92 Mich. 217 | Mich. | 1892
The bill in this case is filed to foreclose a mortgage given by the - defendant Mida Trowbridge to Franklin P. Monfort, upon premises in the village of Evart, Osceola county, in this State.- This mortgage was assigned by Monfort to John H. Stirling and William F. Stirling, who, on the 21st day of January, 1889, assigned the same to—
“ Charles S. Cobb, cashier of thá Michigan State Bank of Eaton Eapids, Mich., * * * as collateral security to a note of $1,000, this day given by Stirling & Co. to second party, and any renewal of the same, or of parts of same, and, when such indebtedness is paid, second party is to reassign to first parties; and we have good right and lawful authority to grant, bargain, and sell the same in manner aforesaid;” and further specifying that the said second party is to have and to hold the same unto him, “Ms successors and assigns,” forever, subject only to the proviso ' in the said indenture of mortgage mentioned.”
The mortgage was originally made for $670, and at the date of this last assignment it was stipulated in such assignment that this sum was the amount then “growing due” upon it.
The complainant had decree for the amount of the mortgage and interest in the circuit court for the county of Osceola, in chancery. The defendants Bowers and Monfort appeal to this Court.
It is claimed first by the defendants appealing that Charles S. Cobb is the person holding the legal title to the mortgage and note accompanying it, as trustee for the complainant, and for the protection of the Stirlings, and that the mortgage could not be foreclosed without making Cobb and the Stirlings parties defendant to the proceeding.
This assignment was evidently made to the bank, to
The assignment also,, authorizes the second party, which is the complainant, to use and take all lawful means to recover the sum or sums due or owing upon said note and mortgage in the name of the Stirlings or otherwise; and it was shown by the testimony of one of the Stir-lings, as well as others, that the present indebtedness of the Stirlings to the complainant upon this note of $1,000 greatly exceeded the amount of the mortgage debt. We do not think that the defendants are in a position to complain because the Stirlings were not made parties to the foreclosure, as it is none of their concern.
The decree in this case provides that the defendants “ Mida Trowbridge, Franklin P. Monfort, and Yarnum J. Bowers, who are each personally liable for the debt secured by the mortgage, pay to the complainant ” the amount of any deficiency arising after the sale of the mortgaged premises. It is contended that this portion of the decree so far as Monfort and Bowers are concerned, is erroneous, and that they are improperly joined as defendants in this case. The note and mortgage in question were executed by Mida Trowbridge to Monfort, December 11, 1888. On the 14th day of the same month and year the defendant Bowers contracted with the Stir-lings for a stock of goods, and turned in this note and mortgage in part payment of said stock. Monfort is an uncle by marriage of Bowers, and there was evidence
It appears that Bowers made a written agreement with the Stirlings for the purchase of these goods, in which it was provided that he should pay for the goods as follows:
“ Cash at the time an inventory of said stock and fixtures is completed, $1,000. Note and mortgage indorsed by himself and F. P. Monfort against Mida Trowbridge, of Evart, Mich., $670.”
The plain intent of this agreement was that Monfort and Bowers should add their responsibility to that of Mida Trowbridge, and they passed the note to the Stir-lings upon the faith and credit of their indorsement, and received a valuable consideration therefor. Under the authority of Cook v. Brown, 62 Mich. 478, their liability .would be the same as if they had so backed the note at its inception and before it was put in circulation. See, also, Robbins v. Brooks, 42 Mich. 62.
But as indorsers they could be sued independently upon
“ Sec.. 6704. If the mortgage debt be secured by the obligation or other evidence of debt of any other person besides the mortgagor, the complainant may make such person a party to the bill, and the court may decree payment of the balance of such debt remaining unsatisfied after a sale of the mortgaged premises, as well against such other person as the mortgagor, and may enforce such decree as in other cases.” See, also, Johnson v. Shepard, 35 Mich. 123, 124; Vaughan v. Black, 63 Id. 215.
The decree must be affirmed, with costs.