120 N.Y. 128 | NY | 1890
From about January 1, 1854, to about January 14, 1862, John M. French, David L. Stiles and Elijah Bottom were partners under the name of John M. French Co., engaged in manufacturing various articles from iron at Rochester, New York, and in manufacturing pig-iron at Ontario, New York. During this period Daniel W. Powers was engaged in banking and loaning money at Rochester. During that time Powers loaned to John M. French Co., and advanced, for their benefit, to others, large sums of money, receiving as security a mortgage upon certain *132 real estate, dated April 10, 1860, and a chattel mortgage dated July 19, 1861.
January 1, 1857, John M. French Co. executed a mortgage upon part of their real estate to James Chappell to secure him for such liability as he might incur for the benefit of the firm as an accommodation indorser, accepter or otherwise. Chappell became liable as an accommodation indorser for John M. French Co. in a large amount, and especially to the Union Bank of Rochester, and on the 1st day of April, 1859, he assigned this mortgage to the above bank as collateral security for the liabilities of John M. French Co., for which Chappell was liable as an indorser. January 14, 1862, the property covered by the chattel mortgage was sold under a foreclosure of it for $11,410. April 14, 1862, Daniel W. Powers paid to the Union Bank the claims which it held against the firm, and the bank assigned its mortgage to him. April 18, 1863, the real estate covered by this mortgage was sold under a judgment of foreclosure, and a deficiency of $4,440.89 arose. Later, in 1863 (the date not appearing), the real property covered by the mortgage given April 10, 1860, was sold pursuant to a judgment in foreclosure. In ascertaining the amount secured by this mortgage the referee, in computing the amount due, charged Powers with the amount he realized on the chattel mortgage, and also with $4,000 for the use of the real estate covered by the mortgages, he having occupied it for two years as a mortgagee in possession. From this judgment no appeal was taken. Under the sale a deficiency of $15,071.05 arose. One John Craig purchased all of the realty sold under these foreclosures, taking the conveyances in his own name, but, in fact, for the benefit of Daniel W. Powers.
The firm had a contract for the purchase of a blast furnace in Ontario, Wayne county, which was assigned to Powers as collateral, and on which there was unpaid about $800. The firm made default in payment, and on being threatened with ejectment, Powers, at the request of the firm, paid the amount due and took a deed in his own name. Some other property *133 was held by Powers as security for the debts of the firm and of the individual partners. September 16, 1868, John M. French and David L. Stiles assigned and conveyed to this plaintiff all of their interest, being two-thirds, in the property of the late firm, and all causes of action which it had against Powers; and in that month this action was brought, in which it was alleged, among other things, that it was agreed between Powers and the firm that he, after acquiring the property, should hold and manage it, and carry on the business of the late firm for its benefit, first paying all sums due to himself. It is also alleged that Powers held a large sum of money and a large amount of property in his hands derived from the firm beyond what was necessary to satisfy all of his demands, and an accounting was prayed for.
The case was tried before a referee in 1875, and it was held that the agreement alleged in the complaint was not made, and that Powers was not indebted to the plaintiffs on account of the transactions between himself and the firm, but the judgment entered on that report was reversed at General Term (30 Hun, 308) by reason of the exclusion of certain evidence offered by the plaintiff. On the second trial a new referee found the facts as they were found by the first referee.
An examination of the evidence leads us to the conclusion that none of the material findings of fact are without any evidence tending to sustain them, and so reviewable in this court as questions of law.
The appellant insists that the chattel mortgage was not legally foreclosed, because (1) the property was purchased by the defendant; (2) that the notice of the sale was insufficient in two or three particulars. It has been recently settled by this court (Casserly v. Witherbee,
The complaint contains no allegation that the firm transferred any property to Powers on a usurious consideration, and there is no finding that any property was held or was transferred on such a consideration, nor was any request preferred that such a fact be found, and the question raised by the appellant's eighth point is not before the court.
Our attention is called to several rulings admitting and excluding evidence which are asserted to have been erroneous, but an examination of each of them has failed to disclose a material error.
The judgment should be affirmed, with costs.
All concur except BRADLEY and HAIGHT, JJ., not sitting.
Judgment affirmed.