17 Or. 284 | Or. | 1889
This appeal is from a decree rendered in a suit brought by the appellants against the respondent Charles Logsdon, to compel a certain noto cojo! mortgage in the hands of J. R. Bryson to be.an.piv a m payment of an indebtedness originally owiiig to Belknap Brothers Kennedy Brothers, fpt Vné machinist labor, machinery, and materials furnished by them in repairing a certain saw-mill known As, the Caledonia Mill.
The appellants alleged in their complaint that from the thirty-fijist day of March, 1885, until the seventh day of March, ^1886, the respondent Charles Logsdon was owner of yhe saw-.mill, which was situated upon lots No. 2 and 3 and the southwest one fourth of' the southwest one fourth , ; rnd the east half of the southwest fourth of section 17, tovTíslip 11 south, range 11 west, Willamette meridian, count,yiaf Benton, state of Oregon; that William Stevens and Alina Stevens, his wife, were the owners, of said describe^ land for the. term of their natural lives, and upon their [death it wa£ to revert, to the, appellants; that on or abouit the twenty-seventh day of July, 1886, said appellant ' J T. Vincent became, the owner of said saw-mill property, and appurtenances thereunto belonging, and wac 'Bill the owner of the same; that the respondent Charles Logsdon, together’ with the appellants, between the thirty-first, day of March, 1885, and the twenty-second day; of August, 1885, became indebted to Belknap Brothers ! & Kennedy Brothers for the machinist, labor, ma
The respondent Charles Logsdon, and Margaret Logs-don, his wife, the latter in the mean time having been made a party defendant in the suit by order of the court, filed an answer to the said complaint, in which they denied all the material allegations contained therein. Said parties then attempted to set up a further defense, but the matter is so awkwardly and unskillfully stated, and contains so many repetitions, that it will puzzle any one to find out what is meant by it. It contains a statement, in substance, that Charles Logsdon assigned to said Bryson the first note and mortgage alleged in the complaint to have been delivered to the latter on or about the first day of November, 1885, in trust for the benefit of the said Margaret Logsdon, the Philomath College, and J. E. Henkle & Co., with the understanding that Bryson should collect it, and after deducting his fees for collection, should pay one hundred dollars of the balance to the college, two hundred dollars to said J. E. Henkle & Co:, and the remainder, about six hundred dollars, to £he said Margaret, who was alleged to be the owner and holder of the note and mortgage to the extent of that sum. They further alleged, in substance, that, in consideration of the said note and mortgage, said J. T. Vincent agreed to make and execute to Margaret Logsdon a good and sufficient deed of conveyance to said saw-mill, together with sufficient ground for the convenient use of it; and that thereupon, relying upon said agreement, the said Charles Logsdon deposited the said note and mortgage with said Bryson with the express understanding with said J. T. Vincent and said Bryson that a part of said note and mortgage, when collected by said Bryson, should • be applied upon said indebtedness to Belknap Brothers & Kennedy Brothers, provided that said J. T. Vincent should
The appellants filed a reply to the new matter in the answer, denying the material allegations contained therein. It appears from the transcript that the Philomath College and J. E. Henkle & Co. were also made defendants in the suit by order of the said circuit court.
Upon the hearing of the case, on the allegations and proofs taken therein, the said court decreed that the appellants’ complaint be dismissed, which is the decree appealed from. The affairs of the parties involved herein are so badly complicated that it is nearly impossible to ascertain their respective rights and liabilities.
The appellants are husband and wife, and the latter, Mrs., J. T. Vincent, seems to have had the principal control of their matters. Logsdon appears to have had extensive business, relations with them, and to have been largely in their debt, but what the business consisted of, or how the debt arose, is only hinted at in the evidence submitted. Mrs. Vincent testified that she began trusting him and selling him goods about the middle of July, 1884, and trusted him to goods and paid his. bills right along to August, 1885, he assuring her all the time that he had plenty of property to pay her for everything. But what Logsdon’s business was is not shown. I infer that he had a saw-mill at a place called Depot Slough, which he moved around to Caledonia, and set up on land
Mrs. Vincent was asked, when on the stand as a witness, to explain why it was that she settled Logsdon’s bills which she stated that he agreed to pay her afterwards, to which she made the following answer: “We were anxious to have the mill around the place, and after it was there, we wished to see it a-moving or working, or whatever you are a mind to call it; and as Mr. Logsdon did not have the ready means, and we supposed him a good and honorable man, we furnished him with means to carry on his business as long as we could for the want of means ourselves, or myself, whichever you are a mind to; and the 1st of August, 1885, I told him that I could not help him any longer.”
This answer and other evidence and circumstances in the case indicate that the Vincents encouraged Logsdon in the prosecution of an enterprise which apparently was beneficial to them and very unprofitable to him. They alleged in their complaint that at his special instance and request, “and not otherwise,” they became security for him, and personally responsible to Belknap Brothers & Kennedy Brothers for the labor and material furnished for the mill out of which the debt arose that is the subject of contention between the parties; but their allegation upon that point is wholly disproved by the evidence.
