51 Cal. 620 | Cal. | 1877
The action is replevin to recover from the sheriff certain grain and flax seed seized and sold by him under an attachment and execution against one Hansen. The findings show that Hansen leased from the plaintiffs a parcel of land, and from one Heed an adjoining parcel, of both of which ho was in possession under the leases; that to secure the rent to be paid to the jflaintiffs, and also a store account which he owed them, he duly executed and delivered to them a mortgage (which was duly recorded), upon all the crops of every kind to be produced on said lands during the next ensuing cropping season; that at the date of the mortgage Hansen was in possession of the land, but had not then plowed it or sowed the seed, but proceeded to do so very soon thereafter and produced the crop which is in controversy; that when the crop had matured and had been partially harvested, it was seized by the defendant as sheriff, under an attachment at the suit of another creditor of Hansen, and was subsequently sold by the defendant under an execution issued upon the judgment in said action. The plaintiff recovered and the defendant appeals.
The point chiefly relied upon for a reversal is, that at the date of the mortgage the crop had not even a potential existence, the ground not having been plowed or the seed sown; and it is claimed that there can be no valid mortgage of a thing not in esse. It is conceded by counsel that if the thing has a potential existence, as, for example, wool to be grown from sheep then belonging to the mortgagor, or but
Judgment and order affirmed.
Mr. Chief Justice Wallace and Mr. Justice McEjnstry dissented.