109 N.W. 56 | N.D. | 1906
Plaintiff brought this action to foreclose a real estate mortgage given by defendant Mrs. Jameson-Wohler to one Dr. Reilly, by whom it was assigned to plaintiff. The mortgage purports to secure the mortgagor’s promissory note for $750 and interest at 12 per cent per annum from its date, October 24, 1896. The note was due November 1, 1897. It is alleged in the complaint that a prior mortgage on the premises, given to Janney, Semple & Co., had been foreclosed on January 8, 1898, and the property sold to said Janney, Semple & Co. for $455.95. That said Dr. Reilly, as second mortgagee, redeemed from said sale in January, 1899, and received a sheriff’s certificate of redemption, paying for that purpose the sum of $510.65. That thereafter the defendant
The defendants Mrs. Jameson-Wohler and Mr. Wohler answered jointly, and allege that the note and mortgage described in the complaint were given for only $350, but that Dr. Reilly, the mortgagee, fraudulently altered the same so as to make the same appear as a note and mortgage for $750. They further allege that the redemption, although made in the name of Dr. Reilly as a mortgagee, was in fact made by and for Mrs. Jameson-Wohler, the mortgagor and then owner of the land; and that the amount paid for the redemption was the money of said Mrs. Jameson-Wohler, and not the money of Reilfy. They further aver that the
It is quite apparent that Dr. Reilly and Mrs. jameson-Wohler are the real opposing parties in this action. Aside from the documentary evidence, the testimony of these two persons is virtually the only evidence in the case. It is painfully evident that each of these two witnesses are alike unworthy of credit. As to Dr. Reilly, the record clearly discloses that he knowingly testified falsely at the trial touching material facts in the case; and, as to the opposing witness, it is very apparent that she had little respect for the obligations imposed by her oath. It is undisputed that Mrs. Jameson-Wohler has had possession of the note and mortgage and sheriff’s certificate of redemption since long prior to the commencement of this action. It is also evident from the allegations of the complaint and answer, as well as from the testimony of both parties, that both of them assumed and acted on the assumption that the redemption certificate was merely an evidence of a debt or obligation in addition to that evidenced by the note and mortgage. That being so, the possession of the certificate of redemption by the supposed debtor should be given the same evidentiary force as the possession of the note and mortgage by the obligor. Rev. Codes 1899, section 5713c, subds. 1, 9 (Rev. Codes 1905, section 7317). It is prima facie' proof that the obligations have been discharged and canceled. The allegation that the possession of the papers was surreptitiously obtained by Mrs. Jameson-Wohler is supported by no other testimony than that of Dr. Reilly, who, as we have already -stated, is utterly unworthy of credit. It follows that the prima facie pi oof of discharge or cancellation, afforded by the fact that the papers are in Mrs. J ameson-Wohler’s possession, must prevail. The testimony of Mr. Prom is too vague and indefinite to be of any value as corroborative of that of Dr. Reilly. It tends to discredit Mrs. Jameson-Wohler’s testimony; but, as above indicated, that was unnecsesary, because we disregard her testimony for the same reason that we decline to believe Dr. Reilly’s.
There was no evidence that Frank Wohler is the owner of the land in question. He claims title by virtue of the sheriff’s deed, which he obtained as an alleged assignee of the certificate of redemption. But if that redemption was in fact made, as he claims, by Mrs. Jameson-Wohler, the mortgagor and then owner of the land, then such a redemption is a cancellation of the foreclosure or execution sale. Rev. Codes 1899, section 5545 (Rev. Codes 1905, section 7144) ; Sprague v. Martin, supra. This result would in no way be avoided by the device of redeeming in Reilly’s name and causing his certificate of redemption to be assigned to the mortgagor and owner of the land. There is no showing upon which to base a finding that Mr. Wohler is equitably entitled to the ownership of the land. It follows that the assignment from Mrs. Jameson-Wohler to Frank Wohler passed nothing.
The judgment should be modified so as to adjudge the ownership of the land to Mrs. Jameson-Wohler, instead of to Frank Wohler. As thus modified the judgment is affirmed, respondents to recover the taxable costs.