Colston v. Bean

77 Vt. 40 | Vt. | 1904

HasEETon, J.

Section 2259 of the Vermont Statutes provides that a mortgagor of personal property shall not sell the same without the written consent of the mortgagee indorsed on the mortgage and on the record thereof. Section ■2262, which was amended in 1896, provides for the prosecution and fine of a mortgagor who1, without such written consent, sells mortgaged personal property, one-half of the fine to go to the State and one-half to the person injured. Obviously, the person injured may in some circumstances be the mortgagee, or his assignee, and in other circumstances may be a purchaser from the mortgagor. The phrase “person injured” is used advisedly and wisely and the statutory provisions are of a clear and effective character.

This was an action on the case for fraud alleged to have been perpetrated by the defendant upon the plaintiff, in the sale by the former to the latter of certain wagons and sleighs-incumbered by a mortgage. Evidence on the part of the plaintiff tended to show that the defendant represented the property to be free of incumbrance. Evidence on the part of the defendant tended to show that he informed the plaintiff that the property was mortgaged, but told him- that he had a right to sell. It appeared that the plaintiff paid the defendant for the property and took possession of a small portion thereof, but that the greater part, being in an unfinished condition, was left with the defendant to finish for the plaintiff,, and that subsequently the wagons and sleighs were marked with the name of the plaintiff. The plaintiff’s evidence tended to' show that after such marking the property was attached as the defendant’s, that he then learned of the mortgage, and that the mortgagee threatened him with suit if he took possession of the property. Shortly after the attachment, which the plaintiff’s evidence tended to show, the defendant was adjudged a bankrupt, and the loss of the property to1 the plaintiff ensued.

For the purposes of the trial, the court instructed the jury that, under section 2260 of Vermont Statutes, it was nodefence to this action, if the defendant had verbal permission from the mortgagee to sell the property. The question presented to this Court is whether this instruction was correct. This action for fraud is not in any way dependent upon the statute. It is a common law action the right to which was not given by the statute, and was not taken away by the provisions of the statute. In this action it is for the plaintiff to make out that he was actually defrauded. If the defendant, as his evidence tended tó show, gave the plaintiff notice of the incumbrance, then, if the defendant had verbal permission from the mortgagee to sell the property, the plaintiff was not defrauded. Such verbal permission when acted upon operates as a release, or waiver of the mortgage. Hunt v. Allen, 73 Vt. 322, 50 Atl. 1103. There was evidence tending to show that the plaintiff was not a bona fide purchaser, and that there was neither misrepresentation, nor concealment, on the part of the defendant, and that any loss which the plaintiff suffered came upon him because o°f the course which, with his eyes open, he chose to taire with reference to the property after making the purchase and paying over his money.

We hold that the charge to' the effect that in no view of the evidence would verbal permission to1 sell, given to the mortgagor, avail the defendant, was erroneous. This holding in this action on the case for fraud does not in any way touch the question of what constitutes a defence to' a proceeding under the statute.

Judgment reversed, and cause remanded.