Connerton v. Millar

2 N.W. 932, 41 Mich. 608, 1879 Mich. LEXIS 908
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedOctober 14, 1879
StatusPublished

This text of 2 N.W. 932 (Connerton v. Millar) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Connerton v. Millar, 2 N.W. 932, 41 Mich. 608, 1879 Mich. LEXIS 908 (Mich. 1879).

Opinion

Graves, J.

This cause was brought several years [609]*609ago by Cornelius Connerton, testator of Bridget Conner-ton, against these defendants and John Oakman, testator of Eliza Oakman, to foreclose a mortgage given by the Oakmans to Connerton for $300. All the defendants answered, but Connerton and Oakman died before the case was ready for hearing. The court below dismissed the bill and Mrs. Connerton appealed.

A pretty full reference to the facts as well as to the pleadings and the record submitted to us by the appellant, is called for. In May, 1865, Oakman mortgaged the premises, a Detroit city lot, to Mary Hanna for $1,000. In September, 1868, he mortgaged the place to Connerton for $300, payable in three months with interest at ten per cent. November 26th, 1870, he deeded the east half of the lot to the- Millars. The deed recited a consideration of $1,500 and stated that the premises were granted “subject, however, to the payment of two mortgages on the., whole of said lot executed by the parties of the first part, one to Mary Hanna for the payment of $1,000, and. the other to Cornelius Connerton for the payment of $300, and for the payment of which mortgages the parcel of land above conveyed is first to be charged and made liable, and constitutes a fund therefor and for the interest of the same,” — and at the end of the covenants there was added — “except said mortgages, which the parties of the second part hereby assume and agree to pay, provided the parcels of land above conveyed are free from all other liens, mortgages and incumbrances, and provided also that the title hereby conveyed shall be and continue a valid title to the parties of the second part against all claims and rights originating from or under the- parties of the second part.” ■

As the expression “second part” in the last line is obviously a mistake, it is probable the intention was either to write “first part” instead, or to insert the word “not” between the words “rights” and “originating.” The precise language intended, however, is not now material.

[610]*610In the fore part of the same month and about three weeks earlier, one Skeel recovered judgment against Oak-man for nearly six hundred dollars in the court of the United States at the city of Detroit, and execution having been sued out, the lot was levied on pursuant thereto five days prior to the deed, and some months later was sold under the levy. But the Millars becoming aware of the levy within a day or two after receiving the deed, immediately requested Oakman to cancel the transaction with them, and they offered to re-deed to him. He refused the offer, however, and would not consent to rescind.

In August, 1870, notice of foreclosure of the Hanna or first mortgage under the statute was commenced, and on the 9th of December following a sale was made to the mortgagee, and in December, 1871, she conveyed to the Millars. They also acquired the interest under the execution sale.

The bill states the conveyance of the east half of the lot from the Oakmans to the Millars, and sets forth a copy of the deed. But with this exception it is the ordinary bill for foreclosure and sale in which the Millars are introduced as defendants, claiming “no right in opposition” to complainant’s mortgage. Eq. Bule 91.

The object of setting forth the deed is not explained, and in view of the bill no purpose can be conjectured unless it was to show that part of the premises had been conveyed and should be first sold in case of foreclosure. No personal claim is made against the Millars and no estoppel is pleaded to their right to acquire the title based on the Hanna mortgage and assert it in bar of the lien of the mortgage in suit.

Neither is any ground alleged in the bill to bring in question any claim of theirs founded on the first mortgage ’Or any charge or statement to authorize objection to the foreclosure proceedings or admit controversy in regard to them.

The answer of the Oakmans first sets up that the [611]*611•object of tbeir deed to the Millars was to provide for paying the mortgage, and that there was no consideration except the agreement to assume and pay the two mortgages mentioned, and that Connerton knew of the arrangement and consented to look to the Millars for his pay; and it then claims that in case of a decree for sale it shall order the half of the lot so deeded to be first sold.

In their answer the Millars admit the mortgage in •suit and also Oakman’s deed, but say that although a deed in form it was given only to secure payment of a •debt owing them by Oakman. They allege further that Oakman represented that the mortgages were the only lien or charge on the lot and so stated in the deed, and that they were induced to accept it by such representations exclusively; that in fact the lot was then under the marshal’s levy in Skeel’s favor and the representations false and fraudulent; that they immediately requested Oakman to rescind and informed him they would have no further concern.with their conditional undertaking on account of such fraud and the breach of the condition, and offered to re-deed to him and he refused. They further state and aver that they were not bound by the stipulation and were entitled to wholly disregard it; that the Hanna mortgage was duly foreclosed at law an'd the whole lot sold to her under such proceeding December 9th, 1870; that her title in virtue thereof became complete and perfect and was thereupon by her conveyed to them December 30th, 1871, and that the mortgage in suit was cut off by such proceedings and the neglect of Connerton to redeem.

This answer seems to attach much importance to the final acquisition of the execution title, but it is not perceived that the fact is very material on this record. True the levy was a few days earlier than the deed from the Oakmans, but it was subsequent to both mortgages and couH not be an obstacle to the right of Connerton to enforce his mortgage.

[612]*612There are one or two other matters referred to In this answer, but they are not material. After this detail it is scarcely needful to consume much more ■time in disposing of the case.

First. By the stipulation in the deed the Millars were to stand bound to pay the mortgages only in case there was then no other charge on the land, and it is proved and substantially conceded that another charge did then exist, namely, the marshal’s levy for nearly six hundred' dollars. It is also proved that they immediately repudiated the arrangement and notified Oalunan. They offered to re-deed and he refused.

They contend that thenceforth they were under no' duty legal. or equitable to regulate their action respecting either of the mortgages by any thing in the stipulation. That arrangement they insist fell to the ground1 pursuant to its own terms and spirit and in consequence of the falsity of the representation, and that they were completely at liberty to bargain as they thought proper, for a title under the first mortgage.

Whilst the answer justifies and the proofs sustain this ground of defense, the bill contains nothing to meet and avoid it. The general replication put the answer at issue, but of course introduced nothing to meet and avoid the new matter of defense set up. The court has several times explained this subject and made reference to the rule that the evidence must be confined to the issue and that no relief can be given on evidence of a case not made by the bill. Among other cases see Moran v. Palmer, 13 Mich., 367;

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Related

James v. M'Kernon
6 Johns. 543 (New York Supreme Court, 1810)
Stafford v. Brown & Brown
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Wright v. Dudley
8 Mich. 115 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1860)
Moran v. Palmer
13 Mich. 367 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1865)
Lebaron v. Shepherd
21 Mich. 263 (Michigan Supreme Court, 1870)

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Bluebook (online)
2 N.W. 932, 41 Mich. 608, 1879 Mich. LEXIS 908, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/connerton-v-millar-mich-1879.