COTTI:\"G
v.
KA:XSAS CITY STOCK-YARDS CO.
679
the defendant. Notwithstanding the generality of the language last quoted, which gives color to such contention, the difficulty is that, if such interpretation be allowed, the rule would be nugatory or defective in that respect, in that it does not indicate what secnrityshall be given to the defendant, either as to the amount or form. It clearly does not contemplate thart: it is a matter to be settled by the court on motion in every case, as it is required to be given before the case is begun or a paper filed. The only allowable construction is that these general words are limited, in their interpretation and scope, to the special provisions which follow in respect to the giving of security, by deposits of money, for the clerk's costs. The former rules 72 and 77, which were abrogated and replaced by this new rule, related entirely to the payment and security of costs and fees of the clerk; and the subject·matter of such new rule is evidently the same, and not other. The motion is therefore denied.
COTTING
T.
KANSAS CITY STOCK-YARDS CO. et aL HIGGINSON v. SAME. Aprll 12, 1897.)
(Circuit Court, D. Kansas, First Division. 1.
JURISDICTION OF FEDERAL COURTS-ENJOINING STATE OFFICERS.
A federal court has jurisdiction to enjoin a state officer from enforcing a law which is in violation of the constitution O'f the UnitA!d States. A state statute regulating stock yards is not objectionable, as class leg· islation, because it applies only to stock> yards doing a certain volume of business; it being uniform in its operation on all yards coming within the deslgnatA!d claSB. state legislature in Imposing rules and regulations for Its government.
2.
CONSTI'I'UTIONAL LAW-CLASS LEGISLATION.
3. SAME-REGULATION OF STOCK YARDS. The business of stock yards is of such a public nature as to justify a
4.
SAME-INTERSTATE COMMERCE.
The business of a stock-yards company does not come under the designation of "Interstate commerce," and is not exempt fr<;m state regulation merely because the yards of the company are located in two states, and it does business In both, though It is possible that, as to stock billed from one state to another, its business Is Interstate commerce, and to that ex· tent exempt from state regulation. A state statute regulating public stock yards, which limits the charge for yardage to one charge, and permits the owner of dead stock to dispose of it 'as he may please, Is not In substantial conflIct with the provisions of the act of congress of May 29, 1884, entitled "An act for the establishment of a bureau of animal Industry, and to prevent the exportation ot diseased cattle," as that act and the regulations thereunder, which are applicable only to cattle shipped from certain areas of country and at certain times, merely prescribe certain sanitary measures to be observed in such cases. Legislation which prevents a falr and reasonable return, the rights ot the public considered, for capital engaged In legitimate business, Is obnoxious to the constitution of the United States. But, to enable a court to determine what Is a fair and reasonable compensation, it must have before It all the facts, such as the cost, the present value of the property, receipts and expenditures, the manner of Its operation, etc.; and the
5. SAME.
6.
SAME-DEPRIVING CORPORATION OF FAIR COMPENSATION.
680
79
FEDERAL REPORTER.
court will hear proof as to these matters, for the purpose of determinIng whether 2 and a fraction per cent. on the capital stock of a corporation Is a fair and reasonable return on the investment.
