Burpee v. Parker

24 Vt. 567 | Vt. | 1852

The opinion of the court was delivered by

Isham, J.

The condition of the mortgage deed described in the orator’s bill, is evidently sufficiently broad and general in its provisions to embrace the note given to Isaac T. Strow, in February, 1845. This note, it appears, was given in substitution of the note executed by the same parties to Archibald McEwing, in November, 1839.

The circumstance that the David Sargent lot was conveyed by Parker to the complainant, as security for signing the original note to McEwing, and that he still retains the same for that purpose, does not affect the right of the complainant under this mortgage, as both tracts of land may be held under different instruments, as security for the same debt, and whether a foreclosure of one will bar a foreclosure on the other, depends upon the value of the premises foreclosed. If the land foreclosed is equal in value to the debt, the debt is thereby paid, and the remaining premises are relieved from any further claim as security. 3 Mass. Rep. 562. 3 Mason’s Rep. 474. 8 Pick. Rep. 336. 11 Wend. Rep. 106. 2 Greenl. Evid. § 524.

It was not necessary to include the Sargent lot in the bill, as the complainant is at liberty to proceed against the premises described in the last mortgage only, and on payment of the debt, the mortgagor has his remedy by a bill in his own name, for a reconveyance, or a decree to that effect could have been made in this suit, if a cross bill had been filed for that purpose.

The claim on the note to the Black River Bank, is not objected to by counsel, and is consequently allowed on this mortgage. Both of these claims, being numbers 13 and 14 in the schedule, were allowed by the chancellor, but for the rejection of other claims made by the complainant, he has taken this appeal. It is evident, from the general language of the condition in the mortgage deed, that Ike object of this mortgage was, to secure the complainant in giving them the use of his name and credit from time to time, as their necessities required, in raising money for the prosecution of their business. And when we give effect to the mortgage in securing future claims, itis equally evident that the testimony should as clearly bring them within the conditions of the deed, as would be required on those claims existing previous to the execution of the mortgage. Where the notes so given were signed by Parker & Billings, and undersigned by the complainant, the case is free from difficulty, for the note carries on its face evidence of their request for his signature, and that the benefit derived, was of that character contemplated by the parties in the execution of the mortgage. Where the complainant has not undersigned their names, but has given his individual note for money borrowed, more difficulty arises, as the note furnishes no evidence of its having been given at their request, or for their benefit, and those facts are supplied by teAmony aliunde. If Parker & Billings had raised money on the individual note of the complainant, unquestionably the complainant would be secured under this mortgage, even if the money had been paid on the debt of the complainant. For in such case, the acts of Parker & Billings would supply the proof of request in giving the note, and show that the benefit derived from such payment, was of" that character contemplated when the mortgage was executed.

Where, however, the complainant has executed his own note to other persons for borrowed money, and which he personally negotiated and received, we derive no such evidence from the face \of the note, or from the acts of Parker & Billings, and such are the facts in relation to the various claims in the schedule, from number 2 to 11 inclusive, except the Martin Perry notes, numbered 7 and' 8. In all these cases the complainant gave his own note, negotiated for the money, and received the amount, and has made no ap* plication of it on any debt of Parker & Billings. To make the payment of those notes by the complainant, a claim under that mortgage, it must appear that they were the notes of Parker & Billings to pay, and that they were under obligations to indemnify, or save harmless, the complainant for having given the same. This obligation would arise if the money had been paid into the hands of Parker & Billings, or if it had been applied by their mutual consent, on the note given, or claim for rent, and which is referred to by number 15 in the schedule.

The complainant insists that such is the case in relation to these notes. That the money was borrowed by their direction, and when received, it was as payment on the note given for rent. This is denied by the several answers of Parker & Billings. They admit their indebtedness on that note for rent, and that they had been called upon for payment, but state that they informed him of their inability to pay at that time; that he must raise the money he wanted elsewhere, as he was able to borrow and they were not, and they would let him have the money when necessary to repay it, This answer, though traversed, is responsive to the bill, so much so, as to require it to be overcome by competent and sufficient testimony to entitle the orator to a decree. If the facts stated in the answer are true, it is clear that Parker & Billings were under no obligations to pay these notes as their own; they were simply under obligations to furnish the means to the complainant, in payment of their note, to enable him to pay the money borrowed, and the payments, when so made, would no more constitute a claim under this mortgage, than the note itself given for the rent.

