Mann v. Provident Life & Trust Co.

85 P. 56, 42 Wash. 581, 1906 Wash. LEXIS 621
CourtWashington Supreme Court
DecidedApril 28, 1906
DocketNo. 5817
StatusPublished
Cited by3 cases

This text of 85 P. 56 (Mann v. Provident Life & Trust Co.) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Washington Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Mann v. Provident Life & Trust Co., 85 P. 56, 42 Wash. 581, 1906 Wash. LEXIS 621 (Wash. 1906).

Opinions

Crow, J.

— On June 20, 1892, appellant obtained -a loan of $50,000 from the respondent The Provident - Life and Trust Company, and to- secure the same, gave a mortgage on certain real estate in the city of Tacoma. The interest on said note for the years 1894 to 1897, inclusive, was not paid when due. In 1894, appellant, being unable to meet the taxes, interest and insurance, had a conversation with Henry Longstreth, the western agent of said mortgagee, pursuant to which appellant deposited with him Yalentine scrip sufficient to locate one hundred and sixty acres of land. Ap>pellant claims that this scrip was given to- secure a year’s [583]*583extension, upon the note and mortgage. Respondent denies this, hut it is an admitted fact that the time was extended, •in that no effort was made to foreclose or otherwise enforce payment during the succeeding year. In 1895 another transaction of the same kind took place, the appellant again depositing Valentine scrip. On January 17, 1898, appellant deposited with respondent more scrip, being all that he owned, which, together with that already deposited, was sufficient to locate six hundred and sixty-four acres. Appellant claims that, when this last deposit was made, the respondents agreed to extend the time upon said npte and mortgage for another year. This is disputed by respondents.

On June 27, 1898, respondent company began a foreclosure suit on the note and mortgage. Appellant defaulted, and on September 12, 1898, a judgment was entered in the sum of $84,035.95. A day or two after the entry of the foreclosure decree, the appellant called upon respondent Longstreth for the purpose of making a sale of his interest in the Valentine scrip already deposited, and securing to himself the right to redeem. When first on the witness stand he gave his version of this interview with Longstreth, but upon being recalled afterwards explained his former statements, testifying as follows:

“I said to Mr. Longstreth two days before the contract was made when I called on him, ‘Let- me sell you the scrip for a nominal sum, giving me your contract to sell it back to me for a nominal sum, bidding the whole amount on the property, keeping it together, giving me time to redeem it.’ Mow, I. don’t know how I answered that question, but that is how I should have answered it.”

Mr. Longstreth asked a day or two to think the matter over. Appellant called on him again, on September 15, 1898, at which time the following written instruments, drawn by Mr. Longstreth, were signed and delivered:

“Received Tacoma, Wash., Sept. 15, 1898, of Henry Longstreth one dollar in full payment for all my right, title and interest in eighteen pieces of Valentin© scrip, as follows: [584]*584Nos. E57, E169, E214, E222, E224, E289, E291, E275, E300, E244, E273, E290, E124, E241, E274, E271, E114, and Elll. (Signed) Jacob 0. Mann.”
“Tacoma, Sept. 15, 1898. Eor value received I hereby agree to transfer all my right, title and interest in certificates of Valentine scrip Nos. E57, E169, E214, E222, E224, E289, E291, E275, E300, E244, E273, E290, E124, E241, E274, E271, E114 and Elll, being eighteen pieces in all, to Jacob C. Mann on payment of one dollar, provided lots one (1), two (2), seven (7), eight (8), nine (9) and ten (10) in block nine hundred and three (903), Tacoma, have been previously redeemed from the lien of the mortgage which we are foreclosing. Witness A. L. Andrews. (Signed) Henry Longstreth.”

On October 15, 1898, the mortgaged real estate was sold under a special execution, and was purchased by the respondent company for the full amount of the judgment and costs,' to witr $84,970.35. This sale was confirmed on November 23, 1898. Respondent company as purchaser entered into possession of said real estate on said 15th day of October, 1898, without objection on the part of appellant. Such possession has been maintained by it or its successors ever since, and permanent improvements to the value of $170,000, in the shape of a six-story and basement brick store and office building, were made upon said real estate during the year 1903 by respondent, or by one David G. Alsop, who, it is claimed, was.a successor in interest to the respondent company.

In April, 1904, appellant askea respondents for an accounting, and in September, 1904, made and served upon them a written demand that he be permitted to redeem both said scrip and the above described lots, that respondents furnish the appellant a statement of the amount necessary to make said redemption, and that respondents account for the rents collected. Respondents refused to comply with any of said demands. The lots involved herein were, at the time of the sheriff’s sale, of the probable value of $60,000. The scrip [585]*585was then -of the probable value of $15,000. Appellant began this action on September 12, 1904, as a proceeding in equity to compel respondents to malee an accounting, and for permission to redeem the real estate and scrip upon ascertaining the amount due over and above the rents and profits collected by respondents.

The trial judge made findings of fact and conclusions of law favorable to respondents. One of said conclusions recites that, “Eb extension or agreement for extension, beyond the statutory period, of a right to redemption of the real property involved herein before the mortgage foreclosure sale was made by the defendants to plaintiffs.” And another of said conclusions is as follows: “That plaintiff has failed to establish any right to equitable relief herein.” And another recites that the defendants are entitled to a judgment and decree “that plaintiff recover nothing in this cause.” A judgment and decree were accordingly made and entered, from which this appeal is taken.

Respondents have moved this court to strike the exceptions to the findings of fact upon the ground that said exceptions were not filed within five days from the time said findings were filed. A motion to strike the statement of facts is also made on the same ground. From the affidavits of appellant’s attorney on file herein, which affidavits are undisputed, it appears that the findings of fact were signed by the trial judge, and filed at a time when appellant and his attorneys were not in court, and that the same were not served until after the five days had expired; that appellant’s attorneys prepared and submitted to the trial judge and filed their exceptions to said findings within five days from the time the same were called to their attention and served upon them. Under these circumstances the motion to strike the exceptions and statement of facts must be denied.

It will be noticed that, in the bill of sale made by appellant to Longstreth, no consideration is mentioned excepting the nominal one of one dollar, and that in the agreement to resell, [586]*586made at the same time by Longstreth, the same consideration was mentioned, with the proviso that, as a condition precedent to redemption of the scrip*, the mortgaged lots should have been previously redeemed from the lien of the mortgage then being foreclosed. Appellant claims that he made this bill of sale in consideration of an understanding and agreement with Longstreth that the period of redemption should be extended for a reasonable time beyond the statutory period of one year, .and that he should now be permitted to pay up and redeem both the real estate and the scrip.

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Bluebook (online)
85 P. 56, 42 Wash. 581, 1906 Wash. LEXIS 621, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/mann-v-provident-life-trust-co-wash-1906.