These were suits in equity, brought, the one by Charles U. Cotting, and the other by Francis Lee Higginson, against the Kansas City Stock-Yards Company, a corporation, and others, and Louis C. Boyle, as attorney general of the state of Kansas, to enjoin defendants from enforcing a certain act of the legislature. Heard upon objection by the attorney general to any proofs under the bills; his contention being that they present no cause of action, and that he is improperly made a party. Complainant Cotting is a citi7Jen of Massachusetts, and a stockholder in the defendant corporation to the amount of about $30,000. He presents this bill to enjoin the attorney general and other defendants from enforcing the act of the legislature hereinafter set forth. The defendant is a corporation organIzed under the laws of the state of Kansas, and is engaged in the business of operating public stock yards at Kansas City, situated on both sides of the state line; about 120 acres of its land being in Kansas, and about 40 acres in Missouri. About 65 per cent. of Its earnings are derived from its business in Kansas, and 'about 35 per cent. from its business in Missouri. Its corporate stock is $7,500,000. It appears from the bill of complaint that a total number of 5,471,444 head of live stock were received during the year 1896. The gross earnings were $1,023,870.20, and the total expenditures $549,351.80; leaving net earnings of $474,518.40, being about 6 11 / 25 per cent. on its capital stock. On March 12th last, an act of the legislature entitled "An act defining what shall constitute public stock yards, defining the duties of the person or persons operating the same, and regulating all charges thereof, and removing restrictions in the trade o,f dead animals, and prescribing penalties for violations of this act," became a law. This act defines what shall be a pUblic stock yard. Section 1 reads as follows: "Section 1. Any stock yards within this state into which live stock is received for the purpose of exposing or having the same exposed for saie or feeding, and doing business for a compensation, and which, for the preceding twelve months, shall have had an average daily receipt of not less than one hundred head of cattle or three hundred head of hogs or three hundred head of sheep. are hereby declared to be public stock yards." Section 2 provides that any person or COrPoration owning or operating any such stock yard in this state Is declared to be a public stock yard operator. whether living witnin this state or not. Section 3 requires such operator of a public yard to file annually on the 31st day of December, witb the secretary of state, an itemized statement of the number of bead of cattle, calves, sheep, hogs, and mules received during the preceding year. Sections 4 and 5 read as follows: "Sec. 4. It shall be unl'awful for the owners. proprietors or the employes of the owners or proprietors of any such public stock yards within tbis state, to charge for driving, yarding, watering and weighing of stock, greater prices than the following: For driving, yarding, watering and weighing of cattle, 15 cents per head; calves, 8 cents per head; hogs, 6 cents per head; sheep, 4 cents per head; and there shall be but one yardage charged. "Sec. 5. It shall be unlawful for the owner, owners, or proprietors or their of any such stock yards within this state, to sell and deliver at the rate of less than two thousand pounds for a ton of hay. or any part thereof, the same to be of good quality, or to charge for or to sell the same at more than one hundred per cent. above the average market price or value of such hay upon the markets of the town13 or cities wher-ein such stock yards are located, upon the day preceding such sale and delivery; and it shal1 also be unlawful for any such owners or proprietors or to sell and deliver less than seventy pounds of corn in the ear for a bushel, or less than fifty-six pounds of shelled corn for a bushel, or to charge for or sell the same at more than one hundred per cent. above the average market price
COTTING V. KANSAS CITY STOCK-YARDS CO.
681
or value of such ear corn or shelled corn on the markets of the towns or cities wherein sald stock yards are located, on the day next preceding such sale and delivery. All feed not above named shall be sold for no greater per cent. of profit than hereinbefore provided." Section 6 makes it unlawful for the owners of stock yards to prohibit the owner of any dead stock from selling such stock to any person or persons. Sections 7 and 8 read as follows: "Sec. 7. That any person or persons violating any of the provisions of this act, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, shall be fined for the first offense nat more than one hundred dollars; for the second offense not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than two hundred dollars; and for the third offense not less than two hundred dollars, nor more than five hundred dollars, and by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months for each offense; and for each subsequent offense he or they shall be fined in any sum not less than one thousand dollars, and by imprisonment in the county jail not less than six months. "Sec. 8. It is hereby made the duty of the attorney general to prosecute all violations of the provisions of this act." The bill charges that said law is unconstitutional and void, because it violates the third clause of section 8 of article 1, and article 8, and the fifth and fourteenth amendments of the constitution of the United States, in this, to wit: It violates the exclusive power granted to congress to regulate commerce among the several states. It violates section 1 of the fourteenth amend· ment, which provides as follows: "Nor shall any state deprive any person of * * * liberty or property without due process of law, or deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws." It also charges that said law is void under the constitution of the state of Kansas. There are several other objections made to the law, which will be mentione(! hereafter. The attorney general objects to any proofs under the bill, and contends that -it presents no cause of action, and that he is improperly made a party.
Waggener, Horton & Orr, for complainant. L. C. Boyle, Atty. Gen., and David Martin, for defendant Louis C. Boyle. FOSTER, District Judge (after stating the facts). There has been some discussion about the jurisdiction of this court, but it is not seriously challenged; and the objection by the attorney general that he is improperly made a party defendant is not well taken, as the court has jurisdiction to enjoin a state officer from enfor· cing an unconstitutional law. Reagan v. Trust Co., 154 U. S. 38R, 14 Sup. Ct. 1047. The complainant insists that the act is objectionable as class legislation, and is not of uniform operation; that it is really spe· cial legislation under the disguise of general terms, etc. These objections are not apparent. The act first defines what shall be a public stock yard. It is a stock yard which, for the preceding 12 months, shall have had an average daily receipt of a certain number of live stock. The word "preceding" does not mean anterior to the passage of the act, but that a stock yard, to come under the law, must have maintained for a period of 12 months a stated volume of business, and the annual report of its business required by the law indicates this intention. The act is general in its and the classification is not strained or unnatural. It is unif\.hl1J in its operation on all yards coming within the designated class. The laws of Kansas divide the cities of the state into
