since the endorsement, transfer and delivery of said certificate by said John A. Henderson as above set forth; and that by reason of the premises said defendant company now holds the legal title to said land, described in said 'Exhibit A' in trust for and under the obligation to convey to this cross-complainant, who is successor to the said Kreamer & Dunne as holders and in the ownership of said certificate and of the right, title and interest in the land therein described originally acquired and held by said John A. Henderson, having acquired the same in the manner now herein to be set forth. The means by which cross-complainant obtained the certificate 'Exhibit A' covering the,lands are stated.'
VII.
"That upon the delivery by said defendant heirs of John A. .Henderson to their co-defendant South Florida Farms Company of the deed hereinbefore referred to, which covered nearly 100,000 acres of land, including the 15,961 acres described in said certificate 'Exhibit A,' said South Florida Farms Company executed and delivered to said heirs of Henderson a purchase money mortgage upon all the property to it conveyed for the sum of $499,200, which represented all or nearly all of the purchase price of said land; that said mortgage was given to secure 35 promissory notes for the .sum, of $10,000. each, payable monthly from January, 1916, to. November,. 1918, and one note for $149,200, payable in December, 1918, all bearing interest at the.rate of 6% per annum, and bears date the 1st day of December, 1915, but. was not executed until the 14th day of said. December, , and .is recorded in Mortgage Book 20, on page 328, in the office of the Clerk of this Court;. and. that much the larger part of the amount represented, by said notes still remain due and unpaid to said defendant heirs of Henderson and said promissoi'y notes still remain owned by them and in their possession or under their control. . . .
"Therefore this cross-complainant further avers, that, . in the event he may.not be able to satisfy the Court that defendant South Florida Farms Company had at the time of closing its purchase of said land and the giving of said'mortgage knowledge or notice of the existence of said certificate 'Exhibit A' and of the equitable rights of the holder or owner of said certificate thereunder (which this cross-complainant believed to be a fact), he is entitled as against the defendant heirs of Henderson to á decree charging against the purchase money mortgage indtebt'edness remaining due from defendant South Florida Farms Company to defendant heirs of Henderson a sum equivalent to the proporition of the total purchase price which the fair value of the 15,961 acres described in the certificate 'Exhibit A' bears to the fair value of the total acreage included in and conveyed to said Farms Company by said deed of October 20, 1914, enjoining the defendant heirs of Henderson from collecting from said Farms' Company the sum so' fixed and from so disposing of said mortgage notes as to prevent the application of said sum to the benefit of this cross-complainant, and requiring defendant South Florida Farm's Company to make equi' table division, of payments still to be made by it upon said notes that cross-complainant may receive his proportion of such payments in accordance with the comparative values so to be fixed and determined as. aforesaid.
VIII.
"That, although the patent from the United States to the State of Florida conveying the legal title to several millions of acres of swamp and overflowed lands, including the 15,961 acres described in said 'Exhibit A,' was issued in the year 1903, as hereinbefore alleged, said patent has never been recorded in the respective counties where lie the lands described in it, and the fact of its issuance was not known either to this cross-complainant or to the Byrne Realty Company until shortly before the time action was begun to obtain judgment against said Dunne and the executor of Kreamer as hereinbefore set forth.
IX.
"That this cross-complainant is without any plain, adequate and complete remedy at law in the premises, hence is entitled to seek relief in a court of equity, where matters of the nature of those hereinbefore set forth are alone properly cognizable; and that complete justice and equity may not be done in this behalf by merely answering the original bill filed in this cause by said South Florida Farms Company for the reasons, among other things, that said heirs of John A. Henderson are not parties to such original bill, wherefore it becomes necessary that this cross-complainant file and present to the Court this his cross-bill herein.
"Forasmuch, therefore, as. this cross-complainant is without adequate relief in the premises except in this court of equity and by the filing of this cross-bill, he prays affirmative relief as follows:
"I. That the defendants hereto hereinbefore named, and each of them, be required to make full, true, direct and perfect answer to this cross-bill — but not under oath, the answer under oath being hereby expressly waived.
"2. That said defendant South Florida Farms Company be found to have acquired the title to the 15,961 acres of land, more or less, described in said certificate 'Exhibit A' with notice of the equitable rights .therein possesed by the holder of said certificate, and be decreed to hold the legal title in fee therein as trustee for William T. Abbott, cross-complainant, and be required to make and execute and deliver to him a proper deed of conveyance to the same; and that the mortgage for purchase money given by said South Florida Farms Company to defendant heirs of John A. Henderson and placed on record, as hereinbefore described, be cancelled and discharged of record, in so far as the same includes and affect's the land described in said certificate and to be conveyed to this cross-complainant as above prayed.
"3. That the defendant heirs of John A. Henderson be decreed to have inherited from their said father no greater rights in the land described in said certificate 'Exhibit A5 than their father possessed after he had endorsed, transferred and delivered said certificate to said Kreamer and Dunne, and to have held the legal title to said lands, after the conveyance .of the same to them (together with other lands) by the deed of said trustees dated December 28, 1904, as trustees for the holder or holders of said certificate pursuant to its terms.
"4. That, as an alternative prayer, in the event the Court find that defendant, South Flordia Farms Company, acquired said land described in said certificate, and the legal right to the same, without knowledge or notice of the existence of said' certificate and the equitable rights of the holders thereof, then it be decreed that this cross-complainant is entitled to receive from said South Florida Farms Company such part of the purchase money mortgage indebtedness remaining due from it to said defendant heirs of John A.' Henderson as the fair value of said 15,961 acres bears to the fair value of the total acreage included in said' deed of December 28, 1904; that said Farms Company be required to make equitable division of the payments still to be made by it to said heirs of Henderson under the terms of the purchase money mortgage and notes in the proportion aforesaid; and that the defendant heirs of Henderson be enjoined from collecting from said' Farms Company the proportion of said payments so decreed to belong to this cross-complainant, and from so disposing of any of said mortgage notes as to prevent or impede the performance of the above provision for division of payments, and be further required and enjoined to accept such proportion of said payments as may. be decreed to them, and to give and' deliver partial or total release of discharges of the lien of said mortgage upon payments being made by defendant Farms Company as so decreed.
