Gilman v. Illinois and Mississippi Telegraph Company. Coykendall, Garnishee v. Idem

91 U.S. 603, 23 L. Ed. 405, 1875 U.S. LEXIS 1416
CourtSupreme Court of the United States
DecidedFebruary 14, 1876
Docket557
StatusPublished
Cited by106 cases

This text of 91 U.S. 603 (Gilman v. Illinois and Mississippi Telegraph Company. Coykendall, Garnishee v. Idem) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Supreme Court of the United States primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Gilman v. Illinois and Mississippi Telegraph Company. Coykendall, Garnishee v. Idem, 91 U.S. 603, 23 L. Ed. 405, 1875 U.S. LEXIS 1416 (1876).

Opinion

*613 • Mr. Justice Swayne

delivered the opinion of the court.

These cases have been argued together, and will be decided together. The case at law will be first considered.

On the 24th of May, 1872, the telegraph company recovered in the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Iowa a judgment for the sum of $23,734.04 and costs. On the 13th of June following, execution was issued. On the 17th of that month, the marshal .to whom the process was directed served it Tby attaching as garnishees several persons, one of whom was Coykendall, the plaintiff in error. On the 27th of October, 1873, he filed his answer; and on the 27th of Octoher, 1874, he filed a further answer.'^ ^

By the first answer he admitted, that, since he was garnished, he had received for and paid-over to the railroad company more than $37,000. In his second answer Tie set forth that he was the agent of the railroad company at Des Moines; and that his duties were to sell tickets and receive and ship freight, and to receive the charges upon such freight. For the moneys received both for tickets and freight a large proportion belonged to other companies, but how much he did not know. All the moneys he received were regularly transmitted to the assistant-treasurer of the Des Moines company.

The proper apportionment of the moneys was madé by the officers of that company at Keokuk, and the Des Moines company was accountable to the other companies for what belonged to them. He was not in the employment of any other company or person during the time mentioned, and-was.not responsible to any other company or person for the moneys which he received, as before stated.

The gross amount received by him, between the time he was garnished and the appointment of the receiver who took possession of the road, was $27,000.

The case was submitted to the court, and argued by the counsel upon both sides. The next day it was stated to the court by the counsel for the defendant that proof could be adduced of the proportion of the moneys in question which-belonged to other companies, and time was asked to procure it. The application was overruled, and the court gave judgment *614 for §27,000 and costs. The garnishee thereupon excepted, to the ruling of the court refusing further time.

The case having been submitted to the court and argued by the counsel of both parties, the garnishee not asking for a jury,-, the record in this respect shows no error. It is to be taken that both parties waived a trial by jury, and they-are bound accordingly. Phillips v. Preston, 5 How. 278; Campbell v. Boyreau, 21 id. 224; Kelsey v. Forsythe, id. 86. The proceeding not having been according to the act of March 3, 1865, this court' has no power to examine any ruling of the court below excepted to. .during the progress of the trial. Campbell v. Boyreau, supra; Guild et al. v. Fontin, 18 id. 135; Kearney v. Case, 12 Wall. 275; Dickinson v. The Planters’ Bank, 16 id. 250. The only point attempted to be presented by the bill of exceptions was the refusal of the court to give time for the production of further evidence. If this subject was before us in such a shape that we could consider it, it would be a conclusive answer that the matter was one resting in the discretion of the court. Its determination, therefore, could not be reviewed by this tribunal.

This brings us to the examination of the case in equity.

Thé bill was filed'to prevent, by injunction, the collection of the moneys upon which the judgment in favor of the telegraph companies was founded. There is no controversy between the parties as to the facts.'

On the 16th of February, 1857, the railroad company, by its then corporate name, executed a mortgage; and on the 1st of October, 1868, by its corporate name as altered, executed another. Both were given to- secure the payment of its bonds as set forth. A part of the premises described and pledged by both mortgages, besides the road, was its income.

In case of default in the payment of interest or principal, the mortgagees were authorized to take possession, and collect and receive the income and earnings of the road, and apply them to the debts secured, and, upon the request of one-third of the bondholders, to sell the mortgaged premises.

The conditions of both mortgages having been broken, the mortgagees in the second mortgage filed their bill of foreclosure in the Circuit Court of Polk County, in the State of Iowa. *615 The mortgagees in the sécond mortgage — various judgment and. lien creditors, among the former the telegraph company — were made defendants. On the 31st of May, 1873, a decree of foreclosure and sale was rendered.' It fixed the priorities. of the several parties, and held that the judgment of the telegraph company was a lien subject tó the mortgage in suit .and other specified liens. It ordered a sale of the mortgaged property. The road'was still in possession of the company. The decree made no. provision for disturbing their possession, and none whatever as to the income of the road between the time of the decree and the time of the sale. The telegraph company proceeded, as .we have stated, in disposing of the case at.law. On the 20th of June, 1873, the appellants, who are the trustees in the two. mortgages, filed this bill. On' the 9th of September, 1873, after the sheriff had advertised the mortgaged premise's' for sale, the decree in the State court was amended by providing for the appointment of “ a special receiver of all the income and earnings of the road” between the date of the decree and. the time fixed by the sheriff for the sale to be made by him. This was done with a saving of the rights of the telegraph company The special receiver took possession on the 15th of September, 1873. The sale by the sheriff was made on the 17th of October, 1873. The road .was operated by the company up to the time when the receiver took possession.

During this period, the fund was received for which judgment was given against Coykendall.

The proceedings in the case at law having-been held valid, the telegraph company is entitled to the fund, in controversy, unless the appellants have-, shown a better right to' it. The question arises upon the mortgages".' The civil law is the spring-head of the English jurisprudence upon’the subject of these securities. Originally, according to that jurisprudence, mortgages of the class to which those here in question belong vested the fee, subject to be divested by the discharge- of the debt at the day limited for its payment. If default was then made,.the premises were finally lost -to the debtor. ’ In the progress of • time moré liberal views prevailed, and the debt came to be considered as the principal thing, and the mortgage only, as an- *616 incident and security. In the present state of the law, where there is no prohibition by statute, it is competent for the mortgagee to pursue three remedies at the same timé.

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Bluebook (online)
91 U.S. 603, 23 L. Ed. 405, 1875 U.S. LEXIS 1416, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/gilman-v-illinois-and-mississippi-telegraph-company-coykendall-garnishee-scotus-1876.