682
79 FEDERAL REPORTER.
three classcs, based exclusively on population, and the cities, by force of this alone, pass from one class to another by merely increase or decrease of population. Such laws have been sustained by the supreme court of Kansas, and other courts. Leavenworth Co. v. Miller, 7 Kan. 491; Chicago, B. & Q. R. Co. v. Iowa, 94 U. S. 163; McAunich v. Railroad Co., 20 Iowa, 343; Dow v. Beidelman, 125 U. S. 691, 8 Sup. Ct. 1028. It is contended that this is not such a public corporation or business as justifies the legislature in imposing rules and regulations for its government, but a brief reference to decided cases dispels this contention. Munn v. Illinois, 94 U. S. 113; Chicago, 13. & Q. R. Co. v. Iowa, Id. 155; Spring Valley Waterworks v. Schottler, 110 U. S. 347, 4 Sup. Ct. 48; Chicago, M. & St. P. Ry. CO. Y. Minnesota, 134 U. S. 418, 10 Sup. Ct. 462, 702; Banking Co. v. Smith, 128 U. S. 174, 9 Sup. Ct. 47; Budd v. New York, 143 U. S. 517, 12 Sup. Ct. 468. It is further contended by the complainant that this act of the legislature is not applicable to, and should not be enforced against, defendant stock-yards company, because its business comes under the designation of "interstate commerce." This law, by its terms, applies to stock yards in Kansas, and not in Missouri. Threefourths of the land of the defendant company lies in Kansas, and two-thirds of its business is transacted there. Its business is to receive live stock for the purpose of yarding, feeding, and watering it until it can be sold or reshipped. The company has railroad switches and viaducts located in its yards, partly in both states, over which stock is carried to and from one state to the other. The company receives shipments of stock from many different states, and reships the same to other states for sale. In handling the stock, some of it is driven across the state line, and perhaps returned again, as it may be most convenient for yarding or feeding, and removing from the pens. Can it be that because it is located in two states, and does business in both, it is answerable to the legislative power of neither state? I think not. It cannot be maintained that its business is interstate, to the exclusion of all state business. It is alleged that about one-fourth of the stock received is billed through from one state to another. It is possible that that class of business is interstate commerce, but that can be reserved for future consideration. This subject concerning the legislative power of the state in such cases is discussed and considered in Munn v. Illinois, 94 U. S. 113; Ohicago, R. & Q. R. Go. v. Iowa, Id. 163; Peik v. Railway 00., Id. 164-178. It is charged by the complainant that the said act of the legislature is contrary to, and in conflict with, the provisions of the act of congress approved May 29, 1884, entitled "An act for the establishment of a bureau of animal industry, and to prevent the exportation of diseased cattle," in this: that it permits the owner 'of dead stock to sell and dispose of the same to any person he chooses, and provides that there can be but one charge for yardage. Therefore the so-called act is a regulation of the quarantine grounds and yards, and the charges thereon, and is in conflict with
COTTING V. KANSAS CITY STOCK-YARDS 00.
