Darst v. Bates

51 Ill. 439
CourtIllinois Supreme Court
DecidedSeptember 15, 1869
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 51 Ill. 439 (Darst v. Bates) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Illinois Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Darst v. Bates, 51 Ill. 439 (Ill. 1869).

Opinions

Mr. Justice Walker

delivered the opinion of the Court:

This was a bill in chancery, brought by appellant, in the Peoria Circuit Court, against appellees, to foreclose a mortgage dated January 19th, 1856, executed by Hall and Hurlburt to Augustus O. Garrett, to secure the payment of a number of promissory notes, amounting in the aggregate to the sum of $30,000. The last matured in 1866. It appears that the notes and mortgage were assigned by Garrett to appellant, who holds the notes remaining unpaid. Freeman was in possession under a lease from Hall, who had previously purchased the interest of Hurlburt. It appears that a portion of the notes were paid at maturity, but about $20,000 was unpaid at the rendition of the decree.

It further appears, that a portion of the premises embraced in the decree was sold to Luther Card before the mortgage was assigned by Garrett to appellant, but no question arises on that sale. It appears that prior to Garrett’s assignment, he executed an instrument in writing, in which it is recited that Hall and Hurlburt had executed a deed of trust on the property to Caleb Alden, to secure the payment of four promissory notes, executed by them, and amounting to $10,000. He then released his prior lien on the premises under his mortgage, in favor of Alden’s deed of trust. This instrument was dated on the 13th of October, 1856, and was subsequently and during the same month duly recorded. It is by virtue of this instrument that Alden and Bates claim to have a first lien on the premises in controversy. But to avoid the effect of this lien, appellant contends that the release was obtained by fraud and false representations, and that all of the material facts set forth in the release were false. It is contended that Hall and Hurlburt were not indebted to Bates at that time; that a deed of trust or notes had not then been executed ; that there was no consideration paid to Garrett for the release ; that the deed of trust and notes were executed after the execution of the release.

It is also insisted that Bates did not loan any money to Hall and Hurlburt, nor did he advance any money upon the notes, but the notes were endorsed by Peter Sweat, or countersigned by him, and taken to a broker’s office in Hew York or Hew England, and there sold at a discount; that these notes were afterwards replaced by others, and this process of renewal was repeated until several sets of notes were given; and appellant claims that Bates took other security on the notes, which he thereby released, and that Bates has not paid the notes, but they are still outstanding; that Bates -released the portion of the premises sold to Card, and received $2,500 therefor, which should be credited on Bates’ claim ; that Freeman paid rent to Bates ; that Hurlburt had sold his interest to Hall, and has no further claim on the premises.

Bates conténds that the release was not procured by fraud, and insists the trust deed had been executed and that the sum secured by the trust deed is due and owing to him. It appears that Hall and Hurlburt admit the debt to Bates; that they had confessed a judgment for the balance due on the notes, in March, 1860, and Bates was receiving and applying the rents and profits on the judgment when appellant filed his bill.

The record discloses the fact that Hall and Hurlburt were desirous of effecting the loan of $10,000, and applied to Bates to accommodate them, and he undertook to raise the money for them; and to enable him to do so the deed of trust and notes were made, and Garrett’s release procured, and also Sweat’s endorsement of the notes. These being sent to him, he endorsed the notes and procured their discount in the West-field Bank in Massachusetts, and with the proceeds took up his own note, which he had given to raise the money for them while these papers were being prepared and forwarded to him, and out of the amount thus received he deducted $400 they had agreed to pay him for procuring the loan; also, a’ small account which they owed him. As these notes fell due there were a number of renewals, by the substitution of other notes, and Sweat endorsed several times for Hall and Hurlburt for this purpose, but he subsequently declined to endorse further. It nowhere appears that Bates has taken up or paid the notes to the bank, or that he is still in anywise liable for their payment ; nor is the bank, or any one supposed to be the holder, made a party to this proceeding by the bill or cross-bill.

