This is a controversy submitted without action under section 567 of The Code. The facts agreed upon are as follows: At the time for listing the taxes for the year 1896 the defendant was the owner of the tract of land described in the complaint and listed the same for taxation. The defendant made default in the payment of taxes, and George (742) Bickerstaff, a tax collector for the county of Rutherford, where the land is situated, sold the same for the taxes due, after proper advertisement, when the commissioners of the county purchased it and received a certificate of sale from the tax collector. Afterwards the county commissioners assigned the certificate to the plaintiff. The tax collector executed to the plaintiff a deed to the land in pursuance of the sale and under the certificate, after the time of redemption had passed.
The plaintiff contends that the tax collector's deed conveys to him a good title. The defendant contends that the plaintiff's deed from the tax collector is of no force. Upon the facts the court was of opinion that the plaintiff's deed to the land from the tax collector was good, and that the plaintiff was entitled to the possession of the land, and gave judgment accordingly.
For the reasons given in Wilcox v. Leach, 123 N.C. 74, we are of the opinion that this Honor was in error, and that the plaintiff is not entitled to recover.
But we are of the opinion, however, that as it does not appear from the facts agreed that the defendant has offered to pay to the plaintiff the amount of the tax, interest and penalty, the defendant should be *Page 472 allowed a reasonable time within which to pay the same; and in default of such payment the plaintiff should be allowed in this action to proceed to foreclose the lien which he obtained by the purchase of the certificate from the county; and the plaintiff ought to be allowed his costs of action in the court below but not his costs of appeal.
REVERSED.
CLARK, J., dissented, see ante, 727.
Cited: McNair v. Boyd, 163 N.C. 480.
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