683
said act of congress. The said act of congress, and the regulations of the department of agriculture thereunder, seem to be applicable only to cattle shipped from certain areas of country south of a designated line, and to other states and territories, between certain months in the year; and the regulations prescribe certain sanitary measures to be observed in such cases, such as separate yards and cars for the cattle, and the disinfecting of cars, pens, feed troughs, etc. I fail to find any important conflict with these measures in this act of the legislature. It simply limits the charge for yardage to one charge, and permits the owner of dead stock to dispose of it as he may choose. There are other and minor objections made to the law, which I shall not now discuss. The contention most forcibly urged and relied upon by complainant is that the law is in violation of the first section of the fourteenth amendment of the constitution of the United States, in that it deprives him of his property without due process of law, and denies to him the equal protection of the laws, because it deprives him of a fair and reasonable compensation on his capital invested in the stock of the company. The rule is well settled that any legislation fixing rates which deprive a person or corporation of all compensation on capital invested is obnoxious to the constitution, and the enforcement of such legislation will be enjoined by the courts. In the case of Road Co. v. Sandford, 164 U. S. 578, 17 Sup. Ct. 198, which is the latest decision of the supreme court upon this subject, the court uses this language: "It is proper to say that if the answer had not alleged, In substance, that the tolls prescribed by the act of 1890 were wholly inadequate for keeping the road In proper repair, and for earning dividends, we could not say that the act was unconstitutional merely because the company (as was alleged, and as the demurrer admitted) could not earn more than four per cent. on its capital stock. It canIWt be said that a corporntion is entitled, as of right, and without reference to the interests of tho public, to realize a given per cent. upon its capital stock. When the question arises whether the legislature has exceeded its constitutional power in prescribing rates to be charged by a corporation controlling a public highway, stockholders are not the only persons whose rights or interests are to be considered. The rights of the pubIlc are not to be ignored. It Is alleged here that the rates prescribed are unreasonable, and unjust to the company and Its stockholders. But that involves an inquiry as to what is reaso'nabie and just for the public." Reagan v. Trust Co., 154 U. S. 399, 14 Sup. Ct. 1047; Railroad Commission Cases, 116 U. S. 331, 6 Sup. Qt. 334, 848, 349, 388, 391, 1191.
In several instances the courts have been called upon to consider state legislation not so extreme in its character, but which deprived corporations of a fair and reasonable compensation. Dow v. Beidelman, 125 U. S. 680,8 Sup. Ct. 1028; Southern Pac. Co. v. Board of Railroad Com'rs, 78 Fed. 261. In this case Judge McKenna says: , "For the natural persons the protection of the constitution is intended, and would anyone say that justice is done them if their investment be allowed only an infinitesimal fraction of 1 per cent., while all other investments are expected to return at least legal Interest, with freedom, besides. of unlimited advantage ?"
684
In the case of Chicago, M. & St. P. By. Co. v. Minnesota, 134 U. S. 4'58, 10 Sup. ot. 467, 702, the court says: "The question of the reasonableness of a rate of charge for transportation by a railroad company, involving as it does the element of reasonableness, both as regards the company and as regards the pUblic, is eminently a question for judicial investigation, requiring due process of law for its determination. If the company is deprived of the power of charging reasonable rates for the use of its property, and such deprivation takes place in the absence of an investigation by judicial machinery, it is deprived of the lawful use of its property, and thus, in substance and effect, of the property itself, without due process of law, and in violation of the constitution of the United States; Ilnd in so far as it is thus deprived, while other persons are permitted to receive reasonable profits upon their invested ea.pital, the company is deprived of the eqnal protection of the laws." Ames v. Railway Co., 64 Fed. 165; New Memphis Gas & Light Co. v. City of Memphis, 72 Fed. 952.
So it seems to be clearly established by most recent interpretations' of the constitution that legislation which prevents a fair and reasonable return-the rights of the public considered-for capital engaged in legitimate business is obnoxious to the constitution; but how shall it be determined what is reasonable compensation? It is not every public enterprise or investment, however unwisely undertaken or extravagantly managed, that can claim a fair return on its property. The public have rights to be considered. If a company should build a railroad across the Great Desert of Sahara, and carry but one passenger or one car of freight a day, it would be absurd to say that its rates should be fixed so as to make a fair return on the investment. Has the income been dissipated by extravagant or bad management? or has the property depreciated by a general decline in values? would seem to be questions entering into the problem. And, after all, what shall be the rule in determining if the compensation is reasonable? Is it to be left to the unguided judgment or whim of the chancellor? Doubtless the rate fixed by law for interest on money furnishes a test of which the investor cannot complain, although in many cases it might be oppressive to the general public. It is apparent that if the court is to form an intelligent judgment on the subject, and not rely on mere conjecture, all the facts should be before it, such as the cost, the present value of the property, receipts and expenditures, the manner of its operation, etc. As this case now stands, it presents this question: Is 2 and a fraction per cent. on the capital stock of this corporation a fair and reasonable return on the investment? On that question I prefer to withhold answer until further evidence is presented,and the objection of the attorney general to the introduction of evidence must be overruled. A master should be appointed to speedily take evidence, and report the material facts without delay. In the meantime the restraining order will be continued in force. The facts being substantially the same in the Higginson case, same order will be made therein. .
COWELL V. CRAIG.
685
COWELL T. CRAIG.
(OIrcuit Court, N. D. California. March 26, 1897.) No. 11,953. MORTGAGES-CONDITIONAL SALES-EvIDENCE.
