Court Opinion

ID: 6962808
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-07-24 01:48:30.820054+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:08:29.869598
License: Public Domain

Mr. Justice Scholfield delivered the opinion of the Court: This was a hill for the rectification and specific performance of an agreement to exchange and convey certain real estate in the city of Ottawa. The court below decreed in conformity with the prayer of the bill, and the case is brought here by the appeal of the defendant. After some preliminary discussion, which was protracted, the parties signed an agreement, written in pencil, as follows: “H. E. Gedney agrees to convey to E. D. Lyman, by Sept. 1, the N. J of the N. of lot No. 2, in block 11, by good and sufficient warranty deed, subject to mortgage of $4000, to Geo. E. and A. ’Keep, with interest accruing thereon from July 11, 1SS3, and a piece of ground 10 by 40 in rear thereof, on following terms, (namely, known as the Cook & Glover block): Lyman is to pay Gedney $8500, in cash or mortgages, by Sept. 1, 1883; also, to convey by good title the two lots of ground known as the Geo. H. Norris or Hickling property, being a two-story brick house, standing, etc., on lots 5 and 6, block 2, Walker’s add. to Ottawa. Gedney is to have the use of all rents of property on the N. of the N. i of lot 11, in block 11, till Nov. 1, 1883; also, to have use of Norris or Hickling property by Sept. 1, 1883. Gedney is to transfer to E. D. Lyman on Nov. 1, 1883, all his insurance policies on the tliree-story brick building conveyed to him, amounting to not less than $10,000, by renewing for one year any policies expiring before 'Nov. 1, 1883; and Lyman is to assign to Gedney his insurance policy amounting to...... on the Norris or Hickling property. Gedney and Lyman bind themselves in the sum of 1000 dollars, as liquidated damages, to fulfill above agreement. “Witness our hands this 24tli day of Aug., 1883. H. E. Gedney, E. D. Lyman.” At the time of signing this, the parties mutually agreed that Duncan McDougal, an attorney at law, should draw up a more formal instrument, written in ink, evidencing the agreement, which they would sign on the next day. Accordingly, he drew up the following, which was subsequently signed by the parties: “This agreement, made this 24th day of August, A. D. 1883, by and between Henry E. Gedney, of the city of Ottawa, in the county of LaSalle, and State of Illinois, party of the first part, and E. D. Lyman, of the same place, party of the second part: “Witnesseth, that if the party of the second part shall first make the payments and perform the covenants hereinafter mentioned on his part to be made and performed, the said party of the first part hereby covenants and agrees to convey by good and sufficient warranty deed, subject to a certain mortgage in favor of George E. and A. Keep, given to secure the sum of $4000, together with interest accruing thereon from July 11, 1883, which the party of the second part assumes and agrees to pay, the lots, pieces or parcels of land situated in the county of La Salle, and State of Illinois, known and described as follows, to-wit: the north half of the north half of lot two (2), in block eleven (11), in the original town (now city) of Ottawa; also, a strip of ground ten feet wide, extending along the east end of said strip of ground, being the same piece of ground described in the deed to the party of the first part. The party of the first part reserves the possession and accruing rents of said property until the 1st day of November, 1883, notwithstanding said conveyance may be sooner made without such reservations. The party of the first part further agrees to transfer to the party of the second part all insurance policies upon said property, to the amount of $10,000, at the time of the execution and delivery of said deed, and at his own expense renew, for the period of one year, any of said policies that may expire up to November 1, 1883. The party of the first part further agrees that his wife will join him in said conveyance, to the extent of relinquishing her dower right therein. “The party of the second part covenants and agrees to pay the party of the first part the sum of -$S500 in cash, or good notes and mortgages that are acceptable to the party of the first part, and convey to the party of the first part, by good and sufficient warranty deed, free and clear of all incumbrances, the following described lots, pieces or parcels of land situated in the county of LaSalle, and State of Illinois, known and described as follows, to-wit: lots 5 and 6, in block 2, Walker’s addition to the town (now city) of Ottawa, together with all and singular the appurtenances and privileges thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining. The party of the second part agrees to assign and transfer, at the time of the delivery and execution of said deed, all the insurance policies then upon the property above described, known as the ‘Norris or Hickling property.’ “It is mutually agreed by the parties hereto, that the several conveyances and payments above referred to shall be made on or before the first day of September next. The parties hereto further mutually bind themselves, respectively, in the penal sum of $1000, as liquidated damages, which they, respectively, agree to pay, each to the other, together with all other damages that may be sustained by either upon the failure of the other to comply with each and every one of the covenants herein contained. “Witness our hands and seals the day and year first above written. H. E. Gedney, E. D. Lyman. ” Lyman refused to perform his part of this agreement. A mistake occurred in the description of the property to be conveyed by Gedney. The decree below corrects that mistake, and then requires this contract to be specifically j)erformed. First—Counsel for appellant argue that the clause in the instrument written in pencil, whereby each party binds himself to the other in the sum of $1000, liquidated damages, limits the rights of the parties, upon a breach of the contract, in equity as well as at law, and that the only remedy is through an action at law for that sum; and they contend that the evidence shows that McDougal fraudulently added to that clause, as it is written in the last instrument, the words, “together with all other damages that may be sustained by either, upon the failure of the other to comply with each and every one of the covenants herein contained,” and that he falsely represented to appellant that the legal effect of the clause was not changed by the addition of these words, and thereby induced appellant to sign the last instrument. The mere fact that a contract stipulates for the payment of liquidated damages in case of failure to perform, does not prevent a court of equity from decreeing specific performance. (Fry on Specific Performance, sec. 67, ei seq; Waterman on Specific Performance, sec. 22; Pomeroy on Contracts, sec. 50.) It is only where the contract stipulates for one of two things in the alternative,—the performance of certain acts, or the payment of a certain amount of money in lieu thereof,—that equity will not decree a specific performance of the first alternative. Pomeroy on Contracts, ubi supra; Waterman on Specific Performance, secs. 22, 23 ; Dooley v. Watson, 1 Gray, 414. We can not hold that the evidence shows that McDougal misled appellant with regard to the legal effect of the clause under consideration, without disregarding the ordinary rules relating to the construing and weighing of evidence. Appellant’s evidence, alone, might authorize that view, but it is directly contradicted by the evidence of McDougal and Summers, two intelligent and apparently disinterested witnesses. They both testify that appellant was fully informed of the legal effect of the last contract before he signed it, and that he was expressly told that he could not be relieved from liability upon it by the payment of the $1000, and that it could be specifically enforced. His own version of his conduct is not very satisfactory. He admits that he signed the instrument with full knowledge of the language, but claims that he was persuaded thereto by McDougal. If, as he says, he was not then intending to perform the contract, but was only intending to pay the $1000, why did he sign the last instrument at all? He does not pretend that McDougal represented to him that the last instrument would be less onerous upon him than the first, if he did not intend to perform. He says, it is true, that McDougal called his attention to the fact that in the last instrument appellee was obligated to procure his wife to join with him in conveying to appellant, and represented that this would be worth $2000—to him. But that could only be upon the hypothesis that he should perform his contract. If he only intended to pay $1000, and let appellee keep his property, it is impossible that he could have supposed that obligation could be of any advantage to him. Plainly, both on the face of the instrument and on the evidence aliunde, the case is not one wherein specific performance should be refused, because the parties intended, at the time, that it should be optional to pay the $1000 or to make the conveyances and payment provided by the terms of the contract. Second—Counsel for appellant contend that the property which appellee agreed to convey is a part of a public square dedicated by the commissioners of the Illinois and Michigan Canal when .they laid out the original town of Ottawa, and that therefore the county commissioners had no power to convey it. The property is a part of lots 1 and 2, in block 11, in the original town (now city) of Ottawa. The land on which Ottawa was laid off was donated to the State of Illinois by the act of Congress approved March 2, 1827, subject to the disposal of the legislature, to aid “in opening a canal to unite the waters of the Illinois river with those of Lake Michigan, ” by which act power was given the State to sell and convey the whole or any part of the lands so donated, and to give titles in fee. It is provided by section 3 of “An act to create and organize the counties therein named,” in force January 15,1831, that the permanent county seat of LaSalle county is thereby established at Ottawa, “as the same has been surveyed and laid out by the canal commissioners, on the north side of the Illinois river.” And by section 10 of the same act, that “the public buildings at Chicago shall be erected on the public square, as laid off by the canal commissioners, on the south side of the Chicago river; and on the public square laid off at Ottawa, on the north side of the Illinois river. ” Parol evidence was introduced to the effect that in 1831, block 11, in the original town of Ottawa, was popularly designated as the public square. A plat was given in evidence showing block 11 designated “public square,” as follows: DUE EAST AND WEST LINE. And evidence was given of a certificate annexed to a plat of the town on which block 11 was thus designated, in