Butler v. Thornburgh

40 N.E. 514, 141 Ind. 152, 1895 Ind. LEXIS 261
Indiana Supreme Court·Decided April 23, 1895·No. No. 17,082·Published·Cited by 10 cases

Opinion

Howard, J.

This was an action to foreclose a mortgage on real estate, brought by the appellee against the appellants.

It is first contended on this appeal that the court erred in overruling the demurrer to each paragraph of the complaint.

The action was originally brought by Milton Thorn-burgh, the appellee’s intestate, who recovered judgment against appellants, and obtained a decree of foreclosure, and for the sale of the real estate. From this judgment an appeal was taken to this court, where the judgment was reversed as to the interest in the land held by the appellant Martha Butler as wife of her coappellant, Rollin T. Butler. Butler v. Thornburgh, 131 Ind. 237.

On the return of the case to the trial court, the death of Milton Thornburgh was suggested to the court in a supplemental complaint, and the appellee, as his administrator, was substituted as party plaintiff. This we think was all done in substantial compliance with the provisions of the statute. Section 272, R. S. 1894 (section 271, R. S. 1881).

Whatever irregularity there may have been in this regard was, as we think, merely verbal, and as the irregularity, if any, might have been corrected on the trial, it will be considered here that the correction was so made. Indeed, the appellants, in the caption of their answer to [154] the complaint, recognize the appellee as properly substituted as party plaintiff in the action.

It is said, further, that the second paragraph of the complaint is defective inasmuch as it does not allege that Martha Butler executed the mortgage. This paragraph is drawn on the theory that the mortgage was in effect a purchase-money mortgage. As such it was not necessary that the wife of Rollin T. Birtler should execute the mortgage. This was also expressly decided on the former appeal, where it was said: “If the husband of the appellant had, prior to his purchase from his mother and brother, .owned no portion of the land, and had thereby acquired the whole title, then the mortgage would have represented purchase-money only, and the appellant would, as against this mortgage executed by her husband, have had no claim to the land, or any part of it.” Butler v. Thornburgh, supra.

We think it does appear from the second paragraph of the complaint that the lands in question had been owned by the mother and brother of Rollin T. Butler, that in their hands the lands were encumbered to an amount in excess of their value; that they were conveyed to Rollin T. Butler by his mother and brother in order that he might, and with the understanding that he should, by giving his notes and mortgage thereon, procure sufficient money to pay off the liens upon the lands; that this was the sole consideration given by him for the deed to him from his mother and brother; that he did procure such money from appellee’s intestate, and thus paid off and released such former liens; and that he gave to said intestate for the money so procured, and used the notes and mortgage in suit.

This paragraph of the complaint, after alleging these facts, alleges further, that as to the amount so secured to appellee’s intestate in said mortgage, appellee’s “claim [155] and right in and to said real estate is paramount and superior to the marital rights of the said Martha Butler, notwithstanding she may not have executed said mortgage.”

There can be no doubt of the correctness of this position. Neither Martha Butler nor her said husband paid anything for the land. The only consideration for the deed to him was that he should raise money on the land for the payment and removal of the old liens upon it. This he did, and the appellee’s intestate furnished the money, for which money he received the notes and mortgage here sued upon. This mortgage is protected by all the rights of a purchase-money mortgage. The precise holding to that effect was made on the former appeal.

Neither is it true that the original lienholders, all of whose claims have been paid off and released, should be made parties. The facts pleaded show that they have no interest. By section 2656, R. S. 1894 (section 2495, R. S. 1881), Martha Butler, as wife of Rollin T. Butler has, according to the allegations of the complaint, no interest in the lands as against the mortgagee. Her only right is the right to redeem from the sale on foreclosure. Baker v. McCune, 82 Ind. 339; Bowman v. Mitchell, 97 Ind. 155; see, also, Curtis v. Gooding, 99 Ind. 45; 2 Jones Mort., section 1395.

The next assignment of error discussed by counsel is that the court erred in its conclusions of law upon the facts found.

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Butler v. Thornburgh, 40 N.E. 514, 141 Ind. 152, 1895 Ind. LEXIS 261 (Ind. 1895).

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