On an application for a loan to redeem property from a foreclosure sale, a deed absolute on its face was executed by the applicant, reciting a consideration of $5,000; and an instrument dated the next day was executed by the grantee, agreeing to reconvey on payment of $5,000 within three years, with interest at 1 per cent. per month. A lease of the premises, of the same date, WllJS executed by the grantee to the grantor for the term of three years, at a rental of $50 per month. The consideration recited was but little, if any, less than the actual value of the property. It was entirely optional with the grantor to purchase or not, and he was not bound to repay the purchase price. In an insolvency proceeding commenced by him, and on other occasions, he emphatically declared that he was not the owner of the property, but held it merely as lessee. Soon after the expiration of the three years, he made a tender to the grantee In accordance with the terms of the deed. Held, that the transaction must be construed as a con· ditional sale, and not as a mortgage.
E. S. Pillsbury aud R. Y. Hayne, for plaintiff. D. M. Delmas and W. H. Beatty, for defendant. MORROW, District Judge (orally). This is an action in ejectment. The plaintiff alleges ownership in fee of the land in controversy, and the possession of the defendant. In support of his claim, plaintiff has introduced testimony showing that he derives title from the defendant by a deed to Henry Cowell, plaintiff's grantor. The deed is absolute on its face, is dated November 17, 1879, and the consideration is $5,000. The defendant admits possession of the land and the execution of the deed of conveyance, but claims that the deed was intended as a mortgage, and, as part of the transaction, produces an agreement signed by Henry Cowell, dated November 18, 1879, wherein the latter agreed to reconvey upon the payment of $5,000 within three years, with interest at 1 per cent. per month; also, a lease of the premises from Cowell to Craig, dated November 18, 1879, for the term of three years, at a rental of $50 per month. The question is, was this transaction intended as a mortgage on the premises to secure the payment of $5,000 in three years? The law relating to the construction of instruments of conveyance of this character has been much discussed in the courts, and I think the principles have been very clearly established. Where there is but a single instrument, and that is a deed of conveyance, the courts have determined that parol testimony introduced for the purpose of converting such an instrument into a mortgage must be very clear and convincing; that it must appear to the court, beyond reasonable controversy, that it was the in· tention of the parties that the deed should be a mortgage, and not an absolute conveyance. Howland v. Blake, 97 U. 8. 624; Henley v. Hotaling, 41 Cal. 22. This must necessarily be so; otherwise there would be no security whatever in deeds of conveyance, because it would always be open for persons to come in, where prop·
686
erty had increased in value after such a transaction, and contend that the conveyance was a mortgage, and not a deed. But, where there is more than one instrument (that is to say, where there is an instrument to reconvey and a lease executed simultaneously with the execution of the deed of conveyance), these instruments must be carefully considered, and their purpose ascertained; and while they do not, as documents, change the rule of evidence with respect to the construction to be given to the facts connected with the transaction, nevertheless the terms of such instruments are to be considered as a circumstance in the case, to be given such weight by the court as they appear to deserve in view of all the other circumstances of the case; so that where there is an absolute deed of co:qveyance, and in connection with that instrument, and about the same date, there is executed an agreement to sell, and a lease to the grantor, it is the duty of the court to give careful consideration to such instruments, in connection with whatever circumstances there may be in the case, to determine whether or not the presumptions of the deed have not been overcome, and a presumption obtained in favor of a mortgage; and if it should appear to the court, in this aspect of the case, that there is a question of doubt as to whether the conveyance is a conditional sale or a mortgage, some of the cases undoubtedly establish the doctrine that the doubt should be given in favor of the construction of such a conveyance as being a mortgage, rather than a conditional sale, and in that view I concur. We have here in this case a deed absolute on its face, dated November 17, 1879; an agreement for a reconveyance, dated November 18, 1879; and a lease of the premises of the latter date for the term for which the contract was to exist; and all filed for record at about the same time. It is contended on behalf of the defendant that the presumption and the circumstances in connection with these various instruments show that these instruments constituted a mortgage. In support of this contention, he refers to a number of circumstances; among others, first, that the defendant had been living on the premises for some time prior to the transaction. The presumptions of a sale would, however, apply with equal force to this circumstance. If the grantor were selling the land absolutely, intending to leave it and go elsewhere, the fact that he was residing on the premises, or had been living there for a number of years, would not necessarily give any different construction to the instrument of conveyance. Whether it should be considered a mortgage or a deed because a person abandons his premises, leaves his home, and sells his property, is manifestly a question to be determined-in this country, at least-by other circumstances. Again, it is said that the conveyance was made on an application for a loan. It is the fact that this conveyance was made upon an application made by Mr. Craig to Mr. Cowell for a loan of the amount of money required to redeem the property from a foreclosure sale, but that circumstance alone is not sufficient to give character to the transaction. We must look to all the surrounding circumstances connected with the case. If, for instance, a person