"5. That in the event this court grant relief to this cross-complainant as prayed in the above prayer numbered 4, an account may be taken under the authority of this court of all taxes and assessments lawfully assessed upon the said land described in said certificate 'Exhibit A' and paid either by .defendant South Florida Farms Company or by defendant heirs of John A. Henderson since they have respectively held the legal title thereto. And this cross-complainant now stands ready and hereby offers to pay, in the event aforesaid, whatever amount may be so ascertained, with legal interest thereon, as this Court may direct.
"6. That, in the event this Court denies to this cross-complainant the relief prayed in said prayer numbered 2 but grants him the relief prayed in the above prayer numbered 4, an account may be taken under the authority of this court of all taxes and assessments lawfully assessed upon the land aforesaid claimed by your orator and paid by defendant heirs of Henderson before such payments became the obligation of defendant, South Florida Farms Company. And this cross-complainant now stands ready and' hereby offers to allow to be deducted whatever amount may be so ascertained to have been paid, from his proportion of the first payments thereafter coming' due from defendant Farms Company upon the purchase money mortgage indebtedness hereinbefore described.
"7. That this cross-complainant may have such other and further relief as equity may require and to your Honor shall seem meet in the premises."
The South Florida Farms Company filed a demurrer to the crossbill on the following grounds:
"1. Under and' by virtue of Chapter 6907, Laws of 1915, of the State of Florida, cross-bills are abolished in this State.
"2. Because a cross-bill cannot be maintained unless the complainant in the cross-bill has a legal or equitable claim against the complainant in the original bill.
"3. Because the bill of complaint shows that the complainant in the cross-bill, William T.. Abbott, had no original claim whatsoever against the South Florida Farms Company.
"4. Because a cross-bill, is bad which required, the bringing in of new parties to enable the complainant to the cross-bill to set up a claim against the complainant in the original bill.
"5. Because it app'ears from the allegations of the cross-bill that there is no equity in it.
"6. Because the complainant to the cross-bill is seeking to enforce an alleged contract for the purchase of land 'barred by the statute of limitations..
"7. Because a contract for the purchase and sale of land must hot only be in writing signed by the proposed grantor, but must contain the name of the proposed grantee.
"8. Because the record of the original bill and the cross-bill shows that the lands in dispute in this case on the alleged contract embodied in the certificate of Womb-well never were assigned to either J. M. Kreamer or J. J. Dunne. '
"9. Because the record shows that Kreamer and Dunne could not legally enforce any claim to the land and the complainant to the cross-bill, William T. Abbott, could have no greater rights than Kreamer and Dunne had.
"10. Because the Byrne Realty Company possessed no legal or equitable rights in the lands described in the certificate.
"11. Because Wombwell, Commissioner of Agriculture, .was without authority of law to execute the said certificate.
"12. Because, under the law, thé Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund were without power to contract to sell or to agree to sell lands not yet owned by them..
"13. Because the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund were without power of law to authorize the Commissioner of Agriculture to agree to execute deeds to lands not owned by them and for which they had no patent.
"14. Because the cross-bill is an attempt to enforce a stale claim on an alleged contract for the purchase of land;
"15. Because the complainant to the cross-bill, William T. Abbott^ could have no greater legal right to the lands than the Byrne Realty Company had.
"16. Because the mere endorsement of Henderson's name on the certificate did not constitute an assignment. of the same to any person."
The other cross defendants filed a demurrer to the cross-bill on the following grounds:
"First — That the said cross-complainant has not in and by his said cross-bill made or stated such a case as entitles him in a court of equity to the relief prayed for against these defendants, or either of them, or to any relief against them, or either of them, as to the matters contained in said cross-bill, or any of such matters.
'¡'Second — That the endorsement of the land certificate mentioned in said cross:bill by John A. Henderson, and the delivery of the same to J. J. Dunne and J. M. Kreamer, conveyed, to said Dunne and Kreamer no estate legal or equitable in the lands therein described, and was not a contract to convey any such estate or interest in said lands.
"Third — That the sale of said land certificate, mentioned in said cross-bill, and the purchase thereof by said cross-complainant, in the manner alleged in said cross-bill, conveyed to the said cross-complainant, no estate, legal or equitable, in the lands therein described, and was not a contract to convey any such estate or interest in said lands.
"Fourth — That said cross-bill shows on its face that said cross-complainant, and those through and under whom he derived his alleged title to the said land certificate mentioned in said cross-bill, and the alleged rights thereunder, in the manner alleged in said cross-bill, have been guilty of gross- laches in asserting their alleged claim.
"Fifth — That the said land certificate mentioned in said cross-bill are void and of no effect on their face.
"Sixth — That the said land certificates, mentioned in .the cross-bill, was not the subject of collateral pledge."
The first demurrer was sustained on all of its grounds except the 7th and 12th grounds. The second demurrer was sustained. The cross-complainant appealed.
By an Act of Congress approved September 28, 1850', the United States granted to the State of Florida all the swamp and overflowed lands in the- State, then remaining undisposed of, the- title of the State to be perfected by the location of the lands and the issuance of patents therefor. Chapman & Dewey Lumber Co. v. St. Francis Levee Dist., 232 U. S. 186, 34 Sup. Ct. Rep. 297. When the granted lands are selected, located and designated by survey or otherwise and -patents are issued to the State conveying the lands, the Acts of Congress require. the patents to be, recorded at Washington, D. C., and such record imparts notice as a matter of law. Wilcox v. Phillips, 260 Mo. 664, 169 S. W. Rep. 55; Evitts v. Roth, 61 Tex. 81; Sands v. Davis, 40 Mich. 14; Lomax v. Pickering, 165 Ill. 431, 46 N. E. Rep. 238; Mason v. Cooksey, 51 Ind. 519; 26 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law (2nd ed.) p. 446; 24 Am. & Eng. Ency. Law (2nd ed.) p. 86.
By'Chapter 610, Laws of Florida, approved January 6, 1855, the swamp and overflowed lands conveyed to the State under the Act of 1850, were vested'in five States .officers who -were. designated • as Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund pf the State to execute the express statutory trusts with reference to the lands. See Morgan v. Dunwoody, 66 Fla. 522, 63 South. Rep. 905.