these words: “We, the undersigned, late commissioners of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, hereby certify that this map of the town of Ottawa is the identical map or plat by which we were governed in selling lots (belonging to the State) in the said town on the 26th day of September last past. The president of the board was absent at the time said lots were sold. “Given under our hands, at Chicago, this 22d day of May, A. D. 1837. W. B. Archer, G. S. Hubbard. “Given under the hand and private seal of the secretary of the board of commissioners of the Illinois and Michigan Canal, no official seal being provided, at Chicago, this 29th day of May, A. D. 1837. Joel Manning, Sec’y. [seal.] ” Counsel argue that these acts of the legislature, and this evidence of dedication, establish that block 11 was dedicated to public use as a public square. The plat not having been acknowledged as provided by the statute of 1833, did not, of itself, convey title to the public as provided by that act. But, as we said in Chicago v. Ramsey, 87 Ill. 353: “The legal title was not held in the name of a trustee, but by the State; and the lots were conveyed by patent issuing from the chief executive officer of the State,— in all material respects similar to patents conveying lands from the general government. ” Moreover, it is provided by section 12 of the “Act to amend an act to provide for the construction of the Hlinois and Michigan Canal,” in force February 15, 1831, that “said commissioners” (i. e., canal commissioners,) “are authorized, if they may be of opinion that it will increase the value of lots in any town laid off on the canal lands, that have or may become seats of justice, to give a quantity of lots in said town, not exceeding ten acres, to aid in the erection of public buildings, for which donation the Governor shall issue his patent as in other cases.” The Governor did, here, issue his patent pursuant-to this section,—not conveying block 11 for a public square,, but conveying “lots 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8, in block 11, ” together with other described property, “in the town of Ottawa, La Salle county, Illinois, to aid in the erection of public buildings. ” That property which is conveyed to aid in theereetion of public buildings is intended to be sold and converted into money, would seem to be self-evident; but the-General Assembly, unwilling to leave this to implication, by the 11th section of the “Act to create and organize the counties therein named,” in force January 15, 1831, supra, explicitly enacted: “If the canal commissioners shall make any donations of lots for the erection of public buildings, at Ottawa or Chicago, to the county commissioners of said counties, it shall be the duty of the county commissioners’ courts-of each of said counties to sell the same whenever they may think it best, and apply the proceeds thereof to' the erection of a court house and jail at said county seats, respectively.”' Instead, then, of there being a donation of this block for a public square, the lots into which it is divided are donated to-be sold to raise money with which to build a court house, and jail. True, it is commanded that the public buildings shall be on the square, as laid off, etc., and, we may admit, on this square; but it is not commanded the whole block shall be-devoted to that purpose, and construing the different sections-together, and giving practical effect to both provisions, the-commissioners were required to use what they should deem, necessary for the public buildings, and sell and convey the-residue, in order to realize money to erect these buildings. If any trust was created, it is by virtue of the section referred to authorizing the canal commissioners to make donation of the property, and the patent of the Governor pursuant thereto vesting title in the county commissioners; but this, as is-thus seen, was only to aid in the erection of the buildings. But if this were doubtful, in our opinion all doubt is removed by “An act in relation to the public square in the original town of Ottawa,” in force February 23, 1841, (Laws of 1841, p. 311,) by the first section whereof it is enacted: “That all sales heretofore made by the county commissioners of the county of LaSalle, of lots or parts of lots in block No. 11, in the original town of Ottawa, in said county, be and the same are hereby ratified and confirmed, and declared to be good and valid in law and equity, any act heretofore passed, or any map or record declaring or describing said block as a public square, to the contrary notwithstanding. ” Counsel, however, insist that this act is unconstitutional, because it is attempted by it to take property from the public and vest it in private individuals. We know of no reason why, in the absence of constitutional restriction, (and nothing of that kind can be here claimed,) the legislature may not authorize public property to be sold and conveyed to private individuals, when no trust in favor of private individuals stands in the way. But counsel contend, and introduce authorities to sustain the contention, that there is, in this case, a trust in favor of private individuals. The cases cited establish that, there may be a trust, in such cases, in favor of private individuals,—first, where a private individual conveys property to the public for a specified public use; and second, where the public authorities plat or lay off grounds as dedicated to public use, and afterwards sell other property, presumably