687
desired to improve his place, or to enlarge it, or if, living in the San Joaquin he desired to bring water from a distance for the purpose of irrigation, and to enable him to incur the expense he should seek a loan, and should make a conveyance of his property, taking a lease and an agreement for a reconveyance, the transaction, in view of all the circumstances, would have the appearance of a mortgage, even though the consideration was nearly the value of the place. Under such circumstances, the fact that the loan was obtained for the purpose of improving the place, in the way of new buildings, or for bringing in water, or enlarging its capacity or capabilities as a farm, would tend to show that the transaction was a mortgage, and that the loan of the money was on the premises, to be repaid and to be secured as a mortgage. But in this case the application for the loan was for the purpose of redeeming the place from foreclosure proceedings. The place had been mortgaged, and the mortgage debt had not been paid; and proceedings for foreclosure had been carried to a judgment and sale, and the time for redemption had about expired. This is a circumstance for the court to consider. The mortgage value of the premises appears to have been nearly exhausted for a loan of six or seven thousand dollars. It is to be presumed that Craig would have paid this mortgage when it became due, if he could have borrowed the money, and paid it rather than to have incurred the expense attending on foreclosure proceedings. Therefore the circumstance that there was an application for a loan, considered with the other circumstances in the case, would rather tend to show, it seems to me, that it was a sale, and not a mortgage, because, as I have just remarked, the place had been mortgaged, the foreclosure proceedings were being carried to a conclusion; and, whjle the application for the money was as a loan, it may be said that Oraig obtained it only by a conditional sale of the property. It is said, furthermore, that the defendant valued the premises at a larger sum of money than the consideration of the deed, to wit, $10,000. This circumstance would be of some significance if it appeared that the property was in fact of that value, because, in cases of this kind, where the money loaned is in no proportion to the value of the premises,-as, for instance, the premises being of great value, and the amount of money loaned is small,-that is a significant circumstance tending to show that the transaction was a mortgage and not a sale. A man is not presumed to sell his property for very much less than what it would be valued at in the market. Now, while it is true that the defendant may possibly have valued the place at $10,000, it does not appear that anyone else so valued it, or that the valuation was above the amount involved in the foreclosure proceedings. The foreclosure proceedings were to satisfy a debt which did not originally much exceed $6,000, or about that amount, and .the consideration of the deed was therefore very nearly the value of the premises. This circumstance, instead of being one tending to show that the conveyance was a mortgage, rather tends, in my judgment, to show that it was a deed of conveyance.
688
There is a circumstance urged on the attention of the court, that the Oraigs advanced about $2,000 in the redemption proceedings in addition to the $5,000 paid by Cowell. This is a circumstance, unquestionably, in favor of the claim that the transaction was a mortgage, and a circumstance which, if cOJ:llected with other circumstances of a like import, would be very significant. The question is as to whether that fact, standing alone, is sufficient. I think it has some value, and should be considered; but whether it is sufficient to give character to the transaction can only be determined in the light of all the other facts in the case. It is urged, also, that the reconveyance was to be made for the precise aItlount shown to be the consideration for the deed. I am unable to understand what significance there is in that fact, standing alone. The consideration of the deed was $5,000. The amount that was to be paid on the repurchase was therefore, necessarily, the same sum of $5,000. That was the amount of the transaction. That is all that can be said, unless we should assume that Mr. Cowell had gone into this transaction for the purpose of making money by the purchase of the property, by its resale three years after. But I do not understand Mr. Oowell had in view any profit on the advance of the real estate. It was a purchase by him for $5,000. He appears to have believed that that amount was about the value of the property, and that it would be sold probably for that amount at any time within three years, and he gave Mr. Oraig the option of buying it back at that price. Meantime, Craig would ha"e to pay the rent of $50 a month, which would be the equivalent of 1 per cent. interest on $5,000. It is said another circumstance to be considered is that the premises continued in the possession of the mortgagor. But it was so continued under a lease. The mortgagor had leased the premises for the term of three years. If I determine that this was a conveyance absolute, then the fact that the grantor continued in possession was simply the fact that he continued in possession as the lessee. The significance of the occupation is the significance of the original transaction, whatever that may be, and I do not see that the fact that the grantor continued in possession had any other relation to the subject of inquiry. If the transaction was a mortgage, then Oraig continued in possession under the agreement. If it was a deed, he was in possession under his lease. The rent was made equivalent to the interest on the consideration of the deed. That fact has some significance. The interest was to be 1 per cent. per month on $5,000, or $50 a month, and that was the rent of the premises. This last circumstance, and the one that Craig advanced $2,000, appear to be the two circumstances in this case which to my mind have some tendency to establish the conveyance as a mortgage, and these two circumstances appear to be about all there is in the cage to support that view of the transaction. Are these two circumstances sufficient? What are the facts that tend to show that the transaction was a sale of the property? Commencing again, and reviewing the facts in the case from the other standpoint, what do we find? Mr. Cowell was a man of
689
means, and had a large experience in the transaction of business involving the buying and selling of land. We find, when applied to by Craig for a loan, that Cowell went upon the premises and examined their value. He knew that the place had gone to sale on the foreclosure proceedings for an amount of about $6,000, or a little more. It must have appeared to him that the mortgage value of the place had been exhausted for any sum about that amount, and that its only value to him would be as a purchaser; that there was not enough margin for him to take a mortgage on it; that the only way in which he could be secured would be to take a deed for the place, own it, and give Craig the right to repurchase it within a given time. In that connection is the circumstance which I referred to a while ago, that the consideration of the deed was about the value of the premises. In the case of Coyle v. Davis, 116 U. S, 108, 112, 6 Sup. Ct. 314, 316, the court said: "Great stress Is laid, in cases of this kind, on Inadequacy of consideration, where there Is a considerable disproportion between the price paid and the real "alue of the property. There Is testimony on both sides on the question of disproportion in this rase. But the preponderance is very large on the part of Davis that the share of Coyle in the property was sold for' about Its sale value, in view of Its conditions."
This circumstance was considered in that case as tending to establish a sale, and the same interpretation may be given to the like circumstance in the present case. There is another significant fact which must be considered, and that is, there was no agreement on the part of Craig to pay the amount of the loan, if we are to treat this transaction as a mort· gage. He made no agreement whatever with Cowell to pay in any event upon a reconveyance. In Henley v. Hotaling, 41 Cal. 22, 28, Mr. Justice Rhodes said: "A mortgage is a security for the performance of an agreement, which Is usually to pay a SUill of money, Leaving out of view other agreements than those for the payment of money, it is essential, that there be an agreement, either express or implied, on the part of the mortgagor, or some one in whose behalf he executes the mortgage, to pay to the mortgagee a sum of money."
To the same effect is Slowey v. McMurray, 27 Mo. 113. And see, also, the observations of Lord Chancellor Manners in Goodman v. Grierson, 2 Ball. & B. 274, as to the mutual and reciprocal reme· dies in a mortgage agreement. In this case, as I understand the transaction, Craig was not, in terms, required to pay the purchase price in any event. If he wanted the proper'ty, he was privileged to pay the $5,000 and interest, or rent, but he did not obligate himself to purchase the property from Cowell. The latter agreed to sell to Craig for $5,000 and interest from November 18, 1879, but it was a matter wholly optional with Craig whether he would purchase or not. Suppose Craig had been a man of means, and this property had depreciated in value; what recourse had Cowell for this loss? The risk appears to have been all on the side of Cowell. The other circumstances in the case to be considered are the terms 79 F.-44
690
