Flanders v. French

106 N.W. 54, 20 S.D. 316, 1906 S.D. LEXIS 4
South Dakota Supreme Court·Decided January 10, 1906·Published·Cited by 2 cases

Opinion

CORSON, J.

This is an appeal by the intervener from a directed verdict and judgment entered in favor of the plaintiff. The [318] action was brought by the plaintiff to recover for services performed by himself and team for the defendant French, who was engaged in running a threshing machine, and Clayton Jones, the other defendant was garnisheed as a debtor to French for certain.threshing performed for him. Baskerville, the intervener, claimed to be the owner of the indebtedness due from Jones to French under and by vhnre of a chattel mortgage -contract executed by said French the defendant to him, purporting to cover the earnings of the said machine.for the years 1903 and 1904 in certain parts of Day and Roberts counties. The intervener’s alleged chattel mortgage was excluded by the court, and a verdict directed in favor of the plaintiff.

The learned circuit court, in directing a verdict, instructed the jury as follows: “The court being of the opinion that the intervener, M. R. Baskerville, could not recover upon his'complaint in intervention in this case for the reason the mortgage upon threshing earnings is so'indefinite and uncertain as not to amount to a mortgage at all, the court therefore directs a verdict in favor of the plaintiff.” The question presented for the court’s decision is as to the sufficiency of description in the chattel mortgage so executed by French to the intervener, Baskerville.

The amount due from French to the plaintiff for his work and labor .was conceded. That Jones was indebted to French in the amount claimed for threshing was also conceded. The execution and recording of the chattel mortgage in the manner required by law was not questioned. The so-called chattel mortgage contract is in words and figures as follows, to-wit: “That the undersigned, * * * party of the first part, being justly and lawfully indebted to M. R. Baskerville, party of the second part, in the sum of fourteen hundred dollars principal and interest thereon, according to the condition of notes described as follows: * * * Now, therefore, for the purpose of better securing' said notes and any and all renewals of extensions of said notes, or any part thereof, and in addition to such security as has been heretofore given, the said party of the first part does hereby grant, bargain, sell, assign, transfer and set over unto the party of the second part, * * * all the right, title and interest of said party of the first part to all earnings and proceeds, whether in the form of money, notes, thresh orders, or accounts, to be earned [319] by us and with our threshing outfit for all threshing clone during the seasons of 1903 and 1904, meaning ánd intending hereby to sell, assign. mortgage and transfer unto the party of the second part the entile earnings during said time in the territory hereinafter designated, with that certain new rig now owned by said party of the first part and dose■'bed as follows, to-wit: One Advance tract'on strawburning engine, 22 horse power, shop No. 4,851, one Advance separator, size 40 by 60, shop No. 11,575, with all attachments, fixtures and appliances, complete. Said rig known as the Da Duke rig. The territory in which said threshing machinery is to be operated is as follows, to-wit: The territory of Wheatland, Egeland, and any other townships which said rig may be operated in the county of Day, and the townships of-in the county of Roberts, all in the state of S. Dakota. * * * It is hereby agreed on the part of M. R. Baskerville to deliver over to the undersigned upon request 40 per cent, of all the earnings turned over to it, either In cash, thresh orders, notes or accounts pro rata, according to amount having been paid over to said second party to be used by the undersigned for the payment of running expenses of said machine. Said party of the first part covenants and agrees with the said party of the second part, to run and operate said threshing rig faithfully and economically in said above-described territory during each season and to furnish all necessary men and teams to operate same at their own cost and expense and in their own behalf. Said party further agrees that before leaving any job of threshing, they will procure from the party for whom said threshing was done a setlement either in cash or an accepted order, or good thirty-day note and to turn the same over to said second party or its agent on Monday of each week during the threshing season. Said first party further agrees to keep true and correct books of accounts of all threshing done and of all moneys received or owing for such threshing and to exhibit the same to said second party or its agents for examination when requested; it is agreed that nothing contained herein shall be so construed as changing or abrogating in any manner whatever the existing obligations of the undersigned to .said M. R. Baskerville but that this instrument is' given only as additional security. Said party of the second part is to receive IX [320] thresh orders and notes and accounts which may be turned over to it under and pursuant to this agreement, as collateral to above-described note and to apply the proceeds (except amounts returned to first party) as fast as collected upon the indebtedness above described. It is agreed that said second party shall make reasonable efforts to collect said thresh orders, notes and accounts at expense of first party, but said second party is not to be held liable for any failure to collect any of said thresh orders, notes or accounts. We hereby acknowledge full satinsfaction of all warranties on above-described tnreshing machinery and acknowledge the receipt of a true and correct copy of this mortgage. In testimony whereof, the said, parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals this-14th day of February, A. D. 1903.”

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Flanders v. French, 106 N.W. 54, 20 S.D. 316, 1906 S.D. LEXIS 4 (S.D. 1906).

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