Blake v. Garwood

| New York Court of Chancery | Oct 15, 1886

Bird, V. C.

This bill is styled an interpleader. It is filed by a mortgagor. He admits the execution of the mortgage, and that there is a certain amount due. He says that Mrs. Ross, the owner of the mortgage, is incapacitated, from age or other causes, to take the money due; that Cox claims to be her agent by virtue of a power of attorney, and as such entitled to the money, and claims the money of him; that Garwood is a daughter of Mrs. Ross, and forbids him to pay said money to Cox because Mrs. Ross was of unsound mind when she executed said power of attorney; and prays that said Cox and Garwood may interplead and settle their rights, and that he may pay the money due into court, and be dismissed with his costs, and for subpoena against Cox and Garwood only.

Mrs. Ross is not made a party. The case must rest here until she is brought in. Her insanity is no excuse. Her insanity or imbecility makes it all the more necessary for the court to have her in court. The method of bringing the unfortunate into court is well known.

Perhaps, under the circumstances of the case, I will be justified in saying that I cannot see why Cox or Garwood is brought into court. The bill proceeds on the ground that Mrs. Ross is insane or mentally incapacitated to contract, and that Cox was once her agent, and claims to still be. Supposing him to have been an agent, and supposing Mrs. Ross to be incapable to contract, then clearly, on the best of reason and highest authority, that agency was revoked, or inoperative when she became incapacitated, to all who had notice of the fact. Mathiessen v. McMahon, 9 Vr. 536; Hill v. Day, 7 Stew. Eq. 150.

Therefore Cox is an utter stranger to the complainant, and, from the complainant’s own showing, has not the slightest claim against him.

If I am. correct in these views, and in my understanding of the. law, there is no foundation for the bill to interplead.

If the defendants ask for it, I shall advise a decree dismissing the bill. And I will refuse to advise any decree in favor of the complainant until Mrs. Ross is before the court. I do not mean to be understood as saying that this bill can be so fashioned as .to stand.