United States v. Insley

Syllabus

<p>In a suit in equity, brought by the United States to redeem a parcel of land in Kansas, from a mortgage, the defence of laches cannot be set up, although the bill was filed more than twelve years after the defendant obtained title to the land by purchasing it on a foreclosure sale under the mortgage, and more than thirteen years after the United States purchased the land on a sale on execution on a judgment obtained by it, after the mortgage was given, against the mortgagor, who still owned the land, the United States not having been a party to the foreclosure suit.</p> <p>The United States holds the title to the land for public purposes' and not for private purposes, and holds in like manner the incidental right of redemption.</p>