In examining the testimony of the several witnesses- that have been introduced by the orator, in which they have related the substance of several conversations between the orator and the defendant Billings, it is proper to observe, that whilst its tendency is to show the main facts, as claimed by the orator, yet the testimony is not greatly inconsistent with the case, as stated by the defendants in their answers, when Billings stated, (as testified by Mr. Benton and others,) that they had frequently told the orator to borrow money, and that they would meet, or pay it; it is not the exercise of great latitude in the construction of testimony, to indulge the idea that reference may have been had, to their promise to pay a sufficient amount on their note to the orator, to enable him to pay those notes, and in that, way to pay or meet the claims.

It may be as reasonable so to weigh the testimony, as to regard those and similar expressions, as a full recognition of those notes as their own, and against which they were bound to indemnify the orator. But wherever may be the balance of testimony, as it stands connected with the witnesses introduced, there are other circumstances in the case that do, and should, exert a controlling influence upon the question in relation to these particular notes. The claim of the orator for rent, had been accruing for the period of seven years, and was finally adjusted, and a note given for the balance in the spring of 1846. By reference to the schedule, it will be perceived that all these notes were given, and the money received thereon by the orator, previous to that settlement, and that the money was borrowed in consequence of his inability to obtain payment of his rent. And yet, in that settlement for rent, no statement is made by the orator of the money borrowed, no credit given, and no deduction from the amount due for rent, made on account of it, but a note was taken in that settlement for the rent due. If the orator intended to make those notes the debts of Parker & Billings, and place them under an obligation to save him harmless from the payment of them, it was his duty to have then applied the money received on the notes, on the rent, and have taken their note only for the balance, or by mutual consent have indorsed that amount on the note. The money would then have been applied for the benefit of Parker & Billings, and the notes would have been theirs to pay. But the neglect of the orator so to apply the money, or account for the same, was a direct repudiation of their right to treat the same as payment on that claim. He has treated the notes and the money received thereon as hL own, and with which Parker & Billings had no concern; it is evident, also, Parker & Billings so considered it, for they were directly interested to insist upon the application of that money on the rent, if the money had been borrowed on their account. And if the notes were for them to pay, it is not reasonable to suppose that they would have given their note for the amount of rent due, if they were entitled to have that application made, and leave unaccounted for in any place the money so raised. It is true Parker & Billings were benefitted in the orator’s borrowing this money for his use, and in his not insisting upon immediate payment of the note against them, as they were to that extent permitted to retain their actual capital in the prosecution of their business. But it was that benefit only which every debtor derives from an extension of credit on his debts.

They were equally benefitted when the note for rent was given, as the orator might then have insisted upon immediate payment of that amount, and extracted so much from their actual capital employed; but by giving this note, they were permitted to retain it in their business, yet no one has considered that note as secured by this mortgage. In relation to those claims, therefore, we think they were properly disallowed by the chancellor. The same considerations apply in relation to the note given to the Bellows Falls Bank, being number 12 in the schedule. The note, also, purports on its face to have been given by the orator as principal, as he was the first signer. The defendants Parker & Billings, state, that they signed the note as sureties, and the testimony, particularly of Charles Burpee, is far from overcoming the answer, and the evidence arising from the face of the note, in showing this to be the note of Parker & Billings to pay.

In relation to the notes given to Martin Perry, being numbers 7 and 8 in the schedule, though given before the settlement in the spring of 1846, yet, it would appear from the testimony of Mr. Perry, that the money was not received by the orator, and had no connection with their indebtedness for rent, but on the contrary, the first note was borrowed for Parker & Billings, to enable them to pay a bank note. There was not, therefore, the same reason for accounting for the money on the settlement for rent, that existed in relation to the other notes, where the money was received and retained by him. Perry testifies distinctly, that Billings was present when the money was borrowed in the one case and paid in the other, and not only from their declarations in conversation, but from the conduct and interest which Billings took in the transaction, he was informed and received the impression, that the money was obtained for them, and had been appropriated for their benefit.

We are, therefore, inclined to the opinion, that these two notes should be added to those allowed by the chancellor, under this mortgage.

The result is, that the decree of the chancellor must be reversed, and the case remanded for the purpose of adding those two notes, .and including them in a decree for the orator.