benefited by such public dedication, with the understanding and upon the faith that such public dedication has been made. In the first case the grantor retains such an interest in the property as enables him to enforce the trust, and in the second case the grantee has a vested right in having the presumptive advantage to his property, with reference to which he bought. We have seen there was no private grant here. The State owned the property, and donated it to the county commissioners. The intervention of the canal trustees did not give the donation a private character. They were but the agents of the State, and the title passed by the patent of the Governor from the State to the county. The evidence in this record fails to show that other lots facing on the square were purchased before the lots in the east half of the block were sold, and hence it does not appear that there are any entitled to claim that their rights were acquired upon the faith of an implied undertaking that that part of the block should remain perpetually open as a public square. But even if there were any such parties, they could not now be heard after having remained so long silent, refusing or neglecting to assert their claims. This property was conveyed by the county commissioners to Broomfield, September 4, 1832,—fifty-one years before the present bill was filed. The intention, moreover, to dedicate the entire block to the public as and for a public square, instead of donating so much of it as should be deemed advisable to be sold to aid in building a court house and jail, being, at least, not established beyond controversy, after the acquiescence of those having authority to represent the public, for this great length of time, in the sale and conveyance by the county commissioners, they should now be estojjped to question the validity of that sale and conveyance. The action of the commissioners, and this long acquiescence therein, and in the claims of those holding thereunder, should be taken as circumstances conclusively settling the controversy, whether the donation was for the one purpose or the other, in favor of the private rights of those claiming under the purchaser, and against the public. A kindred principle was applied in Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Co. v. City of Joliet, 79 Ill. 25, and City of Peoria v. Johnston, 56 id. 51. Third—It is objected by appellant that in the deed of Cushman and wife to Glover & Cook, dated March 3, 1851, there is a recital of a contract entered into between Henry Hurl-but, Smith, and Alonzo Delano, which is assigned by Henry Hurlbut, attorney in fact for Delano, and appellant introduced the power of attorney for the purpose of showing that it was not acknowledged, and hence invested Hurlbut with no power; and he also objected, at the same time, that there is no conveyance by the wife of Alonzo Delano of her interest in the property under this assignment. But it is enough to say that this is but the recital of a contract which was assigned to Glover & Cook, and "which forms the consideration for the execution of the deed. The contract was simply assigned to Glover & Cook by the attorney in fact, and Cushman’s deed passed the legal title to them. No acknowledgment of the power was necessary. There is not a particle of proof that any rights have ever been claimed by Delano or his wife under that contract, and it surely can not require the citation of authorities to establish that no rights could now be enforced by Delano or his wife thereunder, after having acquiesced in the assignment for more than thirty years, and after notice, for the same length of time, that the property had been conveyed to these assignees, and by them to others. Fourth—Broomfield (who was grantee of the county commissioners) and his wife conveyed to Cushman, Eaton & Co. It is objected that the next deed under which appellee claims is executed by W. H. Cushman and wife, Seth Eaton and wife, James M. Leonard and wife, and Benjamin Thompson and wife, to George H. Norris, and that it is nowhere recited that these persons constituted the firm of Cushman, Eaton & Co. There is no necessity, of which we are aware, that this should be recited in the record. There is affirmative proof that Benjamin Thompson was a member of the firm of Cushman, Eaton & Co., and from the similarity of the names in both deeds, and the fact that these persons assume to have an interest to convey in the property, and that there is no proof that any one else has ever claimed adversely to this deed to Norris, as a member of that firm, we think the proof that the conveyance is by Cushman, Eaton & Co. to Norris, should be accepted as sufficient. Apart from this, the proof of an actual, exclusive possession by Norris, and ■ those claiming under him, for a period of some forty years, is shown, which, of itself, is conclusive against any who might claim adversely under Cushman, Eaton & Co. Fifth—The objection that Mrs. Thompson, Mrs. Sizer and Mrs. Alson Woodruff did not relinquish their dower, is answered by proof of their respective deaths many years since. And a like objection in regard to Mrs. Robert P. Woodruff is answered by proof of the death of Robert P. Woodruff in 1844, leaving intervening a much greater period of time than is necessary, under the statute, to bar any suit on her behalf for dower. Sixth—The objection that the power-of attorney whereby William Hickling was empowered to cancel mortgages, in the joint name of Walker and Hickling, did not empower him to cancel mortgages