RUBY V. ATKINSON.
··567
one mortgage, the sale of both could have properly been advertised for the same day. There is no substantial difference between the case supposed and the present. The whole question is one which eoncerns the order of sale. In both cases the debt would be satisfied and the power extinguished if the property first exposed to sale brought enough to pay the debt. It further appears from the stipulation of the parties that on the 15th of August, 1893, the south 92! feet, being the land included in the first trust deed to Clark, was in fact sold pursuant to the advertisement for $400. It would seem that that was much less than its value, but that was a matter which the complainant was bound to see to. There is nothing to show, other than the small price which the land brought, that the land was not fairly sold, and that of itself is not sufficient to impeach it. The proceeds have been credited upon the debt. It may be that the complainant may suffer a misfortune from having too large a burden of the debt fall upon her land; but, if so, it is in consequence of her own negligence, and she has no right to complain. We have not lost sight of the fact that it is stated in the bill that the first trust deed to Clark included a house and lot .on Cameron Hill, and it so appears from the trust deed which is made part, by reference, of the stipulation of the parties in regard to the facts. There is nothing to show whether that was ever released or not, or whether that property has any substantial value. At all events, the assignment of errors takes no notice of it, nor have counsel for the appellant, in their brief or argument, made any reference to it. In these circumstances, we shall also disregard it. The decree of the circuit court must be affirmed.
RUBY et a!. v. ATKINSON et aL
(Olrcult Court of Appeals, Fifth CIrcuit. January 7, 1896.) No. 402. EQUITY PLEADING-IRREGULARITIES.
ComplaInants filed a bill, describing themselves as "resident citIzens" of Kentucky, against sundry defendants, described as "resIdent cItizens" of Texas, setting forth an alleged fraudulent sale of complainants' property by one defendant, and purchases thereof by other defendants, with notice, and concluding wIth a prayer for "cItation in terms of law," for a decree annulling certain deeds, and for a writ of possessIon. One defendant filed a demurrer, as attorney for hImself, to which he appended a certificate that he "thought the demurrer was well taken." Other defendants filed a general demurrer, to which was appended a proper certIficate of counsel, but no aiiidavit. as reqUired by role 31. Later, some of the latter defendants filed an answer, which was merely a general denial, concludIng wIth a prayer for a decree qUieting their title to the land. A decree was entered overrullng the demurrers and dismissing the bUl. Complainants appealed. Held, that the decree should be reversed, with directIons to set aside all the pleadings subsequent to the bill, to give leave to complainants to amend the bUl to conform to the rules, and thereafter to proceed according to the equity roles.
468
I'EDEBAL REPORTER,
vol. 71.
Appeal from the Circuit Court of the United States for the North· ern District of Texas. J. B. Scarborough, for appellants. W. M. Sleeper, for appellees. Before PARDEE and McCORMICK, Circuit Judges, and BOARMAN, District Judge. PARDEE, Circuit Judge. August 13, 1892, the appellants filed an original bill of complaint in tl;le circuit court for the Northern district of Texas, commencing the same as follows: "Comes now complainant Alice L. Ruby, joined by her husband, John T. Ruby, resident citizens of the county of Hopkins, state of Kentucky, com· plaining of H. N. Atkinson, a resident citizen of the' county of Me· Lennan, state of Texas, and T. R. Bankhead, G. N. Bankhead, A. J. Boone, H. A. Hicks, J. W. l\fcKinney, A. Kirby, and A. It Kirby, resident citizens of the county of Coryell, state of Texas." This was followed by allegations setting forth that the complainants' landed property in the state of Texas had been fraudulently sold and purchased by the said H. N. Atkinson at an inferior price, and that since,with full knowledge by the parties of the fraudulent sur· roundings, had been in parcels sold and conveyed to others of the defendants. The bill concluded with the following prayer: "Wherefore complainants sue and pray citation in terms of the law com· manding the said H. N. Atkinson and the said '1'. R. Bankhead to appear and answer this bill on, to Wit, the first Monday in ::3eptember, 18\)2, and on final trial hereof that complainant have a decree setting aside and annulling deed made by the constable of preCinct No.1, Coryell Co., Texas, to the said H. N. Atkinson, also annulling and setting as'lOe any deed held by the said T. R. Bankhead emanating thereunder, and 1'01' decree removing the cloud from complainants' title caused by the said megal sale and deeds thereunder made, and for writ of possession for said property, with costs of suit, and general and speclal as in equity they may be entitled to." '
See equity rules 7, 12, 21, and 23. The record does not show what, if any, process was issued; but on December 4, 1893, H. N. Atkinson filed a demurrer, signed by himself as attorney for himself, to which is appended a certificate as follows: "I, H. N. Atkinson, do hereby certify that I think the foregoing (],emurrer is well taken." See equity rule 31. On the 16th December, 1893, T. R. Bankhead, G. M. Bankhead, A. J. Boone, A. Hicks,.J. W. McKinney, A. B. Kirby, and A. Kirby joined in a general demurrer to the said bill, to which demurrer is appended a certificate 'of that, in his opinion, it is well founded in law; but no affidavits of the defendants were attached. Id. Afterwards, on April 23, 1895, T.. R. Bankhead, G. M. Bankhead, A. J. Boone, H. A. Hicks, J. W. McKinney, and A. KirBY filed an alleged answer to the effect that they were purchasers of parcels of the landl3 .described in complainants' bill, that they purchased in good faith for a valuable consideration without notice of any fraud, and concluding, "Premises considered, petitioners pray for a' decree qUieting their title to the land sued for, and, for gen, eral and special relief." "This document does not undertake to an-
RUBY fl. ATKINSOlf.