Kennedy, one of the firm of Belknap Brothers & Kennedy Brothers, testified that II. W. Vincent told him that they, meaning Vincent and Mrs. Vincent, owned an interest in the Logsdon mill, and ordered machinery for it from them (referring to said firm). Ordered it shipped to Vincent and Logsdon, Caledonia, Oregon. That said firm, between April 1, 1785, up to and during the month August, 1885, furnished machinery, material, and mechanics’ labor for the repair of and use in the mill;
The testimony of S, E, Belknap, another member of the said firm of Belknap Brothers & Kennedy Brothers was to the same effect. Both of these witnesses gave proof that H. W. and J. T. Vincent did not become security for Charles Logsdon in the purchase of the machinery and material out of which the said debt arose, but that all three of them were principal contractors, and that the Vincents had far more to do with ordering the articles than Logsdon did.
• It also appeared in proof that on the sixth day of April, 1885, the said Charles Logsdon executed to the said William Stevens an instrument in writing, under seal, whereby, in consideration of two thousand dollars, he granted to the said Stevens the said saw-mill, and all the fixtures and appurtenances thereunto belonging, which said instrument was, on the tenth day of April, 1885, duly
In view of this evidence, and the fact that the mill was located on land belonging to Mrs. Vincent and the Stevenses, and that Mrs. Vincent became the owner of the mill in less than a year after the material was all furnished, it would appear inequitable to hold that Logsdon was the principal debtor to Belknap Brothers & Kennedy Brothers on account of the said machinery, material, and labor furnished by them, and that the Vincents were mere sureties for the payment of the debt thereby created; or, that as between Logsdon and the Vincents, that the former should be required .to pay any part of it.
It appears, however, from the testimony of 0. H. Pearse, a witness in the suit, that Mrs. Vincent and Logsdon had a settlement of their affairs on the first day of August, 1885, and that a written memorandum was made at the time showing how their accounts stood. Mrs. Vincent having testified that she had the original writing, but that it was lost, and after diligent search could not be found, the witness undertook to state what it contained. His statement was as follows: The writing contained, first, a full statement of all sums due from Charles Logsdon and all sums du.e to Charles Logsdon, leaving a balance against him of about four thousand one hundred dollars. He was then credited with two thousand dollars as being secured, and agreed to give note and mortgage on his farm for the remaining two thousand one hundred dollars (or about). He was charged with all moneys expended up to August 1st for his benefit; that is, any moneys expended relating to the improvement of the mill. There remained several unsettled claims, or partially settled, notably the Belknap Brothers & Kennedy Brothers’. In these claims (these unsettled claims, that is), he wea charged
It appears, also, that some time in the early part of October, 1885, William Stevens signed a written defeasance, which recited that Charles Logsdon did, on or about the first day of May, 1885, make, execute, and deliver over to him a bill of sale of the steam saw-mill, etc., which, although absolute in form, was intended to secure to him the payment of the sum of two thousand dollars, with interest at ten per cent per annum from the date of the bill of sale, and which contained an agreement on the part of Stevens to the effect that if Logsdon paid him said sum and interest on or before the first day of January, 1887, he would execute and deliver to Logsdon’s wife, Margaret, a release in her favor of all claims on the mill; otherwise all their right therein should be forfeited.
The respondents claim that this defeasance was never delivered to Logsdon, and that he had nothing to do with it. They also controverted the other testimony referred to. I think that the transactions in regard to the settlement and sale of the mill were had as testified to by the witnesses named; but at the same time I am very much inclined to the belief that Logsdon wras only a passive party in the affair. It looks to me as though he has had very little volition in the business transactions between himself and Mrs. Vincent; that the straight of the matter is, that she has really represented both parties in their contracts; trades, and settlements with each other. She
Mr. Bryson testified, as a witness in the case, in answer to the question, “Please state for what purpose this note and mortgage were given you,” as follows: “I will give you the circumstances, and state what was said at that time, as near as I now remember it. Mrs. J. T. Vincent, H. W. Vincent, and Charles Logsdon had been sued in this court by Belknap Brothers & Kennedy Brothers for about four hundred dollars upon a mechanic’s lien against the Caledonia saw-mill property. They employed me to represent them in the case, and to put it over, if possible, until the spring term of court, for which they were to pay me fifty dollars. Mrs. Vincent and Mr. Logsdon came to my office together and talked over the case, and were trying to devise means to raise the money to pay off this claim. During the conversation, it was stated by one or both of them that Mr. Logsdon had this note and mortgage against Hawkins which I have mentioned, and they asked me if the money could be raised on the note, or the note be collected. Mr. Logsdon told me that it was a first mortgage; at least, he did not say anything about there being another lien upon the property at the time, as I now remember it. I told them that I thought I could
