151 P. 689 | Okla. | 1915
On July 22, 1912, G.B. Armstrong instituted an action of replevin in the district court of Woodward county to recover possession of certain personal property, used in connection with the publication of the Woodward News-Bulletin, claiming the right of possession by virtue of a chattel mortgage on an undivided half interest in the plant, presses, type, stock, and outfit of said Woodward News-Bulletin, subject to two mortgages, one for $500 in favor of W.E. Bolton, and *204 the other for $500 in favor of Central Exchange Bank. The writ of replevin was returned "Not served," for the reason that A.M. Appelget was in possession of the property for and on behalf of Ann E. Bernard, assignee of the note and mortgage to W.E. Bolton. Demand was made on the plaintiff for an indemnity bond, which was not complied with, but instead an application was made in the replevin action for a receiver for all the property of the defendants in the state, which not only included the property embraced in the mortgage, but the undivided one-half interest not included therein. Upon this application, H.W. Patton was appointed receiver of all the property of the defendants, to hold same under the order and direction of the court, to continue the management of the paper, collect all outstanding debts, purchase supplies, replace machinery, and pay the first mortgage held by Ann E. Bernard. Motion to vacate the order appointing the receiver was overruled, and the cause brought here for review.
While this is an appeal from the order appointing a receiver and from the order refusing to vacate such appointment, yet it becomes necessary to ascertain whether replevin will lie in the first instance for the property in controversy. The mortgage was given on an undivided one-half interest in a printing plant known as the Woodward News-Bulletin, which mortgage specifically provided that the lien covered a one-half interest in the plant, presses, type, stock, and other property used therein. It is apparent that this property is of such a nature that it is impossible to divide it into aliquot parts. No one could identify and separate the undivided interest covered by the mortgage lien. The plant and presses are incapable of a division, without injury to the remaining *205
portion thereof. This being true, replevin will not lie.McDonald v. Bailey,
It necessarily follows that the action of replevin is not adequate, and plaintiff's remedy is in equity. Julian et al. v.Yeoman, supra.
In deciding the remaining question, we are assuming, without deciding, that the court had power to appoint a receiver under the facts in this case. But, granting this, did it have power to appoint a receiver for all the property of the defendants within this state, when the property involved in the litigation was an undivided one-half interest? We think not. The court was without jurisdiction to appoint a receiver to take charge of property which was not involved in the litigation. 34 Cyc. 44;State v. Union Nat. Bank et al.,
"In this case the receiver, under orders of the court below, has in his hands property neither embraced in the plaintiff's mortgages, nor, so far as we can know, protected from the remedies of other creditors by any other contract or legal liens. The effect of the appointment of the receiver is plainly to prevent judgment creditors from levying their executions on property subject thereto, *206 so far as the parties are concerned. We do not think this ought to be permitted. It is only the property in litigation — in this case the mortgaged property — that should be placed in the hands of the receiver."
See, also, Noyes v. Rich,
There are numerous other reasons advanced as to why the receiver should not have been appointed; but, inasmuch as we have concluded that the action of replevin will not lie for the undivided interest in this property, and that the court abused its discretion in appointing a receiver for the property not embraced in the mortgage, we will not discuss the remaining questions.
The cause should therefore be reversed.
By the Court: It is so ordered.