Headrick v. Brattain

63 Ind. 438

• Court: Indiana Supreme Court
• Decided: November 15, 1878
• Status: Published

Opinion

Perkins, J.

Action to recover possession of personal, property.

Answer:

1. The general denial;

2. Property in a third person.

The suit was commenced on the "3d day of November* 1875.

The property sought to be recovered was the corn growing upon thirty-five acres of ground. It was pfianted by a tenant holding the land under a lease for five years.frorn the 1st day of March, 1872. At the time of receiving the lease, the tenant executed a mortgage on the crops-to be grown during the five years, as security for the rent of the premises, which mortgage was recorded.

The court tried the cause, made a special finding of' facts, and announced conclusions of law thereon.

Among the conclusions of law, though not necessary to the determination of the suit, was this.: that said mortgage was void as against an execution creditor of the-tenant, on the ground that the property mortgaged was. not in existence when the mortgage was executed.

The weight of authority would seem to be the other-way.

In Butt v. Ellett, 19 Wal. 544, it is decided, that a mortgage of future crops can not operate, at the time of its execution, because the crops are not then in existence, but that, as soon as the crops grow, the lien of the mortgage attaches. Herman Chat. Mort. 299, sec. 119.

We think the court erred in its conclusion, that the mortgage was void ; but this error will not justify the reversal of the judgment, because, though the mortgage had become operative on the property, the equity of redemption therein was subject to sale on the execution.

The judgment in the cause is affirmed, with costs.