Stickler v. State Land Office Board

Plaintiffs ask for a writ of mandamus to compel the State land office board to give them a deed or land contract covering certain land in St. Joseph county. The title to this land became vested in the State on November 3, 1939, upon the expiration of the equity of redemption from the 1938 tax sale for taxes for 1935 and prior years. Plaintiffs purchased the 1936 taxes on May 2, 1939, at the sale held by the county treasurer, and received the usual county treasurer’s certificate of purchase. In February, 1940, the State land office board held a public auction of State lands (“scavenger sale”)…