The first question presented for consideration is, whether the release was obtained from Garrett by false and fraudulent representations. Even if Hall and Hurlburt, to induce the execution of the release, did promise to give Garrett other security, there is no evidence to charge Bates with a knowledge of the fact. If they acted in bad faith with Garrett, Bates can not be chargeable with the fraud unless he had notice or knowledge of such facts as to put him on inquiry, before he received and acted upon the release, as a valid and binding instrument. And whether the notes and deed of trust were executed before Garrett gave the release, can not matter, as Bates acted upon them, so far as we can see, without being apprised of the fact. But even if he knew the fact, we do not see how Garrett can object, as he is not prejudiced thereby. His rights were not altered by the formal execution of the instruments after he gave the release. It was, at most, but doing what he virtually had consented might be done.

But the trust deed bears date on the 13th day of October, 1856, and the notes are by it described as bearing even date therewith; and in the absence of proof showing that it was executed on a different day, the date specified will be presumed to be the true date of its execution. It is true that it was not acknowledged until the 30th of that month, but that does not prove that it had not been executed before that time. And when it appears that the deed of trust and notes did not come to the hands of Bates until about the 3d or 4th of the next Hovember, we may readily suppose that although previously executed, it would only be acknowledged at the time the makers desired to forward it to Bates. We do not regard this objection as well taken; and we are clearly of opinion that this trust deed, by operation of the release executed by Garrett, became and is a prior lien on the premises in dispute. Appellant having taken the assignment with record notice of its existence, can only claim subject to its provisions.

It is, however, urged that the notes described in the trust deed were discharged and taken up by the makers. In taking them up, however, other notes were substituted, and it is manifest the debt for which the notes were given, and to secure which the trust was created, was not thereby paid or discharged. The debt still remained, but the form of the notes had changed, but nothing more, so far as the debtors, the creditors, and the holder of the Garrett mortgage were concerned. Although Sweat and Bates may have been released as endorsers, still Hall and Hurlburt remained liable for the same debt, as it had not been paid or they in any manner discharged; and equity only looks to the substance, and not to mere form. The deed of trust, then, having been given to secure the debt, and it still, in substance, remaining unpaid, the trust will be kept alive to secure its payment. The mere .change of the old notes for new ones, without endorsers, or the rendition of judgment on the substituted notes, could not, as between ■ the parties to the arrangement, release the premises from the deed of trust.

Free access — add to your briefcase to read the full text and ask questions with AI

Related

Marcus v. Cohn
419 N.E.2d 951 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1981)
In Re Estate of Cohn
419 N.E.2d 951 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1981)
Robbins v. Slavin
11 N.E.2d 651 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1937)
Fournet v. De v. Lbiss
174 So. 259 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1937)
Walker v. Chicago, Madison & Northern Railroad
115 N.E. 659 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1917)
Gould v. Tilton
161 Ill. App. 142 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1911)
Harriman Land Co. v. Hilton
121 Tenn. 308 (Tennessee Supreme Court, 1908)
Potter v. Fitchburg Steam Engine Co.
110 Ill. App. 430 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1903)
Cipher v. McFall & Whittington
69 Ill. App. 228 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1897)
Stevens v. Hurlburt
25 Ill. App. 124 (Appellate Court of Illinois, 1887)
Roane v. Baker
11 N.E. 246 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1887)
Moore v. Topliff
107 Ill. 241 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1883)
Johnson v. New Orleans National Banking Ass'n
33 La. Ann. 479 (Supreme Court of Louisiana, 1881)
Jones v. Foreman
66 Ga. 371 (Supreme Court of Georgia, 1881)
Darst v. Bates
95 Ill. 493 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1880)
Ellerman v. New Orleans, etc., R.
8 F. Cas. 524 (U.S. Circuit Court for the District of Louisiana, 1875)
Hardin v. Osborne
60 Ill. 93 (Illinois Supreme Court, 1871)

Cite This Page — Counsel Stack

Bluebook (online)
51 Ill. 439, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/darst-v-bates-ill-1869.