The "necessary expenses of selection, management and .sale'-' of the lands were to be paid from the fund under the trust Act of 1855. Yager v. McNeill, 60 Fla. 400, 53 South. Rep. 12.
The .authorized publication in book form of-the "Minutes of the Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida," Vol. 3, page 290, contains thé following:
"Tallahassee, Fla., March 15th, 1884.
"The board met in the Executive Office.
"Present: W. D. Bloxham, Governor.
"W. D. Barnes, Comptroller.
"Henry A- L'Engle, Treasurer.
"P. W. White, Commissioner of Lands and Immigration.
"The. Commissioner of'Lands and. Immigration, having -been requested to employ a suitable and competent per son, as Agent of the Board, to make further selections of lands granted to the State by Act of Congress, September 28th, 1850, and to procure the proofs required by the regulations of the United States Land Department for the approval of such selections, reported that he had employed Col. John A. Henderson, for that purpose, and that he was to incur all the expense necessary to make the selections, and proof required, and to receive as compensation for such service not exceeding two cents per acre upon the amount of such selections which may be patented to the State, and to be paid in such lands at schedule prices — which was approved by the board."
The statutes of the State contain the following:
"All declarations and creations of trust and confidence of or in any messuages, lands, tenements or hereditaments shall be manifested and proved by some writing, signed by the party authorized by law to declare or create such trust or confidence, or by his last will and testament, or else they shall be utterly void and of none effect; provided, always, that where any conveyance shall be made of any lands, messuages or tenements by which a trust or confidence shall or may arise or result by the implication or construction of law, then, and in every such case, such trust or confidence shall be of the like force and effect as the same would have been if this section had not been made, anything herein contained to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding." Sec. 2452, Gen. Stats., 1906.
"All. grants, conveyances or assignments of trust or confidence of or in any lands, tenements or hereditaments, or of any estate of ixxtex'est therein, shall be by deed signed, sealed and delivei'ed, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, by the party granting, conveying or assigning, or by his-attorney dr agent-thereunto lawfully authorized, or by last will and testament duly made and executed;'or else the" same sháll be void and of none effect." Sec. 2453, Gen. Stats., 1906.
Whitfield, J.,
(after stating the facts.)
An original bill was brought against the Byrne Realty Company, the ' Barnett Rational Bank and William T. Abbott, by the South Florida Farms Company to remove as a cloud upon' its title to certain lands, a certificate referred to as "Exhibit A," held by Abbott, covering the lands and the' proceedings had upon the certificate- adverse to the complainant. The theory of the original bill is that the certificate was and is void, and that the certificate and the action taken thereon gives to the defendants no rights in the lands. The defendant) Abbott, having answered, filed a cross-bill against the complainant and against the heirs of John A. Henderson, deceased, the said heirs being made new parties for the purposes of the cross-bill. The theory of the cross-bill is that John A. Henderson acquired from one of the Trustees- of the Internal Improvement Fund, the certificate "Exhibit A," covering the lands, for services rendered to the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State, and that pursuant to a contract previously made with Kreamer and Dunne, Henderson endorsed and delivered the certificate to Kreamer and Dunne and received therefo.r certain payments as the purchase price of the lands covered by tire certificate, which certificate is 'now the property of Abbott, and that the Trustees and Henderson and his heirs held the'title (whether legal or equitable) to the lands, in trust for the holder of the certificate; and that if the South Florida Farms Company purchased the lands with knowledge or notice of the trust, it likewise is a trustee for the holder of the certificate. If the purchaser took without notice of the asserted trust, the proceeds of the purchase price are claimed of the purchaser as against the heirs of John A. Henderson. A demurrer to the cross-bill was sustained and cross-complainants appealed.
Where an appeal is taken-from a decree on a cross-bill, rendered on demurrer thereto, the complainant standing on the demurrer, the original bill is properly-incorporated in the record, as the court in passing on the demurrer must consider the bills together for the reason that the cross-bill must be germane to and an auxiliary of the original bill and pray for affirmative relief concerning matters in litigation under the original bill. Jones v. Bryant, 204 Ill. App. 609; 21 C. J. 512.
Chapter 6907, Acts of 1915, does not forbid the use of cross-bills in proper cases, though the' statute expressly provides for obtaining affirmative relief upon answers in classes of cases stated in the Act. A cross-bill is permissible in this case.
In a cross-bill seeking- affirmative relief new parties may be added, whose-presence is essential to a complete determination of the matter. Indian River Mfg. Co. v. Wooten, 48 Fla. 271, 37 South. Rep. 731; Price v. Stratton, 45 Fla. 535, 33 South. Rep. 644; 21 C. J. 505.
A cross-bill must be as complete and perfect as an original bill, 21 C. J. 507. A cross-bill is demurrable where it does not contain the allegations necessary-to show that the cross-complainant, is entitled to relief, where it is uncertain and indefinite in its allegations as to those matters on which counter relief is sought, or where, seek ing relief which is of an equitable nature, it does not contain all the proper allegations which confer an equitable title to such relief. 21 C. J. 512; Special Tax School Dist. No. 1 of Dade County v. Smith, 61 Fla. 782, 54 South. Rep. 376.
A cross-bill is defective when it is uncertain and indefinite as to those matters on which counter relief is sought. Jackson v. Relf, 26 Fla. 465, text 470, 8 South. Rep. 184; 5 Ency. Pl. & Pr. 662; Harding v. Olson, 76 Ill. App. 475.
It is incumbent upon a complainant to allege in his bill every fact, cleai'ly and definitely, that is necessary to entitle him to relief; and if he omits essential facts therefrom, or states such facts therein as show that he is not entitled to relief in a court of equity, he must suffer the consequences, of his so doing. Godwin v. Phifer, 51 Fla. 441, 41 South. Rep. 597; Gillespie v. Chapline, 59 Fla. 500, 52 South. Rep. 722.
A demurrer containing appropriate specific grounds, does not admit asserted conclusions that are not sustained by proper allegations, or that are contrary to law. See Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Palmes, 109 U. S. 244, 3 Sup. Ct. Rep. 193; Stand. Ency. Proc. 951, et seq.
