Court Opinion

ID: 8007840
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-09-09 01:55:01.584756+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:35:57.228748
License: Public Domain

Ewins, C.
Archibald S. Robards and his wife owed Jacob E. Grove $1,120, evidenced by note; to secure the same they made a deed to Jas. Thompson, as trustee, July 21st, 1860. April 30th, 1861, the trustee, Thompson, released the deed to A. S. Robards. To set aside this release Jacob E. Grove in September 1864, filed his bill in the Hannibal court of common pleas, alleging substantially that Archibald S., and John L. Robards fraudulently represented to Thompson, the trustee, that the debt had been paid off', and thereby induced him to execute a release and place it on record, which was done April 30th, 1861. That the deed of trust so released, was on lot 7, in block 40, in Hannibal. That Robards paid about $200 on the note and the balance was still due. That Robards died. That afterward, at the request of plaintiff', the trustee, Thompson, advertised under the deed, and at the sale the plaintiff, Grove, became the purchaser for $900 and received a deed from the trustee. This suit was against A. S. Robards, ad*449ministrator, Ms widow, and Ms heirs at law. That the widow had commenced proceedings to have dower assigned and plaintiff prays that she he restrained from proceeding further in the matter, and that the fraudulent release be set aside and cancelled.
This bill was dismissed, the case appealed to this court, (Grove v. Heirs of Robards, 36 Mo. 523) the judgment below reversed and the venue was then changed to the circuit court of St. Louis. Meanwhile the plaintiff, the widow of Robards, the original administrator of the plaintiff and the trustee had all died; the suit abated as to the widow and trustee, and when the case came on for hearing in November, 1877, there was default as to all the other defendants except John L. Robards, one of the sons of Archibald Robards, deceased, whose answer alleged that when the deed of release was made, the note for $1,120 had been paid off by a new note made by Robards to Grove for $1,250, in lieu of the old one, dated March, 1861, which was secured by a deed of trust on other property with H. IT. Wardlow as trustee, which was accepted by Grove in payment of the first, and that the first deed of trust was satisfied and released by Thompson, the trustee, at Grove’s request. That thereupon Grove refused to relinquish the old note; that Grove fraudulently induced Thompson, the trustee, to sell under the first deed when he knew the debt was paid off. That he fraudulently persuaded Wardlow, the trustee in the second deed, to sell and became the purchaser thereunder October 12th, 1863, for $425. That Grove, during his lifetime, and his executor after his death, had collected rents from the premises in the second deed of trust, and which were more than sufficient to pay the balance of said note. That A. S. Robards died insolvent, and died leaving various judgments against his estate amounting to nearly $7,000. That these were proved up against his estate in the probate court, and in 1867 assigned to defendant for valúe; that the sale to Grove was fraudulent; that the deed of release of Thompson was a cloud on the title which *450enabled Grove to buy at a sacrifice; tbat he, defendant, is a judgment creditor, and as such is entitled to redeem and offered to pay off said debt to Grove in bis lifetime and take tbe property; and has offered tbe same to bis executor since Grove’s death. He then prays tbat tbe first deed oí trust be declared satisfied and tbe first note surrendered; tbat an account be taken of rents received by Grove and his executor, and tbat defendant be permitted to redeem. Tbe new matter in tbe answer was denied in tbe replication. Tbe bill on tbe bearing was taken as confessed as to all tbe defendants but John L. Robards. Tbe suit having abated as to tbe trustee, Thompson, and the widow, tbe circuit court found tbat tbe release by Thompson was made without Grove’s knowledge or consent; that no part of tbe debt was ever paid to Thompson, nor was tbe debt paid at all, at tbe date of tbe foreclosure; and that tbe defendant John L. Robards bad no right to redeem. Tbe deed of release made by Thompson was annulled and judgment for costs for plaintiff. Tbe ease was then taken to tbe St. Louis court of appeals where tbe judgment of tbe circuit court was affirmed, and tbe case comes here for review.
After a careful examination of tbe facts and tbe law, and the opinion of tbe court of appeals, we fully concur in tbe conclusions arrived at in tbat opinion, and deem it wholly unnecessary to pursue tbe case further. Ve therefore affirm tbe judgment of tbe court of appeals.
All concur.