Rolston v. Brockway, 23 Wis. 407

Rolston v. Brockway

23 Wis. 407 | Wis. | 1868

Cole, J.

The court found that it was the intention of the parties, at the time of the transfer from Brochwa/y to Cram of the three notes of one thousand dollars each, not to tranfer any interest in the mortgage described in the complaint, and which was given as collateral security for the notes. That it was competent for the parties so to transfer those notes, and agree at the time that the indorsee should not be entitled to the benefit of the mortgage, cannot well be denied. The question is: Does the evidence show that they did so? We agree with the finding of the court below upon this point, that the evidence shows that it was the intention and understanding of *409the parties, at the time the notes were transferred, not to transfer any interest in the mortgage. And this, we think, appears from the written evidence -in the case. At the time these notes were transferred to Cram, the agent of the plaintiff, Cram, made a memorandum on the notes given up by him to Brockway, to the effect that the notes surrendered were paid in full by exchange for Ledyard, Earnam & Co.’s notes for the same amount, with M L. Broclmay’s indorsements. And Brockway wrote, in substance, upon the mortgage, that the first three notes mentioned therein were paid in full. Now, construing these memoranda together, as it is very evident we must do, since they are parts of the same transaction, what do they show ? Certainly, that the mortgage was satisfied and discharged, so far as the first three notes wei e concerned. Some criticism is made upon the language used in this writing upon the mortgage: “ Eeceived pay in full on the three notes,” etc. Confessedly, it is said, the notes were not paid, and the memorandum to that effect was untrue. But the manifest object of making this memorandum or indorsement upon the mortgage was, to show that the mortgage was paid and discharged as to those notes. The language is apt and proper to effectuate this intention of the parties, and force should be given to it. It would surely be construing this language to mean a totally different thing from what is expressed by it, to say that it imports that the mortgage was not discharged as to these notes, but was a valid security for their payment.

But again it is asked, upon what principle this writing on the mortgage, made and signed by Brockway, can be evidence in his favor? Upon the very obvious principle that this indorsement was made at the time the notes were transferred that it was a part of that transaction — made in the presence of Cram, the agent of the plaintiff, who knew what 'this writing was and assented to it. This is what the witness Lyon swears to : and Foster testifies substantially to the same thing. If the *410duly authorized agent of the-plaintiff knew of this writing, and assented to it as containing the understanding of the parties in reference to the transfer of the notes, it seems to us very clear ■that it was competent evidence. It is utterly impossible to suppose that Cram would ever have assented to the memorandum on the mortgage, if he had understood or expected that the mortgage was to remain a security in the hands of Broclc-way for the payment of those notes. He must have understood that, so far as the three notes w-ere concerned, the mortgage was paid and discharged.

By the Court. — The judgment of the circuit court is affirmed.