.The only question to be determined is the sufficiency of the allegations of the cross-bill to state an equity for the relief prayed as against the demurrers thereto.
It is encumbent upon the complainant in a cross-bill to allege all the ultimate .facts that are essential to show the equity upon which he relies for the relief prayed. If any equity is not duly alleged in a cross-bill it is demurrable. If from the facts alleged an equity may be implied, but the allegations show that a once potential equity lias- been extinguished by laches or otherwise, then there is no existing equity and the bill is subject to appropriate demurrer.
The allegations as to the creation of the asserted equity-are in substance:
"That in 1884 John A. Henderson entered into a contract with the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida whereby he was employed by said Trustees to obtain from the United States selections and patents of such swamp and overflowed lands within the boundaries of said State as it was entitled to under the Acts of Congress in that behalf, but which the State had up to that time failed to receive, and under the terms of which contract he was entitled to compensation at the rate of two cents for each acre of swamp) and overflowed lands so selected as a result of his labors and to be patented to the' State, payable out of such of said lands as might be thereafter selected and specified by him at the sale price fixed from time to time by said Trustees. ' That said right' of selections on the part of said Henderson was recognized by said Trustees as an expense of the administration of their trust, and, as such, pndor in right to any other disposition to be made of said lands; and that, upon written request made by said Henderson to the Commissioner of Agriculture who was the member of said Board of Trustees having custody and control of all the records of said swamp and overflowed land and of the preparation of all transfers thereof, said Commissioner of Agriculture was authorized, and it was his custom, to issue to said Henderson (in case the lands selected and specified had not yet been patented to the State) certificates in the form and to the effect exemplified by said 'Exhibit A.'
"That the employment of said Henderson under the contract aforesaid continued until and after the year 1892, and on the 13th day of June, 1892, said Henderson was entitled, as compensation already earned under said contract, to have deeds or certificates (according as the lands selected had or had not been patented to the State) to many thousands of acres more than the total of all lands which had heretofore been so deeded or certificated, together with the number of acres (15,961 acres) included in said certificate so as aforesaid attached to the original bill as 'Exhibit A.' That being so entitled, said Henderson did on or before said 13th day of June, 1892, request the Commissioner of Agriculture to issue to him, on account of his compensation aforesaid, the certificate so attached as 'Exhibit A,' and said certificate was issued in compliance with said request pursuant to the authority delegated to him by said Trustees as aforesaid. That said Henderson was at that time entitled to select the lands described in said certificate, and did so select them, on account of his compensation under said contract, that the only reason why conveyance of the legal title to said lands was not made to said Henderson at that time was because such legal title had not been transferred by patent from the United States to the State; and that from the date of the selection of said lands by said Henderson and his notification thereof to said Commissioner of Agriculture the said Trustees held the equitable title — and, after the issuance of patent by the United States to the State, the legal title — to the same in trust for the benefit of the said John A» Henderson, his heirs and assigns.
"That in and by said certificate 'Exhibit A,' it was provided, and said Trustees through said Commissioner of Agriculture, thereby represented and promised, that, a deed to the lands described therein should be executed and delivered to said Henderson, or liis order, npon the return of said certificate endorsed by him, as soon as said lands should be patented to the State of Florida by the United States.
"That on the 15th day of July, 1899, said John A. Henderson entered into a contract with J. M. Kreamer and J. J. Dunne, whereby it was agreed, after reciting the substance of the above contract between said Henderson and said trustees and the right of the former to a conveyance thereunder of some fifty to seventy-five thousand acres of land, that said Henderson should sell to said Kreamer & Dunne all the land to be received by him under said contract (after providing for certain contingencies specified) at certain price per acre therein expressed; and that the 5th and final paragraph of said contract read literally as follows, to-wit:
" '5th. The said Henderson agrees that for all the lands that the said Kreamer & Dunne may designate he will have the State of Florida issue 'Certificates' whenever. they shall desire and the same shall be delivered to the said Kreamer & Dunne in proporton as they may make payments on this contract, or the whole may be deposited in escrow subject to the payment of the balance of the purchase money.'
"That thereafter the said Kreamer & Dunne paid to said Henderson the initial payment of six thousand dollars, as provided in said contract, and elected the option given in the paragraph thereof above quoted that land certificates should be obtained by said Henderson and delivered to said Dunne & Kreamer in proportion as they might make payments thereon; that subsequently and on or about the 11th- day of August, 1892, the said Kreamer & Dunne, through the National Bank of Jack sonville, Florida, paid to said Henderson on said contract the additional sum of five thousand dollars, that said land certificate (for 15,961 acres) attached to the original bill herein as 'Exhibit A,' together with another land certificate for 9,840 acres attached to said original bill as 'Exhibit B,' was delivered to said Dunne & Kreamer by said Henderson in consideration of said two payments amounting to the sum of $11,000 under and in pursuance of the provision of said contract above quoted that certificates should be delivered to them in proportion as they might make payments thereon; that, although said certificate 'Exhibit A' is dated, and was probably issued to said Henderson, on the 13th day of June, 1892, the same was not endorsed on the back by said Henderson and delivered by him to said Kreamer and Dunne until on or about the date of the payment of said five thousand dollars as aforesaid; that by such endorsement, transfer and delivery all the right, title and interest acquired by said Henderson under said certificate in and to the lands therein described passed to and became vested in the said Kreamer & Dunne.
"That, as above alleged, from the time of the issuance and delivery of said certificate 'Exhibit A' the said Trustees of the Internal Improvement held the equitable title to the land in the same described in trust for the benefit of said John A. Henderson or his assigns until the legal title to the same was conveyed by the United States to the State of Florida, which was done by patent dated the 29th day of April, 1903; that thereafter the trustees held the legal title to said, land under a like trust until the death of said Henderson, which occurred in the month of August, 1904; that soon after the death of John A. Henderson his heirs above named applied for and obtained from said trustees a deed which covered a large area of land and included the same 15,961 acres described in 'Exhibit A' and involved in this cross-bill, which deed was dated the 28th day of December, 1904, was filed for record in the office of the Clerk of this Court on the 4th day of April, 1905; that the said trust which had attached to said land described in 'Exhibit A' from the time of its issuance and delivery to said Henderson in 1892 to his death in August, 1904, passed at once upon his death to his said heirs with respect to the equitable title and attached to the legal title when said heirs received the same by virtue of the deed aforesaid, dated December 28th, 1904; and that said heirs received said legal title charged with and subject to the same obligation to convey said lands to the holder or holders of said certificate 'Exhibit A' as their ancestor, the said John A. Henderson, had held his equitable right while living and would have held the legal title had he lived to acquire the same." It is also alleged that the conveyance by the Henderson heirs was made subject to the asserted trust.
