Gray v. Franks

| Mich. | Jun 20, 1891

Grant, J.

This is a bill filed by complainants as executors of the will of one Ralph Sellew, to foreclose a mortgage executed by Edward 'A. Franks and Mary E. Franks, his wife. Decree was rendered for complainants, and the defendant Mary E. Franks alone appeals.

Several objections are raised to the right of the complainants to maintain the suit, which will be first considered.

1. Edward A. Franks, the mortgagor; died before the commencement of this suit. His children were made parties defendant, but the bill did not allege them to be his heirs at law. It alleges that they and other persons mentioned “have or claim to have rights and interests in the premises described in said indenture of mortgage, or in some part or parts thereof, as subsequent purchasers or incumbrancers of otherwise/’’ The appellant is not in position to raise this question. Her rights are not affected, even if the allegation were necessary. The real defendants, however, who might raise this question, could not be misled, and, even if such a formal allegation were necessary, the amendment would be allowed in this Court.

2. The defendant contends that she was entitled to a hearing upon proofs taken in open court. She made no demand herself, but two of the defendants, who were made parties on account of supposed subsequently acquired interests, did demand the examination of witnesses in open court. The bill, as to them, was subsequently dismissed by consent, and the case was then referred, by an order made in open court, to a circuit court commissioner to take the proofs.

This position of the appellant is not tenable for two reasons:

1. The demand for such an examination was not made within 10 days after the cause was at issue, and therefore was of no force. How. Stat. § 6647.

2. Having made no demand herself, she is not entitled to the benefit of such demand by another, who may have, waived it, or as to whom the suit has been discontinued.

3. Mr. Sellew lived in St. Louis, Mo., where he died, and where his will was probated; and the complainants accepted the trust, and became duly qualified. The bill was filed before this will had been proved in Michigan. Subsequently, and before the hearing, the will was duly proved in the probate court of the county Mackinac, and an exemplified copy of such probate put in evidence. Appellant insists that complainants could not bring suit before a probate of such will in Michigan. This point, we think, is ruled by the case of Richards v. Pierce, 44 Mich. 444" court="Mich." date_filed="1880-10-27" href="https://app.midpage.ai/document/richards-v-pierce-7930040?utm_source=webapp" opinion_id="7930040">44 Mich. 444. It was there held, citing numerous authorities, that an action brought before probate is made good by subsequent probate before the hearing.

4. It is next insisted that the probate proceedings in the probate court for Mackinac county are void for several reasons, only one of which we deem it important to notice, viz., that no bond was given in Michigan by the executors.

The statute providing for the probate of foreign wills in this State does not require any bond on the part of the executor. It would be a wise precaution on the part of probate courts to require it. The letters issued to complainants in this State recite that they have given a bond. Such a bond is not necessary to protect the interests of the defendants in this case. They could have applied to the court in chancery for security for costs. They are not prejudiced, and we do not think equity requires that such technical errors should, under the circumstances, prevail.

5. The main contest in the case arises over the description of the premises mortgaged. The mortgage was.executed December 16, 1868, and the description of the mortgaged property is as follows:

“All the lands and premises situated in the county of Mackinac and State of Michigan, known as the property described and included in a deed made and executed' by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, November 9, 1855, to the aforesaid Edward A.. Franks, and recorded in the office of' the register of deeds and mortgages in and for the said county of Mackinac -on the 22d day of. May, A. D. 1856, in Book 1 of Deeds, on pages 208, 209, 210, and 211, to which deed reference is hereby made as a part of this indenture; except a balance due the aforesaid board of commissioners of the amount of $1,050, and ■ to Ooyree & Strong, of the city ■of Detroit, another claim of $1,000, both of which claims are secured by mortgage on the above premises.”

These premises were purchased by Mr. Franks from the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions by deed dated November 9, 1855. In that deed the premises are described as follows:

“Beginning on the shore of Lake Huron, between this lot and a street; thence north, eight degrees and forty minutes east, 610 feet; thence south, seventy-six degrees east (76 degrees east), two hundred feet to unconceded land; thence south, eight degrees forty-five minutes west (8-45 west), five hundred and sixteen feet and four-tenths of a foot to the shore of Lake Huron; thence along' the border of said lake, south, seventy-eight degrees west (78 degrees west), two hundred and twelve' feet and nine-tenths of a foot to the place of beginning; reserving one hundred feet in front for the use of a road or public highway; reference for a more particular description being had to a patent to Bonape, and deed from Bonape to the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, on record in the registry office for the county of Michilimackinac.

