Cocke v. Bank of Dawson

180 S.E. 711, 180 Ga. 714, 1935 Ga. LEXIS 537
CourtSupreme Court of Georgia
DecidedJune 13, 1935
DocketNo. 10654
StatusPublished
Cited by15 cases

This text of 180 S.E. 711 (Cocke v. Bank of Dawson) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of Georgia primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Cocke v. Bank of Dawson, 180 S.E. 711, 180 Ga. 714, 1935 Ga. LEXIS 537 (Ga. 1935).

Opinion

Bell, Justice.

J. F. Cocke Jr., J. E. Cocke, C. D. Cocke, S. M. Cocke, and Mrs. J. B. Hoyl filed a suit against the Bank of Dawson, to enjoin the sale of described real estate situated in Terrell county and known as the Marlin place, which the bank was advertising and proposing to, sell in accordance with a security deed with a potver of sale claimed by it to have been executed by two of the plaintiffs in behalf of themselves personally and in behalf of the others as attorneys in fact. The judge refused an interlocutory injunction, and the plaintiffs excepted.

The following facts appeared from the pleadings and the evidence: Plaintiffs were the heirs at law of J. F. Cocke Sr., who died intestate in the year 1928, seized of the lands in question. On December 31, 1928, three of the heirs, Mrs. Hoyl, S. M. Cocke, [715]*715and J. E. Cocke, executed a power of attorney to the other two, namely, C. D. Cocke and J. E. Cocke, authorizing them to operate, conduct, and manage the farms inherited from their father in Terrell and Lee counties, Georgia, for the purpose of paying the debts of the intestate and of carrying on such business until the settlement and distribution of the estate, and to “have, use and take all lawful ways and means, in our names or otherwise, that may be found necessary, or proper in the execution of this power of attorney.” Tire instrument also contained the following: “"We further authorize and empower our attorneys in fact, C. D. Cocke and Julian E. Cocke, to make, sign, seal, and deliver notes, mortgages, and deeds to any or all of said property, both real and personal, belonging to said estate, for the purpose of carrying out the business above mentioned. We empower them to borrow money or other articles necessary, and encumber any of said property they may see fit, for that purpose; and we authorize said attorneys in fact to pay off any and all obligations thus incurred, and for us and in our names to sign and deliver such papers.” The deed under which the bank was attempting to sell the property was executed on March 7, 1932, as security for a note of the same date for the sum of $981.28. In the body of this deed the only grantor designated by name was “0. D. Cocke, attorney in fact for heirs of J. E. Cocke estate,” but in subsequent clauses there was language to indicate an intention to include 'other persons as grantors; as for instance: “that we will keep fire insurance upon the buildings,” “that we will keep all taxes paid;” “we hereby constitute the said grantee or its assigns of the debt hereby secured as attorney in fact for us and in our name,” upon default, to sell the property upon terms stated, and it “may in our names make title ’to the purchaser, thereby divesting out of us all the title and interest in the same,” and the balance of the purchase money, if any, after defraying expenses of sale, “shall be paid over to us or to our legal representatives or assigns.” The attesting clause and signature were as follows: “In witness whereof, the said C. D. Cocke, attorney in fact, for the heirs of J. E. Cocke, have hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal, the day first above written. [Signed] J. E. Cocke éstate. By: C. D. Cocke, attorney in fact. (.LS).” The note for which the deed was given as security was due September 7, 1932, was signed “J. E. Cocke estate, by J. E.' [716]*716Cocke, C. D. Cocke, attorney in fact,” and contained the following recital: “And to secure the payment of the indebtedness evidenced by this note, or any renewal or extension of same, and any or all other indebtedness or liability, either direct or indirect, which the maker or makers hereof may now or hereafter owe the payee or assigns of this note, I or we do hereby sell, transfer, assign, pledge, and deposit the following described property, to wit: security deed 200 acres land, more or less, known as Marlin place.” The note was executed under seal. The advertisement of the proposed sale, a copy of which was attached as an exhibit to the petition, referred to the security deed as having been made “by J. F. Cocke estate by its attorneys in fact,” without further designation of grantors. It did not appear from the advertisement that the deed had been recorded, or who were the attorneys in fact.

In their petition the plaintiffs made the following contentions: (1) Petitioner J. P. Cocke did not execute the power of attorney, and did not sign or execute the security deed; and for this reason the proposed sale would be void as to him. (2) The power of attorney was addressed both to C. D. Cocke and J. P. Cocke as joint attorneys in fact, and did not authorize the execution of a security deed by C. D. Cocke alone as attorney in fact. (3) The power of attorney was insufficient in law to authorize the execution of any security deed, granting no specific authority and power to execute such an instrument. (4) It did not authorize the signing of a security deed which included a power of sale, and the deed amounted to the personal act of O. D. Cocke only. (5) Finally, the advertisement was insufficient, in referring to the property as that of the “J. F. Cocke estate.” The petition alleged that for these reasons the security deed was null and void and the contemplated sale would also be void. The bank contends, among other things, that while the deed was signed only by C. D. Cocke, the note was executed both by him and J. F. Cocke, these being the persqns named as attorneys in fact, and that in view of the recital contained in the note with reference to this land the security deed should be considered as having been executed by both of the attorneys in fact, and should be treated in equity as the deed of all the plaintiffs. Also, the answer of the bank was introduced in evidence, and contained the following allegation: It was the intent and purpose of the heirs of J. F. Cocke Sr. to keep the estate together [717]*717?¡y¡ .and operate it, and they did keep it together and operate it, under the name of J. F. Gocke estate, said “J. F. Cocke estate” being a farm partnership consisting .of the plaintiffs as members. The purpose of the power of attorney “was to obtain money credit to operate said farms from Bank of Dawson with the full knowledge and consent of all the heirs. At that time C. D. Cocke was cashier of the Bank of Dawson and handled many of these loans, renewed them himself, without consulting any of the bank officials, with the full knowledge and consent of the plaintiffs in this case. Beginning at the date of this power they made, executed, and delivered many notes, mortgages, security deeds to Bank of Dawson, borrowed and used much .of its funds, and became heavily indebted to Bank of Dawson far in excess of the wishes of the Bank of Dawson; all of said acts being done by C. D. Cocke, J. F. Cocke, and with the knowledge and consent of all heirs at law, who received benefit from the power beginning 1929, up to date of'this petition. . . During some of that time Julian F. Cocke was engaged in traveling in other sections for a commercial line, and C. D. Cocke would make papers acting under said power, and. Julian F. Cocke would thereafter ratify same at all times. That it was not the intention or purpose of the plaintiffs that both of the attorneys in fact should sign each and every paper. Defendant says that while the particular security deed was signed by C. D. Cocke, he signed the name of J. F. Cocke estate and specified the note which it was made to secure. The note which it was made to secure was signed by J. F. Cocke and C. D. Cocke, attorneys in fact, and named the security deed referred to in this suit, both being identical; the note described in the deed and the deed described in the note being the two named in two said papers.

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Bluebook (online)
180 S.E. 711, 180 Ga. 714, 1935 Ga. LEXIS 537, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/cocke-v-bank-of-dawson-ga-1935.