Counsel for appellant, complainant below, in their brief say:
"Our cross-bill is one to enforce a trust growing out of and superseding the complete performance and consummation of that part of the contract between Henderson and Kreamer and Dunne covering the lands described in this certificate. The contract itself is no longer in question; it has as to these lands been terminated by performance which substituted Kreamer and Dunne and their successors in interest for Henderson as eestms que trustent of an express trust. What we are seeking is simply to compel a compliance by the successors of the trustees with the terms of the trust, which the trustees themselves created and which we allege was known to all the defendants in our cross-bill. The fact that a conveyance of the land is prayed is an incident to the execution of the trust and has no relation to the performance of the contract."
A lawful subject-matter and competent parties having appropriate authority in the premises are' requisite to the creation of an express trust. In order to create an express trust, the subject, object and terms of the trust must be definitely stated by competent authority; and in order to be enforced by judicial proceedings, the trust must be evidenced as may be required' by law. Where the declaration or creation of an express trust in lands is by statute required to "be manifested and proved by some writing signed by the party authorized by law to declare or create such trust," the subject, object and terms of the trust must be definitely expressed in a writing executed by an authorized party as the statute provides, or the trust cannot be proved for judicial enforcement. See 39 Cyc. p. 44, 53, 57; Lines v. Darden, 5 Fla. 51; Floyd v. Smith, 59 Fla. 485, 51 South. Rep. 537; 1 Perry on Trusts (6th ed.) Sec. 79 et seq.
The Act of Congress of September 28, 1850, granting to the State the swamp and overflowed lands in the State, provides for "a patent to be issued to the State therefor ; and on that patent, the fee simple to said lands shall vest in the said State." The State statute, Chapter 610, approved January 6, 1855, vested' in the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund for specific purposes the lands granted to the State by the above stated Act of Congress. The title of the State did not vest in it until the patent covering the lands was issued. Chapman & Dewey Lumber Co. v. St. Francis Levee Dist., 232 U. S. 186, 34 Sup. Ct. Rep. 297; 22 R. C. L. 335; Little v. Williams, 231 U. S. 335, 34 Sup. Ct. Rep. 68.
A demurrer does not admit allegations that are contradicted by records of which the court may take judicial notice. Middlesex Transportation Co. v. Pennsylvania R. Co., 82 N. J. Eq., 550, 89 Atl. Rep. 45; In re Queen's Estate, 82 N. J. Eq. 583, 89 Atl. Rep. 290; Griffin v. Augusta & Knoxville R. R., 72 Ga. 423, State ex rel. Wyoming Agricultural College v. Irvine, 14 Wyo. 318, 84 Pac. Rep. 90; Taylor v. Barclay, 2 Eng. Ch. *213; Brickell v. Trammell, 77 Fla. 544, 564, 82 South. Rep. 221.
The allegation of the cross-bill that in 1884 John A. Henderson "entered into a contract with the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State of Florida, whereby he was employed by said Trustees to obtain from the United States selections and patents of swamp and overflowed lands under the terms of which contract he was entitled to compensation payable out of said lands as might be thereafter selected and specified by him at the sale price fixed from time to time by said Trustees," is not in accord with the public record of the Trustees of which the court may take judicial notice. See Bloxham v. Florida Cent. & P. R. Co., 35 Fla. 625, 727, 17 South. Rep. 902; 15 R. C. L. 1109 et seq.; Caha v. United States, 152 U. S. 211, 14 Sup. Ct. Rep. 513; 16 Stand. Ency. Proc. 600; Pearcy v. Stranahan, 205 U. S. 257, 27 Sup. Ct. Rep. 545; French v. Senate of California, 146 Cal. 604, 80 Pac. Rep. 1031, 69 L. R. A. 556; 16 Cyc. 905. The resolution of March 15, 1884, set out in full in the statement, shows that the Trustees "employed Col. John A. Henderson" "to make further selections of land granted to the State by an Act of Congress, September 28, 1850, and to procure the proofs required for the approval of such selections," he "to receive as compensation for such service not exceeding two cents per acre and to be paid in such lands at schedule prices." See Vol. 3, p. 290, Minutes of Trustees. ,
The allegations that Col. Henderson was by contract employed by the Trustees "to obtain from the United States selections and patents of swamp and overflowed lands" and that "under the terms of which contract he was entitled to compensation payable out of such lands as might be thweafter selected and specified by him at the sale price fixed from time to time by said Trustees," are at variance with the public record of the State officials; and in so far as the allegations conflict with such record, they are not admitted by the demurrer. See 21 C. J. 445, and authorities cited su/pra. The resolution under which Gol. Henderson was employed is set out in the statement with a reference to the printed minutes of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, who are public State officals, of- whose record's the court may take judicial notice. Col. Henderson was employed "to make selections of land," "and to procure proofs required for the approval of such selections," his "compensation for such service" to be "paid in such lands at schedule prices." He was not employed "to obtain selections and patents" of the lands, and his compensation Avas not "payable out of such of said lands as might be thereafter selected' and specified by him." The resolution of employment provided for "compensation not exceeding two cents per acre of the selections which may be patented" and clearly contemplated that the compensation was to be paid in lands after patents had been issued to the State. This tends to refute the allegations of conclusions that the Trustees recognized the íúght of Ool. Henderson to make selections years before patents were issued, and that the Commissioner of Agriculture was authorized by the Trustees to issue the certificate "Exhibit A." The allegation that in and' by "Exhibit A" it "was provided and said Trustees through said Commissioner of Agriculture thereby represented and promised that a deed to the lands described therein should be executed and delivered to said Hnderson or his order upon the return of said certificate endorsed by him," is a conclusion not sustained by the exhibit or by other allegations or by the law.