569
ewer the blll otherwise than by a general denial of the same. The record next shows a decree of the circuit court, filed May 1, 1895, which overrules the general demurrer of defendants to complainants' bill, and thereafter dismisses the complainants' bill, and decrees that "the defendants T. R. Bankhead, A. J. Boone, H. A. Hicks, J. W. McKinney, A. Kirby, G. M. Bankhead, and A. B. Kirby go hence without day, and that they recover of the complainants their costs." Following this decree appears a document, entitled "Agreement of Counsel," relating to evidence to betaken in the case and to be used on the hearing, but particularly providing as follows: . "It is further agreed that this cause may be considel'ed at issue, and that any demurrers that defendants may have to complainants' bill may be heard at the ensuing term of said court. in April, 18\13, prior to a trial of said cause."
This agreement does not appear to have any date nor file mark, but is signed by "J. B. Scarborough, Attorney for the Complainants," and "Jones, Kendall & Sleeper, Attorneys for Defendants fOl· Whom They Answer,"-that is, as we understand, for all the par· ties named in the introductory part of the bill except H. N. Atkinson and A. B. Kirby. The complainants applied for a rehearing, assigning, among other grounds not necessary to recite, the following: "The decree in this case is not a final decree, III that it does Dot dispose of al! the parties to the record. No disposition made of defendant H. N. Atkil'Ron. Complainants wish a decree against H. N. Atkinson, for the reason tlmt he had no answe::, an"d "made no defense to the plaintil'fs' bill, and his demUl'rer was not sutticient, and was Overruled by the court, and no answer filed for him. Therefore, the decree should be for complainants as against the defendant Atkinson."
The petition for rehearing was overruled, and thereupon the complainants appealed to this court, assigning as errors practically the same grounds recited in the petition for a rehearing. From what we have recited (and we have given all that the record shows as to pleadings), it appears that not only the equity rules prescribed by the supreme court were ignored in the proceedings, but at the hearing the cause was not ready for a decree on the merits, for the bill had neither been confessed nor answered. The decree appealed from is reversed, and the cause is remanded to the circuit court, with directions to set aside all the alleged pleadings filed subsequently to the original bill, to grant leave to complainants to amend their original bill, so as to make it conform to the equity rules, and on such terms as may be just, and thereafter to proceed in the cause as the equity rules adopted by the supreme court of the United States provide, and as equity and good conscience shall require. Neither party to recover costs on this appeal.
570
J'EDERA-L REPORTER, YOlo
71.
EVERSON v. EQUITABLE LIFE ASSUR. SOO. OF TIlE UNITED STATES. (Oircuit Court of Appeals, Third Circuit. No.6January 10, 1896.)
1.
EQUITY JUlUSDICTION-BILL FOR DISCOVERY AND ACCOUNTING.
Where a bill seeks both discovery and an accounting, the discovery must be resarded, prima facie, as incidental to the accounting, and, if there is no right to an accounting, the blll will be held bad upon demurrer. 68 Fed. 258, affirmed.
2. LIFE INSURANCE-SEMI-ToNTINE POLICy-BILL FOR ACCOUNTING.
The relation between the holder of a matured semi-tontine policy and the insurance company is that of debtor and creditor merely, and involves no trust relation; and a policy holder Who Is dissatisfied with the amount of the surplus which is apportioned to him by the company, pursuant to the terms of the policy, cannot maintain a blll for accounting and discovery when there are no· sufficient allegations of fraud. 68 Fed. 258, atIlrmed.
Appeal from the Oircuit Oourt of the United States for the Western District of Pennsylvania. This was a suit in equity by T. Bissell Everson against the Equitable Life Assurance Oompany, praying a discovery and an accounting in respect to the amount due under a matured semi-tontine life insurance policy. A demurrer to the bill was sustained by the circuit court, and the suit was dismissed. See 68 Fed. 258, where the opinion delivered by Buffington, District Judge, and which contains a full statement of the facts, will be found. From this decree com· plainant appealed. The part of appellant's brief containing the comments upon the opinion below, which are referred to in the opinion of this court, is here given in full. Watson & McCleave, for appellants. Remarks upon the opinIon of the court below: "The learned judge recites the provisions upon the back of the policy, constituting the tontine contract, as follows: '(I) That this policy is issued under the seml·tontlne plan, the particulars of which are as follows: (2) That the tontine dividend period for this policy shall be completed on the 28th day of May, 181)4. (3) That no dividends shall be allowed or paid upon this policy unless the person whose life is hereby assured shall survive the completion of its tontine dividend period as aforesaid, and unless this policy shall then be in force. (4) That all surplus or profits derived from such policies In the semi-tontine plan as shall not be in force at the date of their completion of their respective tontine diVidend periods shall be apportioned equitably among such policies as shall complete their tontine dividend period. (5) That upon the completion of the tontine dividend period, on May 28, 1894, prOVided this policy shall not have been terminated previously by lapse or death, said T. Bissell Everson shall have the option to withdraw in cash this policy's entire share of the assets, 1. e. the accumulated reserve, which shall be $1,231.10, and in addition thereto the surplus apportioned by this society to this policy; secondly,' etc. The court then says (and this is really the ground of the decision): 'That by this contract of insurance the relation created between the parties was that of debtor and creditor is firmly established by numerous authorities.' "Upon this we observe that the provisions quoted create no contract of insurance, and are entirely separate and distinct from the insurance contract shown upon the face of the policy, yet it is upon these provisions that plaintiff's right in this litigation exclusively rests. It is obvIous that these pro-