of the crop mortgage given to Cowell by Craig. The first crop mortgage, dated May 15,1880, recites that the property is under lease from Cowell to Craig. The second crop mortgage, dated May 18, 1881, executed by Craig, but not by Cowell, on account of erroneous consideration, recites the conveyance to CoweU and the lease to Craig. The second crop mortgage, executed by both parties, is dated August 1, 1881, and recites that the property is owned by Mr. Cowell and leased to Craig. The latter recital is an express declaration on the part of Craig that Cowell owned the property, and that Craig was the admission that the conveyance to Cowell was an absolute deed, and not a mortgage. There is also the declaration to Sheriff Franks, under circumstances that would indicate Craig's understanding of the transaction. It appears that Craig declared to Mr. Franks, then sheriff of Monterey county, that this property was. owned by Cowell. The declaration was made when it was necessary for the sheriff to know who was the real owner of the premises. In the cases I have had occasion to examine, I find that declarations of this character have been considered by the court as a very strong circumstance--almost a controlling circumstance--in the case. But perhaps the most significant circumstance in this case is the insolvency proceeding commenced by Craig in the superior court August 7, 1880. In the petition he enters into some considerable detail with respect to this land, its ownership by Cowell, the lease to Craig, the terms of the lease, the conditions under which he held the property, and the interest that he had in the premises. Not only that, but, when a contest was presented by a creditor against Craig's discharge, he comes into court and answers the contest, and further declares, still more emif possible, that this property is owned by Cowell; showing that the deed that he gave was an absolute deed, and that it was not a mortgage. It is said in explanation of these declarations that Craig is an ignorant man, illiterate, and cannot read or write; that these declarations were in fact only the declarations of his attorney. This is a circumstance to be considered, but I am in doubt as to what weight should be given to the fact I think the experience of most people is that persons who are unable to read or write are quite as particular and careful about their business transactions as people who do read and write. Where persons are able to read and write, they are often disposed to pass over written documents without critical examination, but a person who cannot read or write is usually very careful to have documents read over and explained. I did not discover anything in the appearance or conduct of Mr. Craig on the stand to indicate that he was unable to look after his own interests. In some respects he seemed to behave himself with as much shrewdness, judgment, and caution as some of the witnesses on the other side of the case. I thought he showed a fair ability in comprehending the intricacies of this case, and his relations to the facts as they were developed. So, indeed, did Mrs. Craig. While they were both illiterate, it appeared to me they had all the natural shrewdness usually associated with people in their condition. I cannot, therefore, conclude that the fact that these defendants could neither read nor write should be taken as evidence that they did not know the legal sig-
UNITED STATES V. SIERRA NEVADA WOOD & LUMBER CO.
691
nificance of all these proceedings relating to this property. I think the insolvency proceedings must necessarily have been explained to Craig. The petition appears to have been presented to the superior judge, John K. Alexander, who was the attorney that prepared and was familiar with the original conveyance and the other instruments connected with that transaction. The certificate attached to the peti· tion indicates that it must have been brought to the attention of the judge, who, knowing the character of the original transaction, would hardly have permitted Craig to go on record with a document that was untrue, and particularly where it contained declarations against his interest. If, therefore, Craig's declarations in the insolvency proceedings are true, there is no question but that he understood that tlle deed was an absolute sale, and that this property was owned by Cowell after November 17,1879. The next circumstance to be considered is that of the tender. This document was prepared. by Mr. Rodgers as attorney for Craig, and is dated December 30,1882. It seems to be as strongly in favor of the claim that the conveyance was an absolute deed as the proceedings in insolvency. It seems to me that in these latter proceedings Craig and his attorney, Rodgers, looked upon the conveyance as a deed, and treated it as a deed absolute, and that Craig's rights under it were such that they could only be secured by acting in accordance with its express terms, as a sale, and not as a mortgage. Upon all these facts, and others which might be referred to, but which I will not now recite, I have arrived at the conclusion that the evidence in this case establishes the fact that this conveyance, a deed absolute on its face, was in fact a deed of conveyance, and that the transaction was a conditional sale of the property, and was not a mort· gage. I will therefore direct judgment to be entered in favor of the plaintiff. UNITED STATES v. SIERRA NEVADA WOOD & LUMBER CO. v. HIGGINS et al. SAME v. BOYINTON et at SAME v. KIELY et al. SAME v. RICE. Nos. 609-613. (Circuit Court, D. Nevada. April 5, 1897.) CANCELT,ATION OF LA1W PATENTS-FRAUD-BoNA FIDE PURCHASERS.
SAME
To a bill In equity by the United States to cancel a patent, upon the ground that It was obtained by fraud, the fact that the defendants are bona fide purchasers for value, without notice of the fraud, constitutes a complete defense.
These were bills in equity brought by the United States against the Sierra Nevada Wood & Lumber Company and others to cancel a patent for certain lands. The facts stipulated, omitting the names of the defendants and the description of the lands in each suit, are as follows: "It is hereby stipulated and agreed by and between the United States 01' America, plaintiff, and * * *, defendants, through their respective attorneys, that the following statement Is and shall be considered the facts at