“Also a parcel of land situate in the borough of Michilimackinac aforesaid, and being the same lot which is said to have been surveyed byv Aaron Greeley on the 20th of October, 1810, but the certificate of which survey, as ascertained from the books of the land-office at Detroit, bears date the 20th of October, 1819, as having been made on claim of Baptiste Bertrant, containing one hundred and three thousand six hundred and fifty-two square feet, as recorded in Book B, page 200, in a deed from William M. Ferry and wife to said American Board, in the registry office for said county of Michilimackinac; reference being thereto had.

“Also the following lands in said Michilimackinac, hounded as follows, to wit: Westerly on a lot belonging to Mrs. Mary Fisher; northerly on land of the United States; easterly by lands patented to Daniel Bonape; southerly on a road laid down in the borough plat, which separates this lot from the claim reserved to Joseph Valencoer. This lot was surveyed in 1829 by John Mullet, and on which survey a patent issued, and to which reference is made for course and distance, and is the same purchased from Joseph and Jane Boulette, 25th of August, 1829, and recorded in said -county of Michilimackinac in the register’s office, in Book B, page 35; reference being had thereto. Together with the Mission House and other buildings, now and lately in the occupation of E. A. Franks, as a public house, and which were erected by the said board, and under their direction, by permit from the United States and their agents at Michilimackinac, and their right to pre-emption under the laws of the United States.”

This latter description is the one contained in the decree. Appellant insists that three small lots,'numbered 13, 14, and 705, are the only ones covered by the mortgage, which w.as given to secure the loan of $6,000, but that the adjoining premises, including 16 acres and a large hotel, are not covered by it. These three lots were at the time worth but a small part of the money loaned. Upon receiving the deed November 9, 1855, Franks took possession of these premises, including the hotel, and occupied the same until his death, which occurred January 24, 1881. Some years afterwards it was discovered that the title to the 16-acre tract had never been acquired by Mr. Franks’ grantor or by him, but that it belonged to what is known as the “Military Reservation,” the title being in the United States. The military author, ities upon the island of Mackinac attempted to obtain possession of the premises. This was resisted by Mr-Franks, who finally received a lease from the United States government for the premises upon the payment of the nominal rent of $10 per year. This lease was dated October 20, 1870, and contained the following description:

“Beginning at a post at the north-east corner of the lane; thence north-east fourteen hundred and sixteen (1,416) feet to a fence near Fully Rock; thence' southeast two hundred and fifty (250) feet to the shore of Lake Huron; thence south-west along said shore thirteen hundred (1,300) feet; thence north three hundred and thirty-three (333) feet to a post; thence north thirty-four (34) feet to the place of beginning, containing about sixteen acres (16).”

Mr. Franks appealed to Congress, and an act was finally passed authorizing the land to be conveyed to him for the sum of $200. The Secretary of the Treas-dry, in pursuance of this act, executed to him a quitclaim deed covering this tract, thus securing to him the absolute title to the land.

The question is, did this subsequently acquired title inure to the benefit of Mr. Sellew .under his mortgage? The proofs are convincing that the mortgage was executed by both parties in the belief that it covered these premises, of which Mr. Franks was, and had been for many years, in the actual possession, claiming title. The testimony, both oral and written, including letters which passed between Mr. Sellew and Mr. and Mrs. Franks, and other papers executed by them, leave no doubt upon this point. The chief value consisted in the 16-acre tract and the buildings situated thereon. We see no escape from the conclusion that the subsequently acquired title inured to the benefit of Sellew under his mortgage. It is unnecessary to review the testimony.

The decree of the court below is affirmed, with costs.

Some of the land has been sold, and upon the foreclosure sale it must be sold in parcels in the inverse order of alienation.

The other Justices concurred.