When the certificate "Exhibit A" was made and delivered to Kreamer and Dunne, the lands described therein had not been patented to the State and were not within the control of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. For the services of Col. Henderson in procuring proofs of proper selections of swamp and overflowed lands in the State, on which patents could issue to the State under the Act of Congress and the regulations of the United States Land Department, his compensation was, under the terms of his employment, to be made "in such lands at schedule prices." It is not shown that authority was given to Col. Henderson to select as he desired, particular lands as his compensation, so as to withdraw his selections from the control of the Trustees under their statutory trust, even if under the Act of Congress granting the lands and under the State statute defining the powers of the Trustees, such authority could have been given either before or after the State acquired the title to the lands by patents issued. It does not appear that the Commissioner of Agriculture had authority to issue the certificate "Exhibit A" as a binding, obligation of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. Sections 146, 152, 154, 156 and 157 General Statutes of 1906, and Section 1, Chapter 3127, Acts of 1879, do not confer authority upon the Commissioner of Agriculture. The allegation that it was the custom of the Commissioner of Agriculture to issue such certificates to Col. Henderson does not make the certificate efficacious to create the trust alleged. The lands, when patented to the State, were held by the five Trustees, for statutory trust purposes. The Commissioner of Agriculture is only one of the Trustees.
While the expenses of selecting the lands to be patented to the State may be a prior claim against the lands of the fund, such claim gives no right to select or sell particular lands unless the selection or sale is duly recognized or acquiesced in by the trustees icitlvin their statutory powers, or is adjudged by appropriate judicial proceedings. See Yager v. McNeill, 60 Fla. 400, 53 South. Rep. 12. Col. Henderson did not acquire the equitable title to the lands described in the certificate by virtue of the delivery of the certificate to him. Allegations of fact as to an alleged express trust in lands that can be proved only by parol in violation of the statute are no admitted by the demurrers. The certificate "Exhibit A" issued by the Commissioner of Agriculture which was endorsed on the back-in blank by Col. Henderson and by him delivered to Kreamer and Dunne^ is not sufficient to "manifest or prove" an express trust in the lands described in the certificate, either against the trustees or against Col. Henderson, since the certificate is not a declaration of a trust and it is not signed by a party who was authorized by law to declare or create a trust in the lands, as is expressly required by Section 2452, General Statutes of 1906. In Anderson v. Northrop, 30 Fla. 612, 12 South. Rep. 318, the trust was expressly created by a will sufficient for that purpose under the statute.
The allegations of the cross-bill that John A. Hender son had a right to select and specify the lands he was entitled to receive as compensation for his' services to the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund of the State, and that such right of Henderson was recognized by the trustees, are conclusions that are not supported by any authority referred to in the cross-bill or briefs of counsel. The record showing that the trustees "employed Col. John A. Henderson" copied in the statement, does not' sustain the contention. Other allegations of conclusions, that the certificate "Exhibit A" was isued to John A. Henderson by the Commissioner of Agriculture "pursuant' to the authority delegated to him by the Trustees" and that the trustees by the certificate "represented and promised, that a deed to the lands described therein should be executed and delivered to said Henderson or his order, upon the return of said certificate endorsed by him, as soon as said lands should be patented to the State of Florida by the United States," and that' from the date of the selection of the lands and notification thereof, the trustees held the title to the lands "in trust for the benefit of the said John A. Henderson, his heirs and assigns," are conclusions not admitted by the demurrers because not warranted by particular facts alleged, by "Exhibit A" or by the law upon the subject. See Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Palmes, supra; 21 C. J. 445. It does not duly appear that the trustees had power to authorize the issuance of the certificate or that they in fact' authorized it. The certificate did not in legal effect except or reserve the described lands for the benefit of Col. Henderson or those claiming under him. It is not made to appear that the authority of the trustees over the lands was in any way affected by the alleged selection of the lands by Col. Henderson and his application for the certificate, or by the issuance of the certificate by the Commissioner of Agriculture. Nor did the endorsement and delivery of the certificate by Col. Henderson to Kreamer and Dunne declare or create an express trust in the described lands. Not being authorized by law or executed in compliance with the statute so as to declare or.create, or to manifest or prove an express trust in the particular lands, the unauthorized certificate was under the terms of the statute "utterly void and of none effect," to manifest or prove an express trust. Allegations of the cross-bill not sustained by the legal effect of the certificate are not admitted by the demurrers. See Louisville & N. R. Co. v. Palmes, supra.
Even if the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund had authority before patents issued to reserve the lands in trust, and attempted to do so by authorizing the issuance of the certificate "Exhibit A," and such certificate could be regarded as legal evidence of a declaration or a creation of a trust by the trustees in favor of Col. Henderson and his assigns, without violating Section 2452, General Statutes of 1906, yet the assignment of the trust by Gol. Henderson was not made by deed duly executed and attested, as required by Section 2453, General Statutes of 1906, which applies to any interest in a trust in lands; therefore, the alleged assignment by endorsement in blank and delivery of the certificate by Col. Henderson is "void and of none effect" as evidence of an assignment of an interest in a trust in lands, under the terms of the statute, Section 2453, General Statutes of 1906. The statutes referred to when applicable, as here, are controlling, whatever may be the rule elsewhere. An express trust in the lands described in "Exhibit A" is not shown by the cross-bill.
• The allegations of the cross-bill, as ' to the contract between John A. Henderson and Kreamer and Dunne and the endorsement and delivery of the certificate "Exhibit A" by Henderson to Krearner and Dunne and the payments alleged, did not create an implied trust between the parties covering the lands, for the reason that the allegations are uncertain and indefinite as to matters on which the right to relief is dependent. Jackson v. Relf, 26 Fla. 465, 8 South. Rep. 184.
