Hobart v. Sanborn

13 N.H. 226 | Superior Court of New Hampshire | 1842

Upham, J.

Exception is taken to the recovery of the plaintiff of the demanded premises, on the ground that there has been no breach of the condition in the deed. But such breach is not essential to entitle the plaintiff to recover, unless it appear expressly, or by necessary implication, that the mortgager should remain in possession. 2 N. H. Rep. 453, Hartshorn vs. Hubbard.

A mortgagee in fee may enter immediately after the execution of the mortgage, put out the mortgager, and receive the profits, if there be no agreement to the contrary ; and if the mortgager refuse to quit, the mortgagee may have trespass, or a writ of entry, to recover against him as a disseizor. 3 Mass. 138, Newhall vs. Wright; 1 Pow. on Mart. 171; 3 Ditto 1152.

The mortgager in possession has never been held to be entitled to notice to quit, from the purchaser of the right in equity of redemption under the mortgage. There is no privity, nor any thing like the relation of landlord and tenant, between them. 4 Cowen 278, Jackson vs. Colden.

The description of the mortgage notes in the deed is general, giving the number of them, and the time only in which the whole were payable, without specification of the times of payment of the several notes, or that they were payable with interest annually. The notes are described as ten notes, amounting in all to one thousand dollars, payable on or before the 12th of December, 1848, which is the longest term of payment of either note. The notes produced were duly executed by the defendant to the demandant, bear the same date with the deed, and are sufficiently identified as prima fade evidence of the notes secured by the mortgage, to entitle the demandant to conditional judgment for the debt, if the suit was instituted for the purpose of foreclosure.

The interest on all the notes had become payable at the time of suit, but the principal on the larger portion of them was not due. On this ground, the plaintiff would be entitled to recover a conditional judgment and execution for the amount of interest due, if his action was brought' for foreclosure.

But the plaintiff denies that he brought his action to foreclose the mortgage, and that he is bound.,to take a conditional judgment. His suit is by writ of entry, and he claims a right of possession under the mortgage, the same as if no portion of the money had become due j and contends that he is not restricted in his rights in this respect, because a part of the debt is due.

There seems to be no sufficient answer to this.

Where a mortgager brings an action after condition broken, it is generally for the purpose of foreclosure. But if the condition be broken in part only, so that upon the entry of the conditional judgment, and a payment of the amount, the mortgage would still subsist, the fact that the condition has been broken in part does not operate to limit or extinguish the right of the mortgager to obtain and hold possession in the same manner he might do if no part of the debt were due. And as there is nothing in the deed, or the circumstances of this case, to restrain his right to have possession, a general judgment must be entered for the land, as is practiced in Massachusetts, and the mortgager must subsequently, on payment of the mortgage debt, file his bill for reconveyance. 13 Mass. 515, Green vs. Kemp; 12 Ditto 519, Pomeroy vs. Winship; Stearns on Real Actions 269.

It has been contended, that the tenant in mortgage may be prejudiced in his future proceedings by an unconditional judgment against him on the record. But the evidence of title under which the plaintiff claims will be put on file, or the court will require, on motion of the mortgager, some entry to be made, showing the nature of the demandant’s title, in order to facilitate any measures the mortgagee may subsequently take to effect a redemption.

Judgment for the plaintiff.