Court Opinion

ID: 9864381
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-09-25 12:56:22.098106+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:11:21.708876
License: Public Domain

McHaney, J. (on rehearing). In his motion and brief on rehearing, appellant states that the court apparently overlooked an allegation in the complaint to the effeci that the donation certificate and the donation deed issued by the Commissioner of State Lands to appellee were void for the reason that the defendant was a tenant upon the lands at the time of the attempted donation, and prior thereto, and that under the authority of Casey v. Johnson, 193 Ark. 177, 98 S. W. 2d 67, he could not acquire his landlord’s title at a sale by the State. While it is true the complaint contained such an allegation, it is also true that it was not discussed in the original opinion for the reason that counsel for appellant failed to assign and argue it as a ground for reversal in their original brief or on the original hearing. It is presented and argued for the first time on rehearing. But it could not be sustained had it been argued, as it is not such a defect in the title as would render the sale void for want of power to make it. The fact that it was sold to a tenant of the owner does not go to the power to sell, so as to avoid the necessity of a tender as provided by the statute. His second argument on rehearing is likewise presented for the first time, and that is that this is not a suit in ejectment to recover the possession of lands, but is a suit in chancery to set aside a tax sale and a donation deed, and the prayer of the complaint is quoted to show that possession was not asked. It is then argued that the affidavit of tender is not required because of this fact and great reliance is placed on the recent case of Reynolds v. Plants, 196 Ark. 116, 116 S. W. 2d 350. Aside from the fact that the complaint alleges in the very beginning, “That Burlin Chronister is the owner of the following described real estate: (describing it) and is entitled to the possession thereof,” it is also true that no such argument or assignment was presented as a ground of reversal on the original hearing. It is the rule in this court that assignments of error not presented or argued on the original hearing will not be considered on rehearing. Midland Valley Rd. Co. v. Lemoyne, 104 Ark. 327, 148 S. W. 654; Driver v. Gary, 143 Ark. 112, 220 S. W. 667. It is true that § 4663 of Pope’s Digest, providing for an affidavit of tender, is conditioned that this must be done in “an action for the recovery of any lands, or for the possession thereof,” but it is also true that the purpose of this action was for the recovery of the lands and the possession thereof. The complaint alleges that the' appellant “is the owner—and is entitled to the possession thereof,” and this shows that it was a possessory action regardless of the omission of the prayer to ask it. In Lea v. Lewis, 189 Ark. 307, 72 S. W. 2d 525, also relied on, Mrs. Lea, the owner in possession, brought the action to cancel the State’s tax deed to Lewis, and this court correctly held that it was not a suit to recover the land or the possession thereof and could not be as Mrs. Lea was already in the actual possession thereof. In Security Products Co. v. Booker, 195 Ark. 843, 115 S. W. 2d 870, the question of an affidavit of tender was not raised, either in the lower court or in this court. In Reynolds v. Plants, supra, two of the appellants were minors when the lands were sold for taxes and their suit for redemption was filed “within the time permitted by the statute to redeem from the alleged tax sale. ’ ’ The opinion in that case might well have been based on that fact instead of on the fact that it was not a suit to recover the land or the possession thereof, and that, therefore, no affidavit of tender was required. See, also, Hodges v. Harkleroad, 74 Ark. 343, 85 S. W. 779. In this case appellant is not in possession of the land and the gist of the action is not only to cancel the forfeiture and sale to the State, as also the donation deed from the State to appellee, but to recover the land or the possession thereof. The affidavit of tender should, therefore, have been filed and the court correctly dismissed the complaint for failure to do so. The petition for rehearing is, therefore, denied.