Even if the endorsement in blank and delivery of the certificate "Exhibit A" by Henderson to Kreamer and Dunne can be regarded as by reference legally supplying a description of lands agreed to be sold under the prior contract, it does not with certainty and definiteness appear that the payments received by Henderson were the full purchase price of the lands covered by the certificates. The allegations are of an "initial payment" "as provided in the contract," and as to an "additional sum" paid "on said contract," in connection with another land certificate not involved in this suit. There is an allegation that the payments were made "under and in pursuance of the provisions of said contract above quoted that certificates should be delivered in proportion as payments are made thereon;" but the acreage price is not shown, nor are other terms of the contract given, though it does appear that "certain contingencies" were an element of the contract.
The allegations of the cross-bill show that the cross-complainant had knowledge of the terms and conditions of the executory contract between Col. Henderson and Messrs. Kreamer and Dunne, and consequently had knowledge of the price per acre to be paid for the lands covered by the contract; but the cross-complainant significantly refrains from alleging the price per acre, which if shown would enable the court to determine whether the "initial" and "additional" payments alleged to have been made on the lands covered by the certificate "Exhibit A" were in fact full payment for the lands so as to create a trust as to them against Ool. Henderson and his heirs.
If the alegations, including those of the payments made, do not clearly show an executed contract as to the land's covered by the certificate "Exhibit A," then there is no trust in such lands. And if the allegations as to the payments made, taken with other allegations, and with the disclosure made by the cross-bill of the existence of other facts known to the complainant but not adduced; do not clearly show full payment or a completed sale which is essential to the trust asserted, the allegations are not well pleaded' and consequently the conclusion asserted as to a trust in the land is not admitted by the demurrer.
Even if the "contingencies" shown to be a part of the contract, but not set forth in the cross-bill, are not material to the asserted equity under the contract, it should have been so alleged, when it is alleged thht "certain contingencies" were a part of the executory contract. Hon constat the undisclosed "contingencies" alleged to be a part of the contract destroy the asserted equity.
The asserted legal sufficiency of the allegations to establish a trust is not ad'mited by the demurrer, when the facts definitely alleged do not clearly show facts upon which a trust was created by the law.
Possible inferences- favorable to the -cross-complainant that otherwise may be drawn from the allegations made, will not be indulged when it is manifest that information affecting the equities asserted is withheld, since it must be assumed that the pleader would have made a full disclosure of the alleged price per acre, etc., if it would' have benefited his claim, and a breach of trust will not be inferred from ambiguous allegations. It was incumbent upon the cross-complainant by distinct and certain allegations of ultimate facts to show the creation of the trust asserted, and also its breach while it existed, in order to warrant the relief sought.
If the facts relied on to establish the trust are not sufficiently pleaded, they are not admitted by the demurrer. And' if full information as to facts is shown to be withheld, and such facts are material to the asserted trust, deductions from other allegations that only partially disclose the facts are not admitted by the demurrer.
The cross-bill shows an executory contract for the sale of all the lands Col. Henderson was to receive for his services to the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, and apparently the contract did not contemplate an executed sale of any portion of the lands less than the whole.
The provision that certificates may be issued to Kreamer and Dunne for lands "in proportion as they may make payments on this contract" does not indicate a purpose to make a complete sale of any of the lands except as an entirety. The alternative provision of the contract, to-wit, "or the whole may be deposited in escrow subject to the payment of the balance of the purchase money," also contemplates one sale of all the lands. One provision is that certificates may be issued in proportion as payments are made on a continuing executory contract; the other is that all the lands may be placed in escrow. An executory agreement to sell' all the lands that Col. Henderson was to receive from the Trustees was apparently the only purpose of the contract. And the cross-bill shows, no other contract or any purpose to make a completed! sale of any part of the lands.
The allegations of the cross-bill show a once existing executory contract between Col. Henderson and Kreamer and Dunne, and do not clearly and definitely show an executed contract covering the lands in controversy which were a part of the subject-matter of the preceding executory contract. The endorsement and delivery of the certificate "Exhibit A" manifestly relate to the previous executory contract, and there is nothing to show a separate executed sale of the lands described in "Exhibit A."
If the payments made were in full for the particular lands, and not part payments under the contract or on the purchase price of the lands, covered by the certificate, it could easily have been alleged. For aught that definitely appears, the amounts received by Col. Henderson were partial payments on the executory contract under its terms, and the equities asserted do not exist because the terms of the contract were not complied with by reason of an abandonment, an. amendment, or an agreement or otherwise. The fact that no application is-shown to have been made for deeds when the lands were "patented to the State" in 1903, pursuant to the express terms of. the certificate which being without legal force or effect was merely endorsed in blank and delivered by Henderson to Kreamer and Dunne, indicates that no rights were then claimed under the certificate. Col. Henderson was then living. The certificate may have been left outstanding as being of no legal efficacy.
The allegations do not with certainty and definiteness show a complete sale by John A. Henderson for a consideration fully paid, of his interest in the particular lands here involved.
In State ex rel. Dixon v. Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund, 20 Fla. 402, the relator had made pay ment at the office of the Trustees for the land covered by the certificate issued to him by "The Commissioner and' Salesman" who received the payment for the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund. This created the possible equity referred to in the opinion in that case.
In Yager v. McNeill, 60 Fla. 400, 53 South. Rep. 12, the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Fund ratified the "certificates or contracts" referred to, if they were not made by due authority of the Trustees.
The cross-bill alleged that Henderson had a contract Avith Kreamer and Dunne to sell them all the lands he was to receive as compensation for his services to the State, showing it to be an executory contract, but the entire contract is not exhibited nor is the price per acre disclosed; and there is no allegation that the lands covered by the certificate were paid for in full. From the indefinite allegations of the cross-bill as to an "initial payment," and as to an "additional" payment "under and in pursuance of the power of said contract" there can be no certain inference that the payments made to Col. Henderson by Kreamer and Dunne were in full for the lands covered by the certificate "Exhibit A" and by the other certificate referred to as- "Exhibit B," it being alleged that "Exhibit A," together with another land certificate for 9,840 acres attached to said original bill as 'Exhibit B,' was delivered to said Kreamer and Dunne by said Henderson in consideration of said two payments amounting to the sum of $11,000.00 under and in pursuance of the provisions of the contract" that certificates should be delivered in proportion as payments might be made. By withholding the full terms of the executory contract and the price per acre to be paid, the cross-complainant has in the other ambiguous allegations failed! to make certain and definite allegations entitling it to the relief prayed, particularly where it is alleged that the contract provides "for certain contingencies specified," none of which are disclosed by the cross-bill. Apparently the contract provides partial payments and for the delivery of land certificates upon part payments, the transactions to be adjusted and to become an executed sale only upon complete performance of the contract as an entirety, with conditions that may have destroyed rights, if any were acquired, under the certificates. A partial executed sale was apparently not contemplated by the contract, and a purpose to make a partial executed sale does not appear. As the claim: is predicated upon an uncompleted executory contract, and as it is not alleged and does not definitely appear that the full purchase price of the lands covered by "Exhibit A" was paid so as to make a completed sale of some of the lands covered by the executory contract, no equitable title to the particular lands passed to- the holders of the certificate, and the question of laches in completing the payments under the contract became pertinent. A trust pro tanto was not created if the terms of the executory contract were not complied with. And no such compliance is shown.