The witness, upon being asked what became of that note, if anything, answered: "I found upon examining the records that there were other liens against the property prior to this one, — one in favor of Leabo for about five hundred dollars, and one in favor of America Hawkins for about one thousand dollars. I was unable to then collect the note or raise money on it, as the mortgaged property was only worth about two thousand five hundred or three thousand dollars, and after consulting with both Mrs. Vincent and Mr. Logsdon, it was agreed that I should take a new note and mortgage for the amount due. By so doing, this became a second mortgage, Leabo’s mortgage being first, and America Hawkins, who is the mother of J. A. Hawkins, taking a third mortgage for her amount for about one thousand dollars. This agreement was consummated March 11, 1886. Mr. Logsdon came in from the bay the preceding day. He told me he had nothing more to do with the Caledonia mill property nor the Belknap-Kennedy claims, and wanted me to take the note and mortgage in the name of his wife, Margaret Logsdon. I had not heard from Mrs. Vincent in reference to the matter, and declined to do this, but agreed that it should be taken in his name, and the note and mortgage transferred to me, and then I would hold the same in trust, to be paid to Margaret Logsdon, after first paying my own fees; and there was also one hundred dollars and interest to be paid to Philomath College, two hundred dollars and interest to be paid to J. E. Henkle, when the same was collected in full, these amounts
Mrs. Vincent does not seem to have claimed in this conference that the debt belonged to Logsdon to pay. She appears to have been more exercised about devising ways and means by which to secure its payment. She did not demand as a right that Logsdon should máke use of the note and mortgage against Hawkins by which to raise funds in order to pay off the debt, though she was doubtless willing that that course should be pursued to accomplish the result.
Logsdon claims that he deposited the note with Mr. Bryson, and authorized him to raise money on it with which to pay the debt, upon the condition that Mrs. Vincent should deed to his wife the saw-mill, with sufficient ground upon which it stood and adjacent thereto for the convenient use of it. But no such arrangement evidently was made in the presence of Mr. Bryson, nor was he informed of it. If he had been, he -would doubtless, being a lawyer, have had the arrangement put in writing, or, at least, have suggested to the parties the- necessity of doing so. It is hardly possible, it seems to me, that any such arrangement was made at the time, or that the pai’ties took into consideration their respective rights and liabilities as between themselves. They had all, probably, been served with a summons in the suit, and were mainly intent upon contriving means by which the matter could be adjusted. In all their business transactions they seem to have been wholly indifferent regarding their obliga-
Mrs. Vincent confesses that she had an interest in having the mill located at Caledonia, and wished to see it moving after it was brought there; and that she had a pecuniary interest in it is quite apparent.
The settlement between the parties, pretended to have been made on the first day of August, 1885, according to the appellants’ own showing, was left at loose ends. That they settled up everything except the outstanding unsettled claims against them, which they allowed to remain and increase, is very remarkable; more especially so in view of the testimony of Mrs. Vincent that on that date she told Logsdon that she could not help him any longer.
Where parties have dealt with each other in a particular manner, I do not see any better way in adjusting their affairs, as between themselves, than to recognize and carry out the mode which they themselves have adopted and pursued. In this case the parties contracted the debt in question jointly. In doing so, they evidently consulted their respective interests, and each was benefited thereby. I think, therefore, that the debt should be regarded as a joint obligation, not only as between them and their creditor, but as between themselves. Under this view, Charles Logsdon should be held liable for one half of the $444.50, and the appellants for the other one half thereof. The appellants have paid, in addition to the debt, the costs of the foreclosure of the lien. This might have been avoided by paying the debt before suit, and it
The amount of the costs of the foreclosure does not appear. The appellants alleged in their complaint that the full amount paid by them on account of the debt and costs aggregated $637; that is, however, denied in the answer, and the only evidence in the suit regarding the matter which I have been able to discover is in the testimony of Mrs. Vincent. She testified that she had paid in the settlement of the claim in full something over six hundred dollars; that she did not remember the exact amount. Under this proof, we would only be justified in finding that she paid six hundred dollars in settlement of the claim in full.
The respondents’ counsel claims that the appellants must fail in their suit for the reason that they failed to show any consideration or agreement whatever for the deposit of the first note and mortgage, either as security for Charles Logsdon, or otherwise; that there was any agreement between Mrs. Vincent and Logsdon for taking up the first note and mortgage, and taking the note and mortgage of March 11, 1886, in lieu thereof; or that appellants, or either of them, became bound or indebted to Belknap Brothers & Kennedy Brothers in the sum of $444.50, or any other sum, for Charles Logsdon.
We disagree writh the counsel as to the facts assumed by him in the first two propositions. We think the testimony of Mr. Bryson shows to the contrary. Upon the third proposition he ma3r be said to be technically correct as to the facts; but if the debt were a joint obligation on the part of the appellants and Logsdon, as we conclude it was, the delivery of the note and mortgage to Mr. Bryson