to George E. Walker and William Hick-ling, we incline to think is too technical; but -waiving that, and conceding its insufficiency, the release on the margin of the record of the only mortgage affected by the objection, acknowledged the full payment of the mortgage, and was signed and 'sealed by William Hickling, one of the mortgagees, whose signature, as -well as that of the attesting witness, was proven. The rule is, payment to one of two joint payees extinguishes the debt, (Harding v. Parshatt, 56 Ill. 219,) and, of course, payment of the debt discharged the mortgage. Seventh—Objection is urged that a mortgage made by Broomfield to Sizer, March 2, 1842, is not shown to have been satisfied; but it is proved that Broomfield, after executing the mortgage, conveyed the fee to Sizer, the mortgagee, and W. H. Cushman, and that Sizer subsequently conveyed to Cushman. That extinguished the mortgage. Weiner v. Heintz, 17 Ill. 262; Shinn v. Fredericks et al. 56 id. 439. Eighth—It was in proof that appellee conveyed to Louie H. Dale, his daughter, on March 29, 1878; that she reconveyed to appellee on the 29th of June, 1879, and that a judgment was recovered against appellee, in favor of Selah Wait, executor, etc., on the 6th of June, 1878, for $2491.63. Execution was issued on this judgment November 12, 1878, and returned January 4, 1879, “no property found on which to levy.” On the 9th of June, 1879, appellee effected a compromise with the plaintiff in the judgment, and on that day the attorneys of record "for the plaintiff gave him a receipt for $520, in full, etc., and indorsed on the margin of the record •of the judgment, “Above judgment and interest paid in full, according to the terms and instructions of the plaintiff,” which they signed. It will be observed this judgment has never been a lien, legally speaking, whatever might have been the equitable rights of the parties, upon the property here in •controversy. The judgment was obtained after appellee had ceased to be the legal owner of the property, and it was satisfied of record before he was reinvested with the legal title. There is no evidence that any party interested in that judgment is or has been dissatisfied with the compromise and satisfaction of it, and although more than four years had •elapsed after, the entry of satisfaction before the making of the agreement of which specific performance was decreed in the present suit, no steps were taken to set aside the satisfaction. Under the evidence before the court, we think it •quite clear that appellant can not be disturbed on account of that judgment, and that he can not be heard to urge anything in regard to it as an excuse for his failure to comply with his agreement. Ninth—It is alleged in the bill, that at the time of making the agreement the complainant was seized in fee of the premises which he agreed to convey, subject to the payment of a mortgage indebtedness in said agreement mentioned, and to the taxes for the year 1883, and that the same are free •of all other incumbrances. The mortgage indebtedness in the agreement mentioned is “a certain mortgage in favor of "G-eorge R. and A. Keep, given to secure the sum of $4000, ” •etc. The deed tendered describes the mortgage in the same way. The evidence showed the existence of a mortgage to Augustus Keep to secure $2500, due in four years, and $1500, due in three years. It is contended the decree is not authorized—that the evidence does not sustain the allegations in the bill, in this respect. The decree finds “that the mortgage described in said agreement as a certain mortgage in favor of George K. and A. Keep, given to secure the sum of $4000, etc., payment of which was to be assumed by defendant herein, was a mortgage given by the complainant and. wife to Augustus Keep, etc., to secure the payment of $2500, in four years, and $1500, in three years. Strictly and technically, appellee should have amended his bill, averring the mistake in the description of the mortgage assumed; but we-can not say that it was such error to decree, as was decreed,: without such amendment as would justify the reversal of the decree below. The substantial thing was the amount of the. incumbrance which appellant assumed. Whether it was in one or more notes, or payable to one party or two parties, was mere matter of form, that could not substantially affect appellant. The amount was correctly stated in the agreement. It is proven there is no other mortgage on the property. The burden assumed, and the only burden which is chargeable against the property, is that described in.the agreement,—a. burden of $4000,—with interest thereon from July 11, 1883, Tenth—The objection the deed tendered did not describe-the property which it purported to convey, with sufficient accuracy, we regard untenable. Appellant having announced his intention to not comply with the contract before the bill was filed, no tender was necessary. (Boston v. Nichols, 47 Ill. 353.) Under the decree, appellee must execute a deed conveying the property, as provided by the terms of the-contract, and the execution of the decree will be under the-supervision of the court. Eleventh—The point is made that, the Statute of Frauds being pleaded, it is not competent to decree a rectification. and specific performance of the contract, on parol evidence. The mistake in the description of the property in the written instrument occurred in this way: Lot 2, in block 11, is one hundred and fifty feet long, north and south, by eighty feet wide, east and west. The Cook & Glover block, which appellee undertakes to convey to appellant, occupies the north forty feet of the lot, which appellee by mistake assumed was one-half of one-half, or one-fourth of it, and hence, in the instrument, the block was, by mistake, described as the north half of the north half of the lot,—which, of course, is but thirty-seven and one-half feet, and leaves two and one-half feet occupied by the block, unconveyed. The balance of the description, in the instrument written in ink, is, after the words, “north half of the north half of lot 2,” etc., “also a strip of ground ten feet wide, extending along the east end of said strip of ground, being the same piece of ground described in the deed to the party of the first part. ” The deed to the party of the first part is by Cook & Glover, and conveys “a strip of land ten (10) feet in width, east and west, and forty (40) in length, north and south, in the north-west corner of lot number one (1), in block number eleven (11), in the original town (now city) of Ottawa, Illinois,—the premises above described being situated immediately in the rear of said Henry Gedney’s block of brick stores on lot numbered 2, in said block numbered 11, situated in the county of LaSalle, in the State of Illinois.” This description is free of objection, and inasmuch as the instrument refers to it, and, in effect, adopts-it, no rectification of that much of the instrument is needed. Smith v. Crawford, 81 Ill. 299. For the purpose of rectification, the instrument written in pencil is competent evidence. It describes the property which appellant undertakes to convey, thus: “N. of the N. of lot No. 2, in block 11, * * * and a piece of ground 10' by 40 in rear thereof, on the following terms, (namely, known as the Cook & Glover block.) ” In effect, the Cook & Glover block is conveyed, and a strip of ground ten by forty in the rear thereof. The words, “Cook & Glover block, ” are the controlling descriptive words. The block is a fixed and permanent monument, and under the well settled rules of construction applicable to conveyances, any words of description repugnant thereto, or inconsistent therewith, must be rejected. Without affirming or denying what may be the law in a case where rectification and specific performance rest entirely on parol evidence, there can be no question but that latent ambiguities may be explained by parol evidence, and that such evidence may also be resorted to for the purpose of identifying the premises and applying the calls of the deed, in suits for rectification and specific performance, and in other actions and proceedings affecting title. (Cossit v. Hobbs, 56 Ill. 231; McLennan v. Johnston, 60 id. 306.) By applying parol evidence to this description, it is proved that the north half of the north half of lot 2 is only thirty-seven and one-half feet, and that Cook & Glover’s block occupies the north forty feet •of the lot, and so, then, we must reject the description “north half of the north half” as repugnant to the other description or call in the deed, namely, “Cook & Glover’s block, ” and, following that, hold that the contract is to convey the north forty feet of the lot. Twelfth—To the objection that time was of the essence of the contract, and appellee did not tender a sufficient deed within the time, it is enough to say, appellant, by previously refusing to comply with the contract, is estopped from urging that objection. A deed was tendered within the time, which he would not receive or examine, and this, not because of any imperfection in the frame of the instrument, but because he had previously determined not to comply with the contract. The law did not require appellee to go through with a form which appellant had previously apprised him would be idle and useless. Thirteenth—The objection that appellee misrepresented the condition of the property he was to convey, in respect to the water supply, is not sustained by the evidence. The evidence-of appellant is squarely met and contradicted, in that respect, by the evidence of appellee and McDougal. Fourteenth—The objection that the policies of insurance -could not be assigned without the consent of the company indorsed thereon, and that such indorsement was not obtained, is, under the evidence, without merit. The insurance ■agent, the evidence shows, consented to the transfers, and we must assume, in the absence of evidence to the contrary, was willing to make the necessary indorsement. The objection, like several others, seems purely captious. In conclusion, we can see no ground upon which we can •assert that the court below erred, with such confidence as to warrant us in reversing the decree below. In view of the fact that by possession alone appellee’s title to his property is unassailable, and clearly so, we do not think appellant was justified in acting on rumors current forty or fifty years before, that the interest of the public in the property had not been legally divested; and it is worthy of note that in respect of the many objections of incumbrances on the property, not a single instance is shown where one is threatened to be enforced. They are hunted up and magnified by the appellant as after-discovered excuses for a previous refusal to perform his contracts. In one or two aspects the case is a very close -one,—so close that we are inclined to think we would not have reversed a decree either way. To some extent the chan•eellor had a discretion. We can not say that discretion has been abused. The decree is affirmed. Decree affirmed.