Carne v. Russ

• Decision Date: 05 March 1894
• Docket Number: No. 229,229
• Citation: Carne v. Russ, 152 U.S. 250, 14 S.Ct. 578, 38 L.Ed. 428 (1894)
• Parties: CARNE et al. v. RUSS
• Court: U.S. Supreme Court

152 U.S. 250

14 S.Ct. 578

38 L.Ed. 428

CARNE et al.

v RUSS.

No. 229.

March 5, 1894.

George W. Smith, for appellants.

Allan C. Story, for appellee.

Mr. Justice GRAYdelivered the opinion of the court.

This was a bill in equity by Russ, as the owner of land in Chicago, worth more than $40,000, against Ogden and others, to set aside and cancel, as creating a cloud upon his title, a tax deed to Ogden, and a certificate of tax sale procured by the other defendants as his agents.

The bill alleged that the taxes upon which the tax deed and certificate were issued were illegally levied and apportioned, and that the plaintiff had tendered to the defendants the full amount of the taxes paid by them.

The defendants answered, denying the plaintiff's title, the illegality of the taxes, and the tender of payment.But Ogden, in his answer, offered to waive his claim of title to the land, and to reconvey it to the plaintiff, if the plaintiff would pay him the sums paid by him, with penalties accrued thereon, and 10 per cent. interest; and the other defendants, in their answers, disclaimed all title in themselves.

At the hearing the defendants contended that the sums which the plaintiff was in equity bound to pay them amounted to $8,705.-34; but the circuit court held that those sums amounted to $4,291.84 only, and that the plaintiff, upon paying this amount, (which he forthwith paid into court,) was entitled to the relief prayed for, and entered a final decree in his favor.The defendants appealed to this court.

Upon the admissions of the answers, and upon the claims made by the defendants in the circuit court,...