Treating the subsequent conveyance by the Trustees of the lands in controversy to the heirs of Ool. Henderson as an authorized ratification of his selections of the lands described in the certificate, "Exhibit A," yet the certificate is insufficient to evidence an express trust in the particular lands, and the allegations as to the contract between Henderson and Kreamer and Dunne and as to the endorsement in blank and delivery of the certificate, "Exhibit A," describing the lands, and as to the payments made to Henderson by Kreamer and Dunne, do not clearly and distinctly show an implied trust arising from a completed sale for full consideration by Col. Henderson of his entire interest then present or prospective in the particular lands to Kreamer and Dunne. Nor does it appear that the contract was complied with so as to create a trust pro tanto. Therefore, the allegation of the cross-bill "that such endorsement, transfer and delivery (of "Exhibit A") all the right, title and interest acquired by said Henderson under said certificate in and to the lands therein described passed to and became vested in the said Kreamer and Dunne," is a mere conclusion not sustained by the legal effect of the facts alleged. If the transactions with Col. Henderson as alleged are sufficient to show an executory contract that afforded to Kreamer and Dunne a potential equity in the described lands, the allegations also show a loss of that equity by laches. The claim is a trust in all the lands described in "Exhibit A," while the allegations show no such trust in all the described land or in a stated part thereof.
From the allegations of the bill and the exhibit made a part of the bill, it clearly appears that if an equitable interest in the particular lands did accrue to Kreamer and Dunne by the blank endorsement and delivery of the certificate "Exhibit A" to them by John A. Henderson and the receipt of Col. Henderson of money as payment thereon, pursuant to the contract between them, that equity has been lost or extinguished by subsequent events of which they had legal notice and the lapse of time during which they were required by law and the circumstances to take appropriate steps to protect their alleged inchoate claim.-
The certificate was delivered in 1892; it does not definitely appear that the money received thereon was more than a partial payment; the endorsement and delivery of the certificate gave no legal or equitable title to the lands; the patent conveyed the lands to the State in April 1903, and its record in Washington, D. 0., was notice of the issuance of the patent. Wilcox v. Phillips, 260 Mo. 664, 169 S. W. Rep. 55. Col. Henderson died in August, 1904; the conveyance of the lands to the heirs of Col. Henderson was notice after its issuance and record at Tallahassee in December, 1904. Sec. 157, Gen. Stats., 1906; Patterson v. Langston, 69 Miss. 400, 11 South. Rep. 932; Evitts v. Roth, 61 Tex. 81. It was recorded in the counties in 1905. The conveyance by the Henderson heirs was recorded in 1915; the proceedings to acquire the certificate from the original holders were in 1916, and this cross-bill was brought in July/ 1917. If the certificate "Exhibit A," though insufficient to show an express trust and is not binding on the Trustees, is a sufficient description of lands alleged to have been sold by Col. Henderson to Kreamer and Dunne under the contract, then all the terms of the certificate are to be considered along with the descriptions of land contained therein. It does not appear that the full purchase price was paid for the lands embraced in the certificate "Exhibit A."
The certificate itself under which the cross-complainant claims, in asserting an equity in the lands, stated that the land Avould be conveyed to John A. Henderson, or to his order "as soon as the same had been patented to the State of Florida." If Kreamer and Dunne were entitled to the lands by reason of this certificate .and of the "initial" and "additional" payments made thereon under their contract with Henderson, it was their duty to acquire proper muniments of title as contemplated by the express terms of the certificate and to' pay the balance of the purchase price, if any was unpaid. If the certificate was efficacious, it could have been' used in getting con veyances of the land in April, 1903, when the patent was issued, or within a reasonable time after the issuance of the patent. This was not done, possibly because the certificate did not then give the right to do so. Col. Henderson died in August, 1904, and the lands were by the State conveyed to his heirs in December, 1904. They recorded this deed of conveyance in 1905, in the proper counties and afterwards conveyed the land, and their deed was recorded in December, 1915. This cross-bill was brought July 10, 1917. Thus more than fourteen years after deeds could have been obtained, if entitled to them, and nearly thirteen years after the death of Col. Henderson, who was cognizant of the circumstances of the transaction, and after the death of Mr. Kreamer, this claim is presented by a third party; and the showing clearly is, that if an equity in the lands ever existed in favor of Kreamer and Dunne, it has been abandoned, or lost by their neglect, while other parties have acquired rights in the lands through one whose lips are sealed by death. The holder of the certificate for years knew the lands had been patented to the State and conveyed to the Henderson heirs and that taxes were to be paid by the real owner. There was no record of a trust claim in the lands. The cross-bill shows the lands greatly enhanced in value after patents were issued to the State.
Under the resolution or contract of employment Col. Henderson could have obtained lands as his compensation as soon as the patents were issued to the State. Many thousands of acres were due him "at schedule prices," and as he did not obtain deeds for any of it after it was patented to the State in April, 1903, when he lived till August, 1904, it can not fairly be said he recognized the right of the holders of the certificate "Exhibit A" by not demanding title to the lands covered by the certificate.
If there was an equity in the lands as asserted, it has been lost by laches.
Affirmed.
Taylor, J., and Gibbs, Circuit Judge, concur.
Browne C. J., and Love, Circuit Judge, dissent.
Ellis and West, J. J., disqualified.