Knarr v. Conaway

42 Ind. 260
CourtIndiana Supreme Court
DecidedMay 15, 1873
StatusPublished
Cited by17 cases

This text of 42 Ind. 260 (Knarr v. Conaway) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Indiana Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Knarr v. Conaway, 42 Ind. 260 (Ind. 1873).

Opinion

Buskirk, J.

This was an action by the appellees against Louis Freyer, Katharina Freyer, John H. Wenlde, and the appellant. The purpose of the action was to obtain a foreclosure of a mortgage executed by Louis Freyer and wife to the appellees; and John H. Wenkle and appellant were made defendants, because they claimed some Interest in the lands mortgaged, and they were required to set up such interest.

All of the défendants, except the appellant, made default. The appellant filed an answer consisting of seven paragraphs. [261]*261A demurrer was sustained to the second, fifth, and seventh paragraphs, and an exception was taken.

Issue was joined on the other paragraphs. The appellant moved the court for a change of venue from the judge on account of his bias and prejudice. The motion was overruled, and the question was reserved by a bill of exceptions.

There was a trial by the court, a finding for the plaintiffs against the appellant, an assessment of damages against Freyer and wife, and a foreclosure of the mortgage. In the decree, the court ordered that the lands described in the complaint should be sold in parcels as the plaintiffs might direct, to which the appellant excepted.

The appellant’s motion for a new trial was overruled, and an exception was taken. The other defendants were duly notified of this appeal.

The appellant has assigned the following errors':

1. That the court erred in sustaining the demurrer to the second, fifth, and seventh paragraphs of the answer.

2. In overruling the motion.for a change of venue.

3. In overruling the motion for a new trial.'

4. In decreeing that the lands mortgaged should be sold in parcels as the plaintiffs might direct.

The first question presented for our decision is; whether the court erred in sustaining the demurrer to either the second, fifth, or seventh paragraphs of the answer.

The second paragraph of the answer and the exhibit filed therewith read as follows:

2d Par. For further answer, defendant says that he is the owner, by purchase from Louis Freyer and wife, for a valuable consideration, of the south-west quarter of the northeast quarter of section twenty-four, township ten, north of range twelve east, containing forty acres, being one of the tracts of land described in said mortgage. A copy of the deed from Freyer and wife to this defendant is filed herewith, marked exhibit A; that said plaintiffs, in consideration of the sum of seven hundred and ninety-one dollars to them by said defendant paid, agreed to release said tract of land from [262]*262the lien of said mortgage, and, in pursuance of said agreement, said George Conaway, for himself and as the duly and legally authorized agent of his sisters, his co-plaintiffs, Jane and Fulvia Conaway, signed said deed, for the purpose of releasing said tract of land from the lien of the mortgage in plaintiffs’ complaint mentioned; that by mistake said George Conaway neglected to sign said deed as the agent of said Jane and Fulvia.

“ Wherefore defendant demands judgment for the reformation of said deed and that said mortgage, as to .the tract of land herein described, may be declared satisfied, and for costs.”

The deed filed with the above answer was in the statutory form of a warranty deed, for the above described tract of land; the consideration was stated to be twelve hundred dollars. The deed was signed by Louis Freyer, Katharina Freyer, and G. F. Conaway, and was dated July 13th, 1868.

The mortgage from Freyer and wife to the appellees was executed the 24th of December, 1867.

The fifth paragraph of the answer was as follows :

“ 5th Pan For further answer defendant says that said Jane and Fulvia Conaway sold and transferred to said Geoi'ge Conaway all their intex-est in said notes, and that afterward the said George Conaway, in consideration of the sum of seven hundred and ninety-one dollars, to him paid by defendant, agreed to release the lien of said mortgage on said tract of land hereinbefore descx'ibed; whei'efox'e,” etc.

The seventh paragraph of the answer was as follows :

“ 7th Pax-. That Louis Freyer and wife mox-tgaged the tracts of land, in the mox-tgage particularly descx'ibed, to said plaintiffs, to secure the payment of the four notes thereixi referred to; that said tracts of land were, on the x 3th day of July, 1868, worth the sum of four thousand dollars. At which date the said Louis Freyer and wife sold and conveyed to this defendant the south-west quarter of the northeast quarter of section 24, town 10, north of range 12 east, containing 40 acres, of which said plaintiffs had notice, and [263]*263to which said sale and conveyance plaintiffs consented and received the consideration therefor, and that said conveyance was upon a valuable consideration; that at the time of said conveyance the remaining two tracts of land were worth the sum of two thousand eight hundred dollars; and that the condition of said mortgage was at that time broken; and the remaining tracts were amply sufficient to satisfy the same; that of the consideration paid by defendant to said Louis .Freyer for the tract of land conveyed to defendant, the sum of seven hundred and ninety-one dollars was paid to said George, Jane, and Fulvia Conaway, to be credited on the notes secured by said mortgage, and which amount was so credited. And defendant avers that after the sale and conveyance of said forty-acre tract of land by said Louis Freyer and wife to defendant, said plaintiffs permitted said Louis Freyer, John H. Wenkle, and others to enter upon the two tracts of land first in said mortgage described and commit waste by cutting and removing from said tracts of land valuable timber trees, to the amount of fifteen hundred dollars, and took no steps to prevent said waste until said fifteen hundred dollars’ worth of trees had been cut and removed. Of all which said George F., Jane, and Fulvia Conaway then and there had notice; and defendant avers that said George was at and during all said time the agent of his co-plaintiffs, who are residents of the State of Ohio, for the collection of said notes and the preservation of said security; and defendant avers that by reason of the plaintiffs’ negligence in permitting said waste, said security remaining to plaintiffs has become deteriorated and is not now sufficient to satisfy plaintiffs’ mortgage, as defendant is informed.

“Wherefore defendant demands judgment that the said sum of seven hundred and ninety-one dollars may be declared a satisfaction of said mortgage lien on the tract of land purchased by him to that extent, that an account be taken of the extent of the waste permitted by said plaintiffs to be committed on the other two tracts of land included in said' [264]*264mortgage, and that the amount thereof maybe a satisfaction of the mortgage lien of the plaintiffs on defendant’s tract of land so far as it is a reduction of the amount of their security upon the other two tracts, and for all other and proper relief; and defendant demands judgment for costs.’

Did the court err in sustaining the demurrer to ■ the second, fifth, and seventh paragraphs of the answer?

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Bluebook (online)
42 Ind. 260, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/